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Salient.The Newspaper of Victoria University College. Vol. 19, No. 4. April 6, 1955

[Introduction]

Films by Ian Rich

Owing to circumstances that were perhaps—to be truthful—well within my control I have been unable to see a film for review this week. There is, however, a letter appearing in this issue that directs its remarks against Salient's film critic. I will not defend myself, but I hope that the following "article" (rather more a loose collection of thoughts) will in a round about way give something of my side of the case. In the meantime thanks to the correspondent for acting as a stimulus.

The cinema in the last 18 months has seen many changes—Cinema Scope, VistaVision, the downfall of 3-D, the decision of Marilyn Munroe to become a director. The film frame is no longer of a standard size; and, what is more, makers of films (the directors) have had to make the decision as to whether they will stick to the orthodox film size or work in that vastly different medium—CinemaScope. However, that is their business. All I am concerned about is the progress of the directors wo have grown to admire—men such as Elia Kazan, Sir Carol Reed, John Huston, David Lean.

We have recently seen pictures that are, in their ways, disturbing and reassuring. "On The Waterfront," "Hobson's Choice," "Beat The Devil." "The Man Between" and The Wages of Fear." They were disturbing if they posed serious questions as to the artistic and creative, progress of the directors; they were reassuring if they showed evidence that the directors are not becoming stale or artistically and creatively cheek-mated. Let us consider these films separately.