BRITISH FILMS FOR AMERICA

Southland Times, Issue 23179, 21 April 1937, Page 9

BRITISH FILMS FOR AMERICA

NEW CONTRACTS SIGNED British film producers are assured of more than £1,000,000 of new income as a result of contracts with the United Artists Corporation, according to Mr Murray Silverstone, managing director of the corporation in Great Britain. His statement is of special importance in view of the doubts recently expressed by several British film producers as to whether it is possible to break into the American market. Mr Silverstone said that arrangements had been made for the release of 21 British films within the next 12 months in no fewer than 102 different countries covered by United Artists sales organization. . “The success, in all countries of the films produced by Mr Alexander Korda has been so great that United Artists have resolved to make the world-wide distribution of British films a permanent policy,” he explained. “The progress of British films has stimulated the entire film industry. Attendances at cinemas all over the world are increasing, and good pictures made in England will bring increasing returns from abroad. “In Europe last year our British films were as popular as our American films, and in the United States each of Mr Korda’s productions has been shown in more than 8000 cinemas. “In all countries there is intense competition for the best of the British output. The 21 films we shall .release in 1937 will be translated into French, German, Italian and Spanish, and titles for other countries will be superimposed in 25 languages.” The producers whose British films will be released by United Artists are Alexander Korda, Max Schach, Erich Pommer, Paul Czinner, Victor Saville, Marcel Hellman and Lothar Mendes. The stars in these films will include Elisabeth Bergner, Merle Oberon, Marlene Dietrich, Miriam Hopkins, Ann Harding, Charles Laughton, Robert Donat, Douglas Fairbanks, jun., Edward G. Robinson, Laurence Olivier, Basil Rathbone and Conrad Veidt.