FILM INDUSTRY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 5, 7 January 1931, Page 5

FILM INDUSTRY.

PROGRESS OF BRITISH.

PRAISED BY AMERICAN.

" WIDE" AND COLOUR - INNOVATIONS.

"British pictures are coming in strongly and certainly deserve a place in the business," said Mr. R. H. Clark, American representative of Warner Bros, and First National Pictures, who arrived by. the Ulimaroa this morning. "I am very pleased to see the British produqt come along as well aa it has in such a short time. If they do not try to make too many picture.'! at tlie beginning I am' sure the studios will be much better off. Time to develop i 8 needed, and if this 13 given the product is sure to be more universally satisfactory. They have made an excellent start, and should continue on the lines they have demonstrated so successfully." Questioned regarding the wide film, Mr. Clark said that two installations had been recently made in L'ondon. All the producers were making some wide film, but the total output was not great. "It is a little premature at the present time," he said. "Exhibitors are under great expense owing to the installation of talking equipment, but as soon as that load is relieved somewhat I think it will be found that all the larger houses will show wide films." Mr. Clark expressed the opinion that theatres would not see nearly as much coloured film in the future. The process was slow and very expensive. All .companies were alive to the high cost, and were relieving themselves of the incubus as far as possible. Colour was only good where colour was really required. An ordinary story did not lend itself to the process; all the colour in the world would not enhance its value. Anything of a- spectacular nature, including stage settings, would be in colour, but beyond that he did not think the producers would go in future. Asked to express his views on the film-hire tax, Mr. Clark said the New Zealand' Government had been quite fair in its attitude. The Hays organisation and other distributors in the United States recognised that the New Zealand Government did not _ wish to take by way of taxation anything mort than the trade would bear. The whole question would be reviewed at the end of the financial year.