A BRITISH STUDIO IN WARTIME.

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 121, 23 May 1940, Page 18

A BRITISH STUDIO IN WARTIME.

Today, more than ever, people look towards the motion picture industry to take them away from the horrible realism of the war, and with this in tflind, the industry in Great Britain is "carrying on" in the face of most extraordinary difficulties. "We began a film at the Baling Studios some three or four days before Mr. Chamberlain announced over the air that we were at war with Germany," writes the Australasian representative. "After two days shooting, when already the invasion of Poland nad begun, and 'evacuation was put into operation, shooting ceased on the set and the studio personnel, technical and administrative, were told they could have the weekend to make arrangements for getting their families into safe areas. When we reassembled on the Monday the country was already at war, and we'arrived to the music of the air-raid sirens: it was a false alarm, but it served to bring the reality home to us. During those days 40 men had left, 29 of whom were key men, to take up Navy, Army, and Air Force posts. The author and director of the Formby ncomedies is now Lieutenant-Cor-

mander Kimmins of the Royal Navy.

Production managers, camera and -sound-men, and.,all young artists left a gap which then seemed impossible to fill, but we decided to carry on. It ; had its headaches, and it had its humours. A topical twist was inserted into the film. s We carried our gasmasks, we camouflaged and blackedout our studios, and cast anxious eyes at the sky until we became'used to, the idea that for the time being anyhow, they would not be blackened by,enemy planes. While the cameras were turning our minds were occupied with two ..things . that concerned "us,very much; how to keep the industry alive during the war, and how to harness it up to the war machine so that it could play its part." George Formby in "Gunner George" is the answer to the last question.' Here the liaricashire lad, who has been acclaimed "England's No. 1 Gloomchaser,"

has been supplied with a vehicle which

is as topical as today's stop-press news. The locale of tfee story is Bergen, Norway, where by mischance Formby > -finds himself instead of Blackpool. Together \with. his ukulele he gets a job, in a Vbroadcasting . dance band, whose leader turns out to be an enemy secret service Efgerit,'who has devised '■■ a code whereby the notes of music played by his band reveal information .of departing vessels to U-boats. .Formby cleans up: the situation in ;■ topical Formby fashion. This film, will be released throughout New Zealand in the near future by^ British Empire Films (N.Z.), Ltd.