ELSTREE STUDIOS

Grey River Argus, 1 August 1934, Page 7

ELSTREE STUDIOS

Visited by Westport Theatre Proprietors AN INTERESTING EXPERIENCE. Although there is hardly a person who has not seen and heard a talkie picture, it falls to the lot of few to be fortunate enough to have the opportunity of inspecting a studio where talkies are made. This, however, wa< the experience enjoyed by Air. 11. and Miss E. Morgan, proprietors of the Victoria Theatre and Theatre Royal, Westport, during their tour of England last. year. Before leaving Wellington Mr. and Miss Morgan received a letter of introduction from -Mr IL L. Grant. New Zealand manager for British International Pictures, to Mr. Felix Alven, Film House, London, and export secretary for 8.1. Pictures. Mr. Alven arranged a visit to Elstree Studios, driving them out in his own car with another exhibitor, Mr Carvana, who owns several theatres on the island of Malta and was on a visit to London at that time. Arriving at the studio, they visited three different

stages where picture's were being produced — Ben Lyon and Sally Filers in •‘I Spy”; Stanley Lupino and Thelma Todd in ‘‘You Made Me Love Aou’ ; and Bebe Daniels and Victor Varconi in “ The Song You Gave Me” (screening at the Victoria Theatre to-night (Wednesday) and to-morrow night (Thursday). The visitors went all round the various departments and state that, it was really wonderful. They had afternoon tea in the cafe on tin' grounds ami returned to see a retake of Bebe Daniels in the particular scene then under production. Mt. and Miss Morgan state that one cannot conceive the amount of [routine that has to be gone through. When all is ready to start and the director gives the signal, a whistle goes and all is silent on the set; the door closes, red lights appear in the corridors outside for silence, and the

scene goes on. It was a broiling hot summer day—over 80 in the shade—and the heat from the arc lights up above was intense so that it can be imagined how every out' was relieved when the scene was finished. One often reads of the amount a picture

costs to produce and naturally thinks that it is all publicity; but after a visit to a. studio and seeing the number of people employed on the set — producer, cinematographer, sound men, electricians, property men; hairdresser, wardrobe mistress, stenographer, etc., in addition to the artists in the picture—one realises differently. At 6 p.m. work ceased. Mr. Alven asked for a still photo to be taken on the set just, finished of Bebe Daniels, Claude Hulbert (who is also in the picture) Paul Stein, producer, C. Frfeise-Green, cinematographer (whose father was the inventor of colour-photography). Mr Alven ami the three exhibitors, Mr. and Miss Morgan and Mr. Carvana, and this was done. These still photographs ran be seen at the Victoria Theatre. Miss Daniels is a charming person to talk to. Picture fans will say Miss Daniels is an American star. That is so; but with her husband Ben Lyon, she was on a visit to England and is starred also in another British production. ‘‘A Southern Maid” to be screened later at the Victoria Theatre.

After spending a most. interesting ami enjoyable afternoon at 6.30 the visitors were on their way back to the city an.l a busy time it was then, with all buses packed to overflowing, motor cars flying here and there ami pedestrians hurrying. Shops do not close until 6.30 p.m. and as the sun does not set until 10 p.m. one can imagine what a pleasant time everyone has when on holiday bent in England.