British Pictures on Broadway

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23275, 18 February 1939, Page 18 (Supplement)

British Pictures on Broadway

While production in Britain is m the doldrums, three of the four greatest successes of the Christmas season in New York—"The Beachcomber," "Pvgmalion" and 4 'The Lady Vanishes"— aro all British, and the fourth, "A Christmas Carol," a Hollywood production exploiting English talent. Variety, the org_an of the American entertainment industry, records the British successes under the characteristic headline, "3 Strong British Fix on B'way." . "All that remains," observes the writer, "to transform Broadway's theatrical district this week to a Piccadilly close-up is for the traffic to reverse itself and adopt left-hand passjug. •'The Beachcomber" —the Laughton comedy known in this country by the title of Mr. Maugham's short story. "The Vessel of Wrath" —took £<3ooo in its first week. "Tho Lady Vanishes," ot'or winch, according to Variety, "the New York critics did hand-springs." played to £2OOO at tho small Globe cinema. "Pygmalion" played at the Astor to capacity, or slightly above, when standing room is allowed for, for tho third week in succession. "The Citadel" also had great success when shown in New .York recently*