Warners Re-open

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23850, 28 December 1940, Page 5 (Supplement)

Warners Re-open

Oho pleasing feature of war-time film production hero is flint tin* American companies arc "carrying on" business :is usual, says tlic Pie'. unmoor. It. was good 11<• ws, lor instance, to Ih• ai' that the Warners had taken down the shutters at Teddington. 'Die first of three scheduled pictures is now under way there. It. is at. present titled "An Empire is Built," and is based on the life of Disraeli, with John Gielgud in the title role. Diana Wyrivard plays INlrs. Disraeli. The story is set in a period different from the early George Arliss talkie. It will also give us another screen Victoria; fay Compton will play the queen. Owen Nitres appears as Lord J)erhv, Stephen Murray as Gladstone and Frederick Leister as Lord Melbourne.

The Manager's Side TROUBLE WITH PATRONS A f,L theatre managers have a proper pride in the running of their cinemas, but perhaps picturegoers do not know of some of the diliieulties they are up against. For instance, it a female patron is caused annoyance by someone in the theatre and the incident is seen by the manager, he cannot do anything but ask the offender tor his name and address and prosecute in the courts. If tiie request is refused he cannot use force nor threats or lie lays himself open to a charge of assault; even a hand laid on an arm could come under that heading. If a policeman is handy, he. can he appealed to, but otherwise the manager's only course is to find another seat for the patron who has been annoyed. There is another problem which arises when a complaint is made and neither the manager nor the exhibitor know what is alleged to have happened. The complaint is made ol ail incident which happened in the semi-darkness and to which there are no witnesses. _ The exhibitor's responsibility lies in having to take precautions to ensure the proper conduct of bis hall and provided be does what the law permits him to do that is where his responsibility ends. lint he cannot ignore the complaint and say it is not his business. He may invite; the patron who is alleged to have oflendod to the ollice, but if he refuses, nothing can be dono; the management may not detain him or use force. He is free to walk out or return to bis seat. 11, on the other hand, he likes to give a statement, it can be taken down and handed with the complainant's story to the police. When the manager is in luck is if a policeman is available, for then the pair can settle the business under the eve of the law. So next time you find some trivialities to grumble at in your local cinema, remember that the owner or manager has some headaches to cope with too