Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Wednesday 17 March 1937, page 7


AUSTRALIAN

FILM REJECTED

British Isles Ban

CRUELTY ALLEGED

"Orphan of the Wilderness"

SYDNEY, Tuesday.-The English film censor has refused to allow the, Australian production "Orphan of the Wilder-ness " to be shown in the British Isles. The general ground of his action is that the picture involves cruelty to animals.

Cinesound Productions Ltd. sent "Orphan of the Wilderness" to London with a strong recommendation from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. This testimonial declared that the moral of the screen story would appeal to all who had a sense of justice and fair play." The film was rejected and cuts were made in an effort to meet the censor's views, but the decision was again unfavourable.

The film will now be sent back to Australia for complete reconstruction. Most of the animal scenes will have to be eliminated. As Pathe Pictures had contracted to distribute "Orphan of the Wilderness" In England Cinesound Productions Ltd. may suffer a serious financial loss.

This is the second time that the English censor has objected to the treatment of animals in an Australian film. Last year two scenes had to be eliminated from "Thoroughbred" before he would pass it.