I refer to Peta McAuley's letter headlined, 'Witch-hunt drama reflects our times' (South China Morning Post, February 6), requesting a TVB or RTHK screening of the film The Crucible.
If readers are interested in seeing this movie, I recommend they watch it on video. First, TV versions are often edited for family viewing and cut for shorter length.
Second, commercial interruptions will distract attention. Also TVB has the notorious habit of breaking into films with commercials at some of the most important scenes.
I saw Lawrence of Arabia on TVB twice some years ago. When Peter O'Toole blows out a match in close-up and the screen transforms to the hazy desert of Arabia, it is the classic moment of the film. Sadly, here's what happened both times: O'Toole blew out the match and I saw 'PEARL 9:30'.
Third, given today's political circumstances, TVB would find itself in a difficult position to justify screening a movie with such a theme.
The Crucible is a difficult film. I recommend the movie Guilty by Suspicion, which carries a similar message with a more powerful statement. The setting was during Hollywood's own witch-hunt in the late 1940s.