AMERICAN FILMS

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25934, 14 October 1949, Page 9

AMERICAN FILMS

MAKING MONEY THE PRIMARY OBJECT

American films were made primarily to make money, and if the companies could make more out of growing tomatoes on the same ground on which they made their, films, then they would no doubt grow tomatoes, said Mr Carl Rendall, producer of -“Annie Get Your Gun.” in an interview yesterday. For three years he directed films at Hollywood for M.G.M. and for two years for Universal. Discussing criticism of the subject matter of American films, Mr Rendall said that average intelligence standards of people were not often very high. Often the most intelligent people were little interested in films, and after all formed a small group. The idea was to appeal to the average taste. Mr Rendall said that American films were produced primarily for American audiences, there being an adequate market for films in the country itself. Export was like gravy —it was not really essential. Of British films, Mr Rendall said that they had recently come along very well, but were still virtually in their infancy when compared with American films. An average person could give the names of a whole list of popular American film actors and actresses, but of only two or three of British origin. At first British people had by their attitude hampered the film industry, and he still thought that many people did not have a great liking for the films. Englishmen liked a show to which they could go in swallowtails and stiff front, and where there was an interval when they could have a whisky and soda and meet friends. They had kept alive the flesh and blood shows.