They don't Make 'Em Like they Used to (Phew)

I skipped a Political Science lecture racing downtown to the Paramount (50% discount to students) to see The Secret of Dorian Gray, a modern allegory inspired by Oscar Wilde, but was first subjected to Nathalie After Love. It began with a short written comment on prostitutes linked with venereal disease (was this a public spirited message or part of the movie?) and then on to the sordid much (always a popular description). At R. 18 the flick was grossly over-restricted; TV produces more titty and bum stuff these days (perhaps as a consequence this showing had an audience of 10-19), it probably received its label of indecency over its shamefulness.

It was disguised as a biology film for the advanced student: ten minutes from the end the usual screams of half naked men and women (tightly squeezed together, grunting and groaning) was interrupted (advert fashion) by an illustrated guide to what nasty spots occur when syphilis and gonnorrhea are contracted, all done tastefully with biology style cross section drawings, and then back to the movie. Girl recovers, breaks off with seducer and returns to waiting celebate boyfriend, skirt three inches longer etc etc.

The Secret of Dorian Gray was almost as ridiculous (unfortunately it was twice as long: two hours of boredom); but at least the painting didn't look as though it had come from Woolworths. Any feeling the original had was lost in a direct transplant into 1969 or thereabouts; oddly neither movie or poster had the usual mcmlxx (whatever) blurb.

My grouch is not so much with the movies which were shown as over the ones which were missed out. Auckland now has a classics theatre, and even we occasionally get a showing of some elderly flick from the Penthouse or Paramount. But why not more? In the Listener a couple of weeks ago, the film review was of the Science Fiction classic Forbidden Planet; are we to get it in Wellington? The movie business has been buzzing for 80 years now, almost 50 in sound; probably millions of flicks have been made and a very large number of these have been excellent and would be worth seeing again.

This years bunch of re-runs up here have also been a pretty seedy lot. No doubt there are problems acquiring old movies but if they can do it in Auckland why not Wellington? The Film Society is constantly bragging its longevity and skill at acquiring odd arty overseas prints. It brings back I Am Curious Yellow, why not Citizen Kane?

The sordid drivel movie houses can get hold of could be replaced by more worthwhile products, especially if they feel the demand is there. The movies are an art form. Books, paintings, even records are relatively accessible over time, but films seem to be allowed to fade away. A shame it is that only TV brings them out from the archives, because as anybody knows, the box is no replacement for the big screen. Anyhow, often a classic gets its one showing at the time of a previous appointment..... shucks.

Tim Brown