Royal Premiere Of “The Horse’s Mouth”

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28822, 17 February 1959, Page 16

Royal Premiere Of “The Horse’s Mouth”

[From the London correspondent of “The Press.’’]

LONDON, February 5. London enjoyed two important cinema occasions this week: the Royal premiere of Sir Alec Guinness’s much-praised film, “The Horse s Mouth,” and the opening, at a time when picture houses are closing all over the country, of a new cinema in the West End. It was the first Royal film show for two years and the first cinema to be built in the West End for 20. If the omission of a film premiere from Royal engagements last year was a rebuke to the industry for allowing the occasion to become a confusion of gimmickry and star publicity, this year’s was a model of decorum and taste without any loss of the usual excitement and glamour. Everyone agreed that the film selectors had done a splendid job in picking this film of the Joyce Cary novel, which has already been acclaimed on the Continent and in the United States.

Queen Elisabeth the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret were introduced to a long line of stars and members of the industry. Before they arrived, the circle lounge of the Empire, Leicester square, was a spectacular scene of colour and fashion. Maurice Chevalier, now 70, was there and later led the singing from the stage of his famous “Louise.” Simone Signoret and Juliette Greco, who were among the 20 stars waiting to be presented, shared all the tension and excitement of the evening. Together they engaged in a lastminute, desperate rehearsal of the English words of “Louise,” broken by greetings from other guests. The most eccentric item to be found in the- scene was Terry Thomas’s diamond-studded cigar-ette-holder insured, he said, for £2OOO. All eyes followed the arrival of the graceful and poised Lauren Bacall wearing a soft, grey gown.

As usual Peter Sellers managed to assume the benign air of a visiting curate, and no-one was as

inconspicuous as the star of the ■evening, Sir Alec Guinness, who said that he could not stand seeing his own films anyway. He ended the evening by being beaten off the stage by Kay Walsh because he kissed Renee Houston, both actresses re-enacting on stage their roles in “The Horse’s Mouth.” Sir Alec Guinness is rarely involved in such foolery in public. Seats cost from £2 2s to 21gns, and the Cinematograph Trade Benevolent Fund benefitted by £20,000.

The real purpose of the visit to London by Mr Chevalier was to attend the premiere of “Gigi” which opened the new Columbia Theatre in Shaftesbury avenue. The cinema is modern and comfortable and will be run like a theatre, with definite times for performances. The policy is to make going to the cinema a special occasion. New Zealanders who enjoy the comfort of relatively new or renovated cinemas, effective temperature control and clean air while they watch their films do not know how lucky they are, compared with British audiences. Here they commonly suffer uncomfortable and cramped seating, a stuffy, cigarette smoke-laden atmosphere and grotesque decor in theatres which in emergencies would appear to be complicated death-traps. No wonder Britons prefer the relative comfort of watching television. The Columbia seems to be a move in the right direction.