Storm Over Asia, chosen by Pamela Hutchinson for the 1928 section of your article (1946 … 1999 …1971 … 2024? What was the best ever year for film?, 16 February), nearly caused the newly formed Salford Workers’ Film Society to fold in 1931. The film was banned by the Salford Watch Committee, which feared a riot due to its “Bolshevik propaganda”. Described by the society as “the film that Salford must not see”, the press reported it as “Storm over Salford”. Undeterred, the film society approached Manchester, where it was passed by its watch committee. Controversy brought a large audience, all keen to see for themselves what the fuss was about. In 2005, we finally brought the film to Salford.
The renamed Manchester and Salford Film Society is still going strong under the guidance of our 102-year-old president, Marjorie Ainsworth. She joined the society aged 17, in 1939, having been persuaded by her boyfriend (and later husband) Tom, and has been involved ever since, apart from a two-year gap for war work. Looking at our past programmes, Marjorie has enjoyed most of the other films your article mentions.
Film clubs, and community and arts cinemas, have an important role in making the gems of our film heritage available so we can share and discuss them together. Coincidentally, La Belle et la Bête (1946), described by Tom Shone in your article as Jean Cocteau’s best film, was our January screening.
Mary Keane
Secretary, Manchester and Salford Film Society
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