FILMING "DAVID COPPERFIELD"

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21244, 16 August 1934, Page 8

FILMING "DAVID COPPERFIELD"

HUGH WALPOLE ENGAGED TO ADVISE The v.-cll-known English novelist, Hugh Walpolc. lias been engaged to collaborate in the filming of "David Cojjperfield" by Mctro-Goldwyn-Mayer. lit- is vice-president of the Dickens Fellowship of Great Britain, and besides helping to prepare the scenario will Rive technical advice during the lilin':> production. Tiiis will be Mr Walpole's first writing directly for the screen. For years lie has ranked as one of the leading British novelists, and his outstanding works include the recently-published "Vanessa," which has been acquired by Metro-Goldwyn-Maycr; "The Cathedral," "Jeremy," Harmer John," "The Duchess of Wrexe," "Wintersmoon," "The Old I.ady," "The Captives," "Uogue Herrics," and "Portrait of a Man with Red Hair."' He has also written a large number of short stories ano Recently Mr David A. Sclznick. i head of the Metro-Goldwyn-Maycr ' Corporation, with his director, George | Cukor, and a .scenarist, Howard Esta- ! brook, collected data and studied back- | grounds for "David Copperlield" in ; England. Mr Walpolc returned with ! the Sclznick party on the He de France, and proceeded directly to the Culver City studios to work on production of the Dickens novel there.

I pictures I am making for GaumontBritish, what they (or it) will be, or where I shall make it (or them). I am not going to tell you, because I cannot, how long I shall stay in England. I am nowhere permanently, but liable to do anything at any moment. And the first thing I shall do, I promise you, at the first available moment, is to go out and see the country in which you so justly but unkindly remarked that I ought to be." GEORGE ARLISS AS WELLINGTON Mr George Arliss is to make "The Iron Duke" under Gaumont British auspices. The picture will be directed by Victor Saville and production will begin on August 20. The story is by H. M. Harwood and the picture will deal with the career of the Duke of Wellington in the period between Napoleon's escape from Elba and the record Treaty of Paris, which, of course, embraces the campaign the crisis of which was the duke's victory at Waterloo. Requiring, as it will, between three and four months for production Fox Film advises that the picture will not be available for distribution in New Zealand before the end of the year, but it is expected to be one of the earliest of the 1935 releases. Noah Beery, noted character actor, is enacting the role of a Hungarian innkeeper in "Caravan," Erik Charell's gigantic musical production now m production at the Fox Film studio.