FILM PROGRAMME.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 215, 11 September 1928, Page 17

FILM PROGRAMME.

EUROPEAN PRODUCTIONS.

NEXT TEAR'S OFFERING.

CINEMA ART FILMS' LIST.

Definite information has been received by Mr. T. Valois, New Zealand manager for Cinema Art Films (Aust. and N.Z.), Ltd., in regard to his company's distributing programme for the year commencing next January. During the year Cinema Art Films, Ltd., will release 46 pictures, of which 30 will be made by British International Pictures, Ltd., and the remaining .16 from the strong Continental firm Ufa, famous as the producers of "Variety," "Faust," "The Waltz Dream," "Manon Lescaut," "The Circus of Life," and "Metropolis." British International Pictures is the largest picture producing firm in Great Britain. Its studios at Elstree are not yet completed, but when work is finished on them they will be the largest in the world. Such a budget of films as provided by the joint list of 8.1.P. and Ufa productions to be released in New Zealand next year is one which should compare favourably with the programme of any American producing firm. Among the 46 will be six "road shows" (better known as "super-specials"), all of which are from Ufa. These are: "The Spy," made by Fritz Lang, producer of "Metropolis"; "Secrets of the Orient," filmed in Morocco by Alexander Wycoff, who made "Michael Strogoff"; The Burni g of Moscow," also made by Wycoff; "Looping the Loop," acclaimed by critics as "the greatest circus picture ever produced"; "Coming Home," in which Lars Hansen is starred; and "The Hungarian Rhapsody," which is still in course of production.

I There will be ten "specials" from BJ.P., including "Tommy Atkins," which critics have seen fit to call "the 'Beau Geste' of I the British film industry"; "Poppies of Flanders," which is based on an original story by "Sapper" (H. C. McNelle); "Piccadilly," from a story by Arnold Bennett and produced by A. E. Dupont, who made "Variety"; "Champagne," directed by Alfred Hitchcock, the highestpaid British producer, whose salary is £1000 a week; and "Moulin Rouge," also by A. E. Dupont. Also on the list will be 20 "A Grade" pictures from 8.1.P., among which are "The Ring," made by Alfred Hitchcock, which the "Daily Mail" said was "the greatest production ever made in this country"; "The Farmer's Wife," adapted from the famous stage play of the same name, and also made by Alfred Hitchcock; "Emerald of the East," filmed in India, by a Polish director, Gene de Kuharski; "Toni," starring the wellknown English musical comedy artist Jack Buchanan; "The White Sheik," from the popular story "Bang's Mate," directed by Harry Knoles, who made "Carnival" and "The Bohemian Girl"; "The Silver Rosary,"/from an original story by Monkton Hoff; "Not Quite a Lady," from Sir John Hankin's success, "The Cassilis Engagement"; "Paradise," from an original story by Sir Philip Gibbs, with a cast including the New Zealand actor Winter Hall, who is now permanently engaged with 8.1, P,; "After ■the Verdict," from the story *by Robert s Hitchens; and "A Daughter of the Regiment," produced by Alfred Hitchcock. Ten "A Grade" productions from Ufa complete the list. These include: "At the Edge of the world," starring Bridget Helm, the girl who headed the cast of "Metropolis"; "Maizie's Baby," featuring Lillian Harvey, a new star; and "Wolves of the Underworld," from an original story by Compton Mackenzie.

It will be seen that the best directors have been' engaged to make pictures based on stories by the best writers, and such an action on the part of British and Continental producers seems to indicate that expense is being regarded as one of the smallest factors in the competition with American producing firms. Doubtless a number of the pictures will be screened with synchronised sound presentation, and it is a coincidence that almost at the same time as this programme is announced there comes from London a cable stating that the rights of an invention by a New Zealander, Mr. A. E. Rod, of Wellington, have been bought by British International Pictures, Ltd., and that Mr. John Maxwell, chairman of directors of 8.1.P., has formed a company with a capital of £250,000 to obtain the European rights.