AN EVENTFUL YEAR

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21399, 15 February 1935, Page 5

AN EVENTFUL YEAR

FILM INDUSTRY IN ENGLAND SEEKING FRESH MARKETS "The year 1934 has been an eventful one for".Briti?h films. - ' writes the film critic or the "Morning Post," "and while one cannot describe it as being a turning-point in the history of the ; industry, it has nevertheless been a i period of consolidation." "Our companies." he continues, : "have been steadily making up leewav in the matter of quality, and seeking fresh markets as a means ot ! offsetting their increasing production | costs. This question of markets is rapidly coming to the forefront. "Not so many years ago Hollywood, while welcoming the additional pro-

, ceeds derived from British cinemas, ' was scil'-sullicient, to the extent that 1 she could exist comfortably on her own domestic market. The advent of • the 'talkie' has changed this stale of affairs. Our 4500 cinemas now represent a factor that makes precisely the difference to the American producer between profit and loss. •'Equally, the British lilm industry has reached a state in which satis- ; factory profit:-; can be made only by having a share in the international : market. The mam objective, therefore, has been to distribute our pictures abroad, as well as at home. Outstanding Films "In any case, a year that, has seen 1 the production of 'The Scarlet Pimpernel.' 'The Man Who Knew Too Mu.-li,' "I'h* ! Iron Duke.' 'Jew Suss.' 'Nell Gwyn," 'Man of Aran.' and : -TJtUe Friend' —to name but a .section of the product Irom British studios- ■■ must be accounted a memor- ! able, if not an epoch-making, one. The | prospects for 1935 are even move encouraging. "Hollywood executives, of course. i nave been overshadowed by the i Church campaign against indecent ■ tiims. Recent, indications point to the ! purity 'drive' being directed against ; certain British pictures of unimpeach- . able morality, while American tilms ! of Ihe very type which it is. desired : to prohibit are being allowed to pass ! unscathed. ! "The general level of production ni America, though, has remained extra- | ordinarily high. As regards the future, colour is the immeniah' concern ot all the studios, and many of ! the most important, films of I In. coiu- ! jr.g year will be produced with the i aid of Technicolour or some rival pro--1 cess." ENCLISH FILMS COMINC VITKACTIONS Among the notable English »lm« which have been recently completed or are still being produced, and will be shown in Christchurch during 193 a. are the following:British. Dominions Films: "The Mr.Tals of M'urcu:;." starring I .upo Velez and fan Hunter. From Hie novel by William J. Locke. "Brewster's Millions." starring Jack Buchanan and Fill Damila. Comedy. "Saint Jean." starring Fliz.abeth Bergnor: play revised for the him by George jiernard Shaw. "A Christinas Carol." starring Seymour Hick:-: and 'probably) Kllaline Terriss. Based on I lie plav "Scrooge," by Seymour Hicks, J'rom the novel by Charles Dickens. "The Valley of Fear." starring Arthur Worthier, fan Fleming, and Minnie l!ayner: adapted from Sir Arthur Coiian Doyle's nr>\ <-1. "Fse;.pe Me Never." starring Kli/.aheth Bergner. Gaurnout-British: '"Hie Iron Duke,'' starring George Arli.ss: based cm I lie life of the Duke of Wellington. "Alias Bulldog Druminond." starring Jack llulberl; from I. ho novels by "Sappc>-." "The Forbidden Territory," starring Gregory RatofT. Binnie Barnes, Tamara Desni, and Anthony Bushell. Drama of mystery and adventure in Soviet Russia. "THE LITTLE MINISTER" ! i Sli; JAMES BARKIE'S NOVEL ' FILMED | "Sir James Barne would rind him- J self entirely at home in the Thrums of the cinema." is the opinion of the "New York Times" critic, alter seeing Hollywood's version of "The Little Minister." ft is an RKO Radio pic- I Uire. with M>ss Katharine Hepburn in j the leading part, and is now being shown ftir the first time in New York. Most of the critics are enthusiastic in their praise for the pains taken to reconstruct a Scottish weaving town of 1840 among the Californian hills and to coach the players in a broad Scots accent. They also proclaim it a new triumph for the versatile Miss Hepburn.

I Picture-goers may look forward to a | refreshingly new type of drama in Radio's film version of "Wednesday's Child," which features Edward Arnold, Karen Morley, and Frankie Thomas, the 12-year-old star of the stage production. This picture deals with an old topic, domestic schisms, but presents its theme from an entirely dif- • ferent angle, the drama being seen through the eyes of the child involved. It is declared to be not only fine entertainment, but, the greatest sentij mental drama filmed in years.

bareknuckle lighting, routs, and oth'T amusements of conlempoi ary Kngkind. The adaptation by Lajos Biro, Robert F,. Sherwood. Sam Herman and Arthur Wimperis lias been admirably done, and .some of I lie dialogue, developing a humour I hat was not a strong point in the original, is quite brilliant. Harold Young has direefeci. with the lightest of louelies. As Sir Percy Rl.akonoy. Leslie Howard sores tin greatest siiceess of his screen earoei Mis amiable aristocrat, the embodiment of modish vacuity, is played with a distinction and style that mak" the portrait ready memorable. Greta Garho and Kredric March will be the principals, in (,'onut Loo 'Tolstoy's "Anna Karenina." according to an announcement from the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios-. David O. Selznick will act as- producer and George Cukor. who has ins! completed "Pax-id C'oppeiiicld," will direcl. This, will be the lirsl lime that. Miss Garho and March have appeared together. The scenario of Twenlieth Century's "The Mighty Barnnm" is being' published in book form in America. A similar experiment is also being tried in England with the script of "The Private Life of Henry ViU."

TALENTED ENGLISH ACTRESS MISS ( 01,1.1 EFTS CONTRACT WITH Mm* Collier, the British Kloge nrtress who has appeared in f> number of outstanding pvoduetioris both in London nnd New York, has signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. She is now in New York and will leave shortly lor Molly wood 1o begin v ark in talking pictures. Miss Collier appeared recently m London in a Charie.- Cochran production of "Hay Kever." anrl was last, seen on Ihe Broadway stage in "Dinner at Right." In addition to her work hphind tli'.: footlights, her accomplishment.- as writer and dh'eetor arc many. She collaborated cm Ihe play "I'et.cr tbbetson," was collaborator with [vor Novello i.m "The Rat" and "Downhill," and wrote the libretto for Deems Taylor's opera, "Peter Ibbetson." Shedirected Ihe presentation of "Cherries Are Ripe" with .Rod La Rocqiie and Vilnia Banky. and the Hollywood production of "Rebound" with Ina Claire. She is also the author of theatrical reminiscences, "Harlequinade."