Battle Of Britain Film Upset

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31318, 14 March 1967, Page 17

Battle Of Britain Film Upset

(N.Z.PA.-Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, March 12. The British film workers’ union head, Sir Tom O’Brien, today attacked British backers for their reluctance to finance the “Battle of Britain” film recently rejected by America’s Paramount company.

“There is something radically wrong with a country that cannot, or will not, put up the money to finance a film of a battle which saved it from ultimate defeat,” he said.

“It is now well known that without American-financed productions the British film industry would perish.” Paramount last week with' drew its backing for the £3,000,000 production initiated by a Canadian-born director, Harry Saltzman. Saltzman claimed Paramount had wanted to inject American characters and interest into the story of the British air battle. But Paramount blamed the producer’s lack of preparation for the decision.

Sir Tom O’Brien, general secretary of the National Association of Theatrical and Kine Employees, suggested it was reasonable that American films made outside the United States should include American material in the plot since

production costs were recouped in the vast home market. “But the battle of Britain is essentially a British story and must remain so,” he said.