Judging Principles

I think we have now come to the fundamental question underlying most of Salient's early critical articles. How far can a film be Judged In terms of art alone and to what extent must social and philosophical implications enter into our assessment of its values? Robert Frank in 1940 rightly called a, review of Rebecca "an inadequate and grossly unfair judgment." and elaborates three things to be appraised in a film "review." 1. Director's handling of the story. 2. Use of the medium and special techniques. 3. Standard of the acting. He then proceeds to make the sweeping and astonishing statement—"What the director does with his plot, not the plot itself is what makes or mars the effect. And judged thus, Rebecca is one of the best films which I have lately seen." H.W. in support of his own principles shrewdly reveals the basis of this opinion. "Alfred Hitchcock has done for the escapist film what Dorothy Sayers has done for the thriller, and in so doing he created something which is entirely pleasing and enjoyable." Later, in an article entitled "Pull Down Those Ivory Towers" (Vol. 4. No. 2) he puts his position succinctly "... but he (the artist) must focus attention on those parts of life which he considers important. The success with which he does this will be determined largely—if we ignore questions of technique—by the opinions which he has formed consciously or subconsciously regarding the decisive forces in the life of the individual and society."