UNITED ARTISTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 15 April 1939, Page 4

UNITED ARTISTS

20 YEARS OF FILM DISTRIBUTION

Bernard Allen, general manager in New Zealand for United Artist* announces that just exactly twenty years ago in the month of April. United Artists was founded by Charlie Chaplin. Douglas Fairbanks. Mary Tiekford and D. W. Griffith. The company was formed by this "Big Four” to make pictures independently and unlimited as to time and money, and to sell them to exhibitors independently.

The advent of talkies gave this system of independent producer-distribu-tion the fillip that was needed, and now United Artists Picture Corporation have allied with them every worthwhile producer who is courageous enough to back his own work by financing his ov/n productions. The producers under United Artists’ banner to-day include the original founders, Charlie Chaplin. Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks, together with Samuel Goldwyn, Alexander Korda, David O. Selznick, Walj ter Wanger, Edward Small and Hal Roach.

Many of the screen's greatest triumphs have come from these specialists in motion picture entertainment —pictures of such quality that at least one production has been selected each year in the ‘TO best pictures of the year.” Some of the great successes of the silent days were "Sorrell and Son,” “Resurrection.” “The Black Pirate.” "Stella Dallas,” “The Gold Rush.” “The Thief of Bagdad,” "Robin Hood,” "Rosita, “Orphans of the Storm,” and “The Circus”; and among the many notable pictures produced since the talkies were introduced are "Bulldog Drummond.” “Hell’s Angels,” "Whoopee,” "Arrowsmith,” "The Masquerador,” "The Private Life of Henry VIII,” "Catherine the Great,” “The House of Rothschild.” "The Count of Monte Christo,” "Modern Times.” "The Scarlet Pimpernell,” “Sanders of the River,” “These Three.” "The Ghost Goes West,” "Dodsworth.” "Dead End,” "A Star is Born,” "The

Prisoner of Zcnda.” "Tho Drum.” “Tho Hurricane,’ ’and "The Goldwyn Follies.” The Big Parade of hits from United Artists is stronger than ever this year with the following early releases announced: David O. Selznick's "Made for Each Other,” with James Stewart and Carole Lombard: Samuel Goldwyn'* "Wutherirg Heights.” with Merle Oberon; Alexander Korda's "Four Feathers” and “The Thief of Bagdad.’’ both in Technicolour; Walter Wanger’a "Stage Coach” by John Ford who directed “The Hurricane”; Edward Small’s “The Count of Monte Cristo” (repeat) and "The Duke of West Point” with Louis Hayward; Hal Roach's “Topper Takes a Trip,” wfith Roland Young, etc. Last year United Artists maintained ’leadership wfith an impressive record of box office successes. Motion picture lovers now recognise the United Artists’ trademark on a motion picture as the hallmark of outstanding quality. Every picture produced is given the industry’s best talents in regard to stars, direction, photography and production, each picture being a handmade one supervised by specialists. Such an organisation with its fine part should have a great future. Individuals come and go; United Artists goes marching on—firm in the conviction that its principles, policies and product will earn for it a deeper regard and a loftier leadership in the next ( twenty years!