Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Thursday 23 January 1941, page 5


DESERT WARFAREI

FILM PRAISED

No Guts in Victoria

"I see nothing in 'Forty Thousand Horsemen' at which to take exception," said Mr. Bailey, Chief Secretary', after viewing the much-discussed Australian film yesterday. "The charge at Beersheba I thought wonderfully well done, and failed to notice any incident which should have been deleted on grounds of 'cruelty to animals.' The horses obviously had hard tumbles with their riders in the sand. but I have often ridden horses on the beach myself, and had similar falls when coming suddenly Into loose sand. Such tumbles hurt neither the horse nor myself."

Mr. Bailey referred to another scene which Mr. W. Cresswell O'Reilly, Chief Commonwealth Censor, considered should be cut, in which the hero and heroine seek shelter in a deserted hut, and find it necessary to change their clothes and spend the night. "1 thought this a very charming love scene," said Mr. Balley, "very beautifully done."

Mr. Bailey has passed "Forty Thousand Horsemen" for exhibition before adults in Victoria without any cuts.

"The only reason I do not pass It for general exhibition," said Mr. Bailey, "is that I think the sight of bayonets being thrust into human bodies is rather too realistic for adolescents. They are, how-ever, essential for the spirit of a film which I consider a very gripping and en-tertaining production."