NEW FILM CITY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIX, 1 February 1936, Page 4

NEW FILM CITY

“SOVIET ELSTREE” PRODUCTION ON LARGE SCALE A gigantic “Soviet Elstrcc” —tlio new cinema city located in Russia’s semitropical south, where move than 0000 people will engage in film production—is scheduled to 'start coiistruetiop. early in 1930, according to an an--nouncenient -bv Air B. 7.. Sliflmiatsky, chief Of the Soviet cinema , industry, recently, says the Moscow correspondent. of the “Sunday Observer.” An idea of the scope of the huge southern cinema centre-may lie gathered from the fact that the annual production- is expected to reach 700 films —more than 10 times the'present total yearly output of all the existing Soviet Lcinema “factories.” The project will*employ 500 actors, .220 directors. 137 cameramen, 55 montage experts, and more than 40,artists and architects. -Between 7000 and SOOO people will constitute the service and technical personnel. ' '4O HUGE STUDIOS -• The “Soviet Elstrcc,'’ which, it is stated. wil\he ready in the summer of 11)37. is planned on a grandiosp scale. It will, have an annual capacity of 200 films, to he produced in 40 huge studios. ! covering an area of 33,000 square metres. One hundred and five tlious- 1 and square metres will, be devoted to ( building special natural sets. | Fitted with elaborate equipment, five I special structures will be used for ; “stunt” filming. Dwellings, administra-1 tive buildings, laboratories, and pri-

Shite studios for scenarists, artists and composers are to be provided.

A vast amount of time and money is no>v being wasted by the Soviet cinema industry, which annually despatches at least 40 film expeditions to various parts of the country in search of appropriate natural backgrounds. The concentration of the film production at Sukhum, in South Caucasus or in the Crimea, will provide easy access to a» wide variety of natural conditions.

Marriages in Hollywood Alice Moore, daughter of Alice Joyce and Tom Moore, lias become Airs Felix Knight. Blenebe Sweet, star of tbe silent films, Ims married Raymond Ilackett, who was also prominent before the talkies came. if* V , *¥*

Anita Louise bus won that role of Marie in “Anthony Adverse." Snell stars as Claudette Colbert and Olivia de Havilland were tested for the Angel. Anita will play opposite to Frederic March—a contrast to her appearance with Nino Martini in the singing “Here’s to Romance,”