BRITISH FILMS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 31, 6 February 1937, Page 5 (Supplement)

BRITISH FILMS.

NOT FOR WORLD MARKET. TWO COMPANIES AFFECTED. Two of the great film-producing companies of Britain are to discontinue production for tin; world market, says the "Daily Express." They, together with other" British film companies, are expected to lose .C-2.OUO.UUU oil their output of 193 U. Slid! huge, losses are. accounted for principally by the failure of British companies to penetrate the United States market. The extent of the crisis in the. industry is indicated, the "Daily Express" says) by the decision of the " Gaumont-Britieh and British--1) inions Films, Limited, companies to discontinue, production for world markets. A report by the Film Council reveals thai, £13,000,000 was poured into the industry without dividends resulting. "The meteoric expansion of the British film trado constitutes one of the most dangerous and highly-speculative booms in tho history of finance," it is stated in the. report. Films More British. Tho probable signilicai.ee of the move was explained by Mr. Alan J. Williamson, director of Gaumont British Dominions Films Distributors, Limited, tho Arm which controls Australian distribution of the products of both companies alfected. The companies' decision, lie, said, meant a reversal of the policy of copying American display and lavish production methods for making pictures, specially designed to capture large audiC The result of'this policy had been that the most expensive and elaborate films madn in England were such as might have been made anywhere. "1 don't believe that the new move will detract from the entertainment value of British films if producer* leave alone lavish productions, and begin to make more homely, native pictures," Mr. Williamson said. The change certainly did not mean that two of the major British Him companies would cease to operate in the American market.