BRITISH-MADE FILMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19418, 28 August 1926, Page 14

BRITISH-MADE FILMS.

WORLD-WIDE DISTRIBUTION. CONTRACT WITH PARAMOUNT. MARKETING PROBLEM SOLVED. British-made star attraction moving pictures will shortly become a regular feature at New Zealand picture theatres. An all-British company, British National Productions, Limited,-has become established at Brighton, England, where ;t has already spent £150,000 on plant and produced two big pictures, "Nell Gwynn" and "London." The company was formed last year by Mr. J. D. Williams, an English financier, and Mr. George D. Eaton, an Australian pastoralist. The first picture, "Neil Gwynn,"" in whifh Dorothy Gish is starred, is now being shown in New York, and reports indicate that it is receiving a cordial reception. One of the chief difficulties confronting the new enterprise was the successful marketing of its productions, but this has now been overcome by the signing of a contract with the Paramount organisation for the world-wide distribution of the films. Cable advice to this effect was received in Auckland yesterday by Paramount Pictures, Limited, and the message is described as the greatest piece of news that the industry has heard this year, and news that "must be received with great interest. The contract .commences with the picture, J'London." - ..,• "London 1 ' is from the pen of Thomas Burke and stars Dorothy Gish, who '.s under contract to British National Pro: ductions for a Series of six pictures. Other stars are. to be signed by British National productions, and now that a world market is assured, production will be entered upon on a Ifti'ge scale, thus solving, with one the great problem of film production in Great Britain For the impasse ivnich has resulted a t > to now has been brought about simply by the inability of British filnls to pro gress without a world market. Paramount now provides that market by assuring that the British product of British National will go into every country where Paramount pictures arc being distributed. ANNUAL PARAMOUNT WEEK. COMMENCEMENT ON MONDAY. The sixth annual Paramount week will be celebrated in New Zealand this year between next Monday, August 30, and September. 4. Since its inception six years ago" Paramount week has become more and more popular each year. The near future wjll see the release of pictures froni Pararaoutit's Fifteenth Birthday Group, which comprises the greatest array of material gathered together in the history of the screen. Some of the chief attractions in this gioup will be "The Sorrows of Satan," a D. W. Griffith play from the story by Marie Corelli; "Fascinating Youths" featuring a number of the stars from Paramount's new school for film actors; "Aloma of the South Seas," with Gilda Grey ; " Old Ironsides," now being produced by James Cruze; "The Wedding March," produced by, and featuring, Eric Von Stronheim; "Beau Geste, ' from the season's : most popular story; "The Greatest Show on Earth,'the life study of P. T. Barnum; "Moon of Israel," from the story by Rider Haggard; and 'many other pictures of equal ncte ' , Future Harold Lloyd pictures will b-i rtlei'sed through Paramount, while there: will .be offerings from that rare comedian, W. C. Fields. There will also be some big attractions from' the works n Zane Grey. These will include "Forlorn, River" and "The Man of the Forest." The biggest attraction to be released early next year will be "The Vanishing Race," fi-om "The Vanishing American,"i by Zp,he~ Grey.. In connection lyitb this picture it is anticipated thai ten North American Indians now in. Australia will be brought to New Zealand. There is also a probability that Zane Grey, who is returning to New Zealand nest December, will be present at the premiere of the picture in this country. Paramount Week will be celebrated locally at the Grand * Princess, Queen's, Everybody's, and Tivoli Theatres. All suburban theatres will also be taking part.