BENEFICIAL CONTROL

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 152, 30 June 1938, Page 17

BENEFICIAL CONTROL

FILMS AND THEATRES

CONDITIONS IN N.Z.

DOMINIONS AND THE QUOTA

"The New Zealand Government is to be congratulated on the lead taken by it some years ago in protecting British film interests in this Dominion," said Mr. Gordon Ellis, of Sydney, general manager for Australia and New Zealand of British Empire Films and associated distributors, who arrived from Sydney via Auckland yesterday and is to return on Monday.

"It may be surprising to the New Zealand people to know," said Mr. Ellis in ah interview, "that this is the only Dominion where the British film quota is in existence, although promises were made by other Dominion countries to carry out what New Zealanji has done. In Australia, where this promise has not been' honoured, it has seriously affected the Australian film industry. Up to three months ago, Australian films were accepted in England as distributors', quota film, thereby creating a ready, sale of Australian productions in the United Kingdom, but because of no reciprocity with England in so far as quota is concerned, the -Austraf lian film is now exempt from ihe distributors' quota, and can only lie sold on its merit. The New South Wales Parliament is sitting this week and the film question is again to be considered •■" by it. ■■■'•'■, , • PREVENTING INFERIORITY. Asked what he considered would be the result of the New Zealand Government's regulations concemir.g the •picture business in the Dominion, Mr. Ellis stated that this country has more regulations governing picture interests than possibly any other country in the •world, and no doubt in many respects they were desirable, providing they were riot detrimental-to the general public. TMe regulations, as they ap- ■ peared to him, were constructive and should eliminate excessive competition that would bring into the country inferior pictures. They should alao result in creating a higher standard of theatres, and according to a britif resume of the regulations, those were the primary objects aimed at by the legislation. "If thisi is so, it can.do nothing else but good so far as the general public' are, concerned, and when it is *11 said and done, it is the public that make or break the industry," added Mr. Ellis. "I understand at present there is a ■certain,, amount of controversy rejjard- - tag the recent-additions to the licensing regulations, the object pf which is to classify existing theatres into 1, 2, and 8 grades," he continued. "I sincerely ■ trust that the people in charge of these regulations will see that it tends to Improve the comfort of these theatres •nd at the same time will not restrict the progress of the industry. If ttiese licensing regulations are applied, im»partially, it -should beneflt all concerned," Mr. Ellis's organisations are disf tributorsi of American as well as Bri- . tish films and he can claim'to speak 1 Impartially on this.subject AUSTRALIAN FILMS. * .Whilst talking of Australian films, ,i (4r. Ellis that considerable improvement was being made in production, especially by Cinesound, .who were the pioneers of feature procluc.ttons, and . their. latest -efforts were equal to imported productions, 'fhe i George Wallace film which had already arrived in New Zealand, entitled "Let .George Do It," was acclaimed as the funniest'film yet placed on Australian screens, and was creating records in attendances wherever exhibited. An- ; other film that had just been completed by Cinesound was Frederic Thwaitos's teeU-lraown" story,/' The Broken Melody," which stars Lloyd Hughes, from . . Hollywood, Shirley Ann Richards, and many other artists from Australia. This 'Was; now enjoying a successful season at the Embassy Theatre, Si dney, and would be released in New Zealand very shortly. ?At the, present, moment Cinesound were: producing •"Dad and Dave Come To Town," starting the evergreen Bert Bailey and Fred Mac Donald, the original Dad and Dave. The next film to be made Would be ah ambitious production Which would feature Cecil Kellaway, Who had been secured from Hollywood, and was to leave there by the next boat to commence working in Sydney. He would afterwards return to Hollywood to complete his contract wilii the Aitjerican companies; "Through ,the Cinesound Review, toew Zealand receives tremendous pul>-

licitythroughout Australia," said. Mr. 4 Ellis, "because this review is. screened tn 850 theatres each week. This muiit Siaterially assist', in publicising the eauty and happenings of this Domut- ' Ion."