BRITISH FILM INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21136, 19 March 1932, Page 14

BRITISH FILM INDUSTRY.

GREAT ADVANCES MADE. CHALLENGE TO AMERICA. The view that British film producers are in a fair way to wrest supremacy from Hollywood was expressed by Mr. T. Henkel, formerly musical director at. the Civic Theatre, who arrived in Auckland by the Sierra yesterday on his way back to Sydney after a holiday visit to NewYork. Tho cinema industry in the United States has fallen on lean times, according to Tilr. Henkel, and British companies have not been slow to seize on tho great eharico which has como their way. "The trouble in Hollywood is that most of the motion picture magnates aro attempting to deal with films as if they were silk stockings, or shoes, or some other form of commercial manufacture," Mr. Henkel said. "If the market for silk stockings or shoes is bad, there arc recognised steps to take, but the same steps cannot reasonably bo taken in connection with something which caters for public entertainment. Hollywood has for years looked on films as a commercial proposition instead of a modern branch of an ancient art, and it is now beginning to pay for its lack of foresight. "British producers have been building up their position steadily. There is no doubt that they have tho artists and tho material with which to work, but they havo also improved their pictorial treatment, sound recording and other technical details. It is only fair to say that they havo received assistance from Holly wood technicians, whom they have been wise enough to employ, but tho fact remains that tho British film to day is something far better than it was a year ago. Tho motion picture.industry in England seems assured fit" a bright future.'