WAR AND THE FILMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24715, 18 September 1941, Page 9

WAR AND THE FILMS

PRO-BRITISH INFLUENCE SCREENING OF "GONE WITH THE WIND" The effect of the war on the motion picture industry and the influence of films on international relations were referred to by Mr H. Strachan, of the staff of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Ltd., Sydney, in an interview with a Daily Times reporter yesterday. Mr Strachan stated that the Hollywood film colony was extremely pro-British, and he described the part played in Great Britain's war effort by several wellknown kinema personalities. He is visiting Dunedin in connection with the showing here of ' Gone With the Wind." " In America the„war has not affected the output of films," Mr Strachan said, " but it has had an influence on the pictures produced Such films as ' The Mortal Storm ' and ' Escape * have shown the anti-Nazi feeling in Hollywood, and the propaganda in the interests of Britain must have helped her greatly and done her cause a considerable amount of good throughout the world. In fact, the propaganda in Hollywood films suggesting greater help for Britain has caused concern in some quarters in the United States, for it has been taken as being pro-war propaganda. "An indication of the way in which Hollywood is maintaining the standard of its films is given in the releases of Metro-Goldwvn-Mayer for the coming year," Mr Strachan said. " These films include 'Boom Town,' featuring Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy and Claudette Colbert. Noel Coward's ' Bitter Sweet,' with Nelson Eddy and Jeanette Macdonald, the smart comedy ' Philadelphia Story,' with James Stewart. Katherne Henburn and Cary Grant. ' Men of Bovs' 'Town,' featuring Spencer Trpcy and Mickey Rooney, ' Blossoms in the Dust.' starrine Greer . Garson, 'Billv 'the Kid,' with Robert Taylor, Smilin' Through,' starring Jeanette Macdonald. Gone Raymond and Brian Aherne. and ' The Chocolate Soldier.' featuring Nelson Eddy and the new star Rose Stevens. " The war came as a preat blow to the British film industry." Mr Strachan remarked. " but it is manfully carrying on in soitf of enemy raids and war-time ' difficulties " Practical Help for Britain Mr Strachan gave instances of the way in which members of the Hollywood colony were assisting in Britain's war effort. For some time. Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh (who is Scarlett O'Hara in " Gone With the Wind") were earning 3000 dollars a week each at Hollywood and thev gave 1000 dollars each week to the British War Relief Fund. They were not satisfied with this. Mr Strachan said, and they decided that they could serve Britain in better ways. They declined all contracts and sailed for Enetand. where Vivien Lelfrh was doing auxiliary w?r work and Olivier had joined the F'eet Air Arm C»'-v Grqnt, who was the star in " The M»i Who Came to Dinner" r»c°ived 125.000 dollars for it and he handed the wbm° sum over to the British War Relfpf Fimd. " One of the best stories of this hem Britain ronce r "s David S°l"fck." Mr Strachan said " Italv was verv anxious to have "R°beora. - and Seln'"k ofWed it at £30.000 the monev to he nMd in New York Th° offT was pcoented. and the mnn»v nntd the whole £/<nnoo to th» B-'tiph fund, so that th« ifpisint. contributed to thenenemies' war effort " Scarlet O'Hara Quest "

"The war has not affected audiences to anv extent." Mr Strachan continued People seem to want the -"creation of oictures more than ever The war has certainlv not affected the attendances at. Gone With the Wind ' throughout the world In fact ud to three months a«o the a£"?re?atp attendance a< woo theatres throughout th° world was "»S.nnn.f)no, and the taking? pmounted to £8.000.000. In Auckland 100.000 n°ople h«ve seen the film—almost h?lf the citv's population More interest has been taken in ' Gone With the Wind' than in any previous 11m" Mr Strpohan continued. " Ten Academy Awards have been won In it, and the stars—Clark Gable Vivian Leigh. t.psli? Howard and Olivia de HavfUand -have enhanced th»ir already notable -enutatlons as a result of their performances in the film" An interesting competition will be staged in Dunedin In connection with the film. It will be a " Scarlett O'Harn Ouesf in wh'eh an endeavour will be made to Pnd tfr* Dunedin girl most like Vivien T.°«"h Entries wHI be received at the D.1.C., Ltd. and the judging by representatives of the picture business, the nrpss and the radio will take placeon October 1. The winner will receive a frock that Is a replica of the party irown worn by Scarlett O'Hara i« the film. She will also he engaged as personality hostess at the R-gent Theatre during the showing of the film