ABSTRACT
The influence of the Russian theatre, pre-and post-revolutionary, is one of ideas, acting, production and decor. The observers interested in the Russian theatre happen to have been very curious, very articulate and relatively non-political in viewpoint. In recent years Congressional investigations have put a very high survival value on the discovery of other than Russian influences in cinema, theatre and elsewhere in the arts, sciences and professions. An impression derived from reading English comment, especially in the 1930's, is that the Russian influence was chiefly that of arousing the English interested in the theatre to reflect upon their own problems-and to come to rather gloomy conclusions. In England it was easiest at first to arouse interest in Soviet films, although a censorship operated against their importation. The Film Society secured the admission of Gorky's Mother, but for all its efforts, the list of Russian films shown in England up to the date of Mr Carter's survey is meagre.
