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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 7, No. 10 October 4, 1944

[Introduction]

The only competent film critic in this country for many years has been Gordon Mirams, of the "Listener." His able reviews are known and appreciated throughout New Zealand, and his "little man" gradings are the most reliable index to film quality we have had. I have for a long time looked upon GM as practically God and consequently it is with some concern that I have seen him handing out his highest award, a stand-up clap, to an alarmingly large number of films lately.

I have a curious theory that films are good in direct proportion to their advertising. "Gone With the Wind" is a case in point. This very ordinary film had the most tremendous publicity build-up of any yet produced, and was of such an inordinate length that it seems to me that only a major event like the creation of the world or the Russian Revolution could justify it. I think, too, that film-going is a state of mind: you are cleverly prepared to acclaim "Gone With the Wind" and "The Great Ziegfleld" as the greatest of all time.