CONTRACT SIGNED

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 30, 29 October 1932, Page 9

CONTRACT SIGNED

Paramount Theatre to . Show British Films MR WILLIAMSON’S VISIT Through the completion of a contract between Mr. W. R. Kemball and Mr. Ernest Turnbull, general manager for British Dominions Films, the Paramount Theatre, Wellington, will become I an all-British house from Friday, No- • vember 25, showing exclusively British Dominions - Gainsborough - Gaumont films. The completion of the contract was celebrated recently at a dinner in Melbourne, where one of the principal speeches of the evening was made by Mr. Alan J. Williamson, special representative in Australia and New Zealand of Gainsborough Pictures. Mr. Williamson will shortly be visiting New Zealand, and according to present arrangements will arrive in Auckland by the Zealandia on Monday, November 7. He will spend a few days in Auckland before leaving for Rotorua, Wellington, Lyttelton, « Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill. “I have been looking forward for some time to making this visit” said Mr. Williamson. “Arrangements which I had made, previously, for an earlier tour of the Dominion had to be altered owing to the pronounced success which Gainsborough Pictures, especially, ‘Sunshine Susie,’ are enjoying in Australia; the demand for these pictures and the extension of plans which had to. be made in consequence, neces sitating my travelling extensively in the Commonwealth. ; “I have been actuated by the desire to visit New Zealand not only because the outlook of the people is in harmony with the best British traditions, but because New Zealand, as a Dominion, has so staunchly supported British films, with all that they stand for both in increased prestige of Empire and in the promotion of trade between British countries. I intend to visit as many cities and centres as time will permit, and hope to meet many of those who are doing such excellent work in furthering the British film movement. “Australia and New Zealand constitute a natural market for British films, which is next in importance to the United Kingdom. The people of both countries possess discriminating taste, and it is customary to think in terms of the best pictures for this market. My company has been extremely gratified at the success which has attended the establishment by British Dominions Films Limited of the circuit of AllBritish theatres in Australia. I am convinced from what I know of the reception accorded British films, that similar success will attend the movement in New Zealand, which was inaugurated by the opening of the Plaza Theatre, Auckland, where ‘Sunshine Susie’—the most popular picture ever shown in Australia—is now being screened. The exclusively British programmes presented in these theatres under the direction of British Dominions Films Limited, will include productions from the great modern studios of Gainsborough Pictures and the Gaumont British Corporation.

“It is recognised by the important interests which I represent that Australian and New Zealand representation of Gaumont-Gaisborough lilms is in very capable hands with British Dominions Films Limited under Mr f Ernest Turnbull,” said Mr. Williamson, “and during my stay in New Zealand, just as in Australia, my efforts will be directed towards assisting them in every way in their endeavours to show the best British films to the fullest degree.” Referring to the gigantic Gaumont-

Gainsborough organisation Mr. Williamson said that to-day £25,000,000 was invested in the corporation, which owned and controlled 400 cinemas in Great Britain, and the activities of which were being extended to embrace the entire Empire. The organisation was complete and self-contained, owning in addition to studios and theatres, a sound recording and reproducing system and film printing laboratories, the huge output of which was continually being increased. < “We are so confident that we have pictures which are superior entertainment in the best sense of the term that we are investigating every Dominion market,” continued Mr. Williamson. “No stone will be left unturned to provide British speaking people all over the world with opportunities to see the finest films being produced.” Mr. Williamson speaks with the voice of authority, for his wide and comprehensive knowledge of British films and the film industry extends over a period of 32 years. His first visit to Australia was made in 1910. During three years in the Commonwealth Mr. Williamson filled many roles, all of which were associated with the building up of the industry. His most im-

portant work was the production, at Narrabeen near Sydney, of films for Spencers Pictures. He was also manager of the largest picture theatre in Melbourne of . that period. In 1913 when Mr. Williamson returned to England to select British films for Australian companies, he became identified with a series of’ important developments, the culminating point of which was the perfection of the process of developing and printing sound films —a process which was to bring world renown to British pictures. Dm ing the war he was an officer in chargi of a cinematograph branch of tie Royal Air Force. Todlay Mr. Williamson is familia: with the working of every departmen, in the great studios of England. II has also had his own laboratories for experimental and research purposes, one result having been his success in the colour cinematograph process, in which he is regarded as an expert. Since his arrival in Australia earlie! this year, Mr. Williamson has visited Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide from his headquarters in Melbourne. He will arrive in New Zealand at a time when much public attention is being concentrated upon the important circuit of all-Bi'itisb theatres being estab lisbed by British Dominions Films Lim ited, and there is no doubt that he will be able to report to his principals in England that the enthusiasm with which the announcement of this movement was greeted in New Zealand, equals that which has been created by the successful progress of the all-Brit-ish circuit in Australia.