COLOUR FILMS

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21335, 30 November 1934, Page 5

COLOUR FILMS

INCREASING NUMBERS NEW BRITISH PROCESS The probability that film production in colour is very much more imminent than many people suppose is borne out by the latest news from Hollywood and Elstree, states a writer in the "Observer." In America, whcro the success of the short Technicolour picture, "La Cucuracha," has been one of the mon notable events of the fall season, the list of projected colour features has recently been strengthened by the addition of Radio's "Becky Sharp." with Miriam Hopkins in the title role. At Home, British International Pictures plan to use colour sequences in their film, "Radio Parade of 1935," and Alexander Korda, the head of London •Films, announces that as soon as his new studios open in April he will start production on a full-length colour picture, probably "Lawrence of Arabia." It is quite on the cards that he will also use colour for his projected film of the life of Nijinsky—a subject which seems to be ideally suited to the new medium. Mr Korda Impressed The system adopted by London Films is a newly invented British process known as Hillman Coiourgravure, produced by the Gerrard Industries, and Mr Korda is so much impressed by its possibilities lor commercial

film-making on a large scale that he has himself joined the board of directors. Hillman Colourgravuro is, I understand, a three-colour process which is relatively cheap to. use. and will cost the producer very little more than ordinary monochrome photography. The subject is shot on one strip of film, and depends for its effect on the use of a small gadget attached to the ordinary cinema projector. This gadget may be purchased outright by the exhibitor for something between £5 and £lO or hired along with the film. The greatest difference between Colourgravuro and other colour systems, so far as the studio is concerned, is probably the fact that it requires only a negligible increase over the amount of lighting used in ordinary black-and-white photography. Hitherto the actors in colour films have had to worK under conditions representing at least a 300 per cent, increase in the normal studio lighting, with the result that colour tones have faded, make-up has run, and the overheads have assumed almost fantastic proportions. INCOMES OF COMPOSERS EFFECT OF RADIO Surprising figures revealing the effect of radio on the sales of sheet music and on the revenue received by composers are contained in a booklet recently issued by the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers. In 1927, according to this publication, the song "Ramona" sold to the extent of 1,750,000 copies of sheet music. Shortly after that time the full affects of broadcasting upon the sale of music became manifest and in 1931 the "Stein Song," the most popular song of the year, sold 900,000 copies only. To-day, the society alleges, if 100,000 copies of a song are sold it is considered a very great success. Constant repetition over the air cuts down the sale of sheet music enormously, and whereas the life of a popular song used to be a year or more, to-day the composer is fortunate if his song lasts for three months. |

Radio, it is stated, has not only pruned the sales of sheet music, it has also almost similarly reduced composers' and authors' revenue from the sale of gramophone records and player rolls. It appears that the American public spends an average of £105,000,000 a year on radio, yet the creators of the music, which is the foundation of this form of entertainment, receive less than XI out of every £IOOO thus spent. In the United States of America a few years ago there were 8000 shops retailing sheet music; to-day the number has declined to 2000.