Hollywood Going To London

Southland Times, Issue 25308, 11 June 1935, Page 5

Hollywood Going To London

There will soon be remarkable developments in the film business in England (says the Melbourne Herald). Because British companies are making more first class productions than formerly, and are prepared to spend much money, Hollywood stars are becoming eager to appear in British pictures. American companies which propose to concentrate on the production of films of the best quality in England, intend to send Hollywood stars to that country. On his return to London from a visit to the United States, Irving Asher, who controls the British productions of Warner Brothers at Teddington, announced that his organization intends to make 16 pictures a year in England for presentation in America and Great Britain.

“We are through with cheap quota pictures, and are enlarging our Teddington studioa at once,” he said. “In future we shall produce only films of importance there, and shall bring our Hollywood stars to appear in them.” Samuel Goldwyn last month decided that it was cheaper to make films in England, and expressed his intention to begin making pictures in that country towards the end Ox the year. He will bring a number of his stars with him.

Radio Pictures is spending £250,000 on films in England this year. Fresh evidence is frequently given of the determination of British producers to make a larger number of first-class pictures and of their willingness to pay well for outstanding talent. Joan Littlefield writes from London that the largest sum ever spent on a British talkie is being invested by London Films in the H. G. Wells picture of the future “Whither Mankind?”

British and Dominions recently gave Anna Neagle a contract worth £lOOO a working week. When she made “Good Night, Vienna,” that English actress received only £5O a week. Anna Neagle, who was last seen in the title role of “Nell Gwyn,” is now making her Peg Woffington film for British and Dominions. Last February Gracie Fields signed a contract with Associated Talking Pictures to star in four films at the rate of a £3 a min-I ute' I

Nearly every British company employs Americans as directors, technicians and cameramen. Many American actors and actresses have already played in British films.. Gaumont-British is bringing Richard Dix and Madge Evans to appear with the distinguished German actor. Com-ad Veidt in “The Tunnel,” and Helen Vinson and Noah Berry to play with Mr Veidt in “King of the Damned.”

England has gained much of the talent which Hitler drove out of Germany. The famous Austrian star, Elizabeth Bergner, will return for more film work after her stage engagement in America.

England will soon obtain some notable talent from France. Rene Clair is going to direct Charles Laughton’s next picture for London Films, the company which is to star Maurice Chevalier in a film this year. Simone Simon, a charming “discovery,” who has been playing in Vicki Baum’s “Lac au Dames,” ir London, will also make pictures in England. Alexander Korda’s latest capture is the distinguished Belgian director, Jacques Feyder, who spent some time in Hollywood. He will direct Merle Oberon’s next British picture.

George Arliss is to begin work on the second of the three pictures he is making for Gaumont-British in a few weeks’ time. This is based on a story previously filmed in France and called “Spike,” and is described as an amiable comedy of a tramp whose name coincides with that of ar. internationally famous financier. The second film will be based on the life of Pepys. Mr Arliss will portray the diarist, not as a gossiper and a flirt, but as a hardworking patriot. The Great Fire will be vividly re-created in the picture.

Well, the dreadful tragedy that everyone at Fox has been expecting for so long has actually happened. Shirley Temple lost one of her very cutest front teeth—and right in the middle of production on “Our Little Girl”! Mama and papa managed to get a false tooth made for their cherub and thus kept the affair from the ears of studio chiefs for some days, but the worst has to happen, and the other day Shirley muffed her lines and rushed off the set covering her mouth with two small hands. The tooth had come loose! After much coaxing, the poor, self-conscious infant was lured back and finished the scene for her astounded director.