Film Prophesies

Southland Times, Issue 25361, 13 August 1935, Page 5

Film Prophesies

SELZNICK’S VIEWS. There are prophets in Hollywood. Back in 1932 David O. Selznick, then associated with RKO-Radio, and soon after with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, predicted that the film industry was rolling into a classical cycle. He did not say when, but he promised that costume pictures were due for a revival and that the classics of yesterday were going to be the pictures of to-morrow. “As sure as fate Hollywood is going to go overboard on the classics,” declares the prophetic Mr Selznick, still producing for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, but soon to move his deck elsewhere.

Mr Selznick’s opinion is that there are classics—and then again, there are classics. The first group have what he calls “world appeal,” which is to say that they are deeply rooted in the hearts and minds of millions of readers the world over. The second division he defines as the classics which appeal to librarians, which are placed on the' perfunctory and dullish lists of required reading. “And when the companies turn to those, just because they are known as ‘classics,’ there will be weeping and wailing,” warned Mr Selznick, “because there are not enough librarians to fill all the theatres.”

Mr Selznick was not speaking, of course, about the classics he has up his sleeve. Production is about to begin on Dicken’s “A Tale of Two Cities” and sometime in the future will come “Oliver Twist” and “Pickwick Papers.” Discussing “A Tale of Two Cities,” Mr Selznick set at rest all speculation about Ronald Colman’s refusal of the role of Sidney Carton. Mr Colman has not refused, never did refuse and will perform as scheduled. It will not be a dual role. Elizabeth Allen will be seen as Lucie Manette, Henry B. Walthall will be Dr. Manette, O. P. Heggie will appear as Mr Lorry, Edna May Oliver as Miss Pross, Leo Carillo as De Farge, Reginald Owen as Mr Stryver, Fritz Leiber as Gaspard and Basil Rathbone as the Marquis. The role of Madame De Farge lies between Alice Brady, Blanche Yurka, Constance Collier and the Australian, Judith Anderson. Metro and Mr Selznick are seeking a new leading man for the part of Darnet. Mr Selznick was less sure of himself—and of fate—on “Oliver Twist.” He expected to prepare it for Metro, but probably will not be with the studio when it is ready for filming. “I promised to remain at Metro until ‘Tale of Two Cities’ and Fritz Lang’s first picture in America are finished. That should be bv August or September. Ido not know where I’ll go from there,” he added. , He indicated he would rather form his own producing company than join another of the major companies. There have been a dozen rumours, each hinting at a different alliance. , - „ , “They are all true,” said Mr Selznick, “because I do not know what I may do.”

Taking another peek into the future the producer said: “I see that colour will come; there is no stopping it. There are objections to its cost, but anything that is an improvement must come, regardless of its cost. And eventually pictures will be in the third dimension.”