A NEW FIELD

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 104, 4 May 1935, Page 27

A NEW FIELD

STATESMEN RIVALS

MAKING JUBILEE FILM

When . distinguished statesmen turn from governing a nation to producing a film, there's bound to be some fun!

Sir Austen Chamberlain and Mr. Winston Churchill' are rivals in rhaking the much-discussed Royal Jubilee Film! ,(states the "Australasian Women's Weekly"). Sir Austen is Britain's "senior1' Cabinet Minister, and. has been a member of the Government ill three successive reigns. Mr. Churchill is very well known as one of the elder statesmen. '

The Koyal film is to be an impression of the reign of George V, and its showing must coincide with May Jubilee celebrations. A film so important, nationally, as this, surely requires the censorious hand of a statesman!

And so London Films started out on their £100,000 Jubilee epic. Mr. Winston Churchill, who is, of course, as well known as an author as he is as a statesman, wrote the scenario. Anthony Asquith, son of one of England's great Prime Ministers, was engaged to direct it. Charles Laughton and Leslie Howard were signed to appear in it.

With such an important assemblage to encourage it, the film should have made good headway. But the company suddenly realised they could not finish their picture in time for the May celebrations, and dropped all preparations.

Within an hour Pathe Pictures had stepped into the lists with an undertaking to make ,a film. "Twenty-five Years a King," and with Sir Austen Chamberlain collaborating with Mr. John Drinkwater to compile the film.