takes 1st prize
But in its original version
THE Italian Premier, Signor de Gasperi, last week presented the Roman Prize for the best Italian film of the year to the producers of the Ingrid Bergman-Roberto Rossellini film God's Earth which is being shown in America in another form under the title of Stromboli.
The film in America is a mutilated version of the original, says the news service of the International Pro
Deo Union. God's Earth is of a deeply religious character, showing how only God and His grace can help man to overcome life's tribulations.
Senator Johnson's attack in the U.S. Senate last week on immorality in films he called Ingrid Bergman and Rita Hayworth " apostles of degradation "-has brought a reply from Mr. Eric Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Association.
DEMOCRACY '
" People should be free to decide for themselves the morals of pictures they see," he said, He added that Senator Johnson is " setting up for himself a pretty big job. to become commissar of the morals of the American people," and declared : "1 believe in democracy at the box office."