PRODUCERS CRITICISED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22344, 15 February 1936, Page 12 (Supplement)

PRODUCERS CRITICISED

FAMOUS CONDUCTOR'S VIEW SIR THOMAS BEECHAM SPEAKS Sir Thomas Beecham, the famous British conductor, recently indulged in some criticism of the films and producers in particular when giving reasons why he has so long refused offers to appear on the screen. His first appearance was made when he conducted the London Philharmonic Orchestra in excerpts from two of Mozart's operas and some musical interludes for Basil Dean's film, " Whom the Gods Love," which is based on the life of the great composer. Sir Thomas said: " I have tried hard to do something for 14 years with a film company, but I have hitherto found it utterly impossible. I found the mentality of all film people who approached me to be as singularly and exotically different from that of the rest of humanity, as some fabulous legend of antiquity.

" For instance, some time ago, wandering into a picture house, I saw a most thrilling melodrama which, lasted about 15 minutes. The scene of it, of course, was in the United States. " During that period I saw a battle at sea, a train wreck, a fire on the 130 th storey of a San Francisco skyscraper, the abduction of at least 25 } r oung wonym and a few other hardly ess exciting episodes. " This astonishing performance was accompanied from beginning to end by the ' Good Friday ' music of ' Parsifal.' I felt that the emotion created in me by this gigantic intellectual effort

should be communicated to the world, and I did so in a letter to the newsweek or so later I received a visit from three mysterious strangers, who alleged they. were i something, in the film w 9 rld.' They said they had read my letter and wished to know it I would consent to chooge a subject for a picture, to approve in every detail the scenario, and to select, arrange or compose the music for it. asked it they had any subject in mind, and they declared they would leave it to me. I thought, for a few minutes, and my mind naturally gravitated to what is, after all, the most magnificent and unequalled story for any film. I said: 1 What about the Odyssey of Homer t " One of the three picturesquo-look-ing visitors said, ' Oo's 'Omer?' I replied that Homer is, probably, the most distinguished man of letters the world has yet known. Whereupon the second * of my visitors commented in pensive and somewhat melancholy accents, 'Oh' my, won't tho fees be 'eavy?' I think that is enough to show why I have not found it easy, hitherto, to deal with most of tho paladins of the fihn world.' " Whom the Gods Love " will star a new screen find, Stephen Haggard, who plays the role of Mozart. Victoria Hopper, John Loder and Liane Haid have leading roles in this super production, which will be released here by Associated Distributors, Ltd.