EMPIRE FILMS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 92, 9 July 1927, Page 25

EMPIRE FILMS

PROTECTION SOUGHT REQUEST TO MR. COATES The question of fixing a definite quota for the exhibition of Empire films in the Dominion was raised with the Prime Minister (Right Hon. J. G. Coates) at Wellington by Messrs. T. E. Montague-Thacker and W. Butler, of New Zealand Productions Ltd. It was explained by the deputation tion that the company proposed to produce I,oooft. of New Zealand film a week, dealing with travel, industrial and scenic topics; and the Government was urged to lix a quota of 10 per cent, for British films over American productions to be screened in the Dominion.

A similar protection, it was asked, should be accorded to coloured slides.

Mr. Coates replied that the matter was under consideration at the moment. The English Bill dealing with the subject had provided that the percentage of British films to be shown would rise year by year until it reached 25 per cent.; but a recent wireless message had intimated that it was proposed to amend that to 20 per cent.

The deputation would be advised in due course of any decision arrived at.

The screen version of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” which Universal is producing, is still in course of production. There are 22 principals in this picture, which is being made by Harry Pollard.

A Hollywood correspondent states that the title of “The Yukon Trail” has been changed to “The Grip of the Yukon.” This film once had a working title of “The Eternal Silence.” It is now nearing completion under the direction of Ernest Laemmle. The cast includes Francis X. Bushman, Neil Hamilton, June Marlowe, Otis Harlan. Burr Mclntosh, James Farley and Theodore Lorch.

Mary Pickford has begun work on “My Best Girl,” the Kathleen Norris story. The first scenes, taken the other day at the United Artists’ studio, show the little heroine trudging up from the store basement with an armload of stewpans. The action required her to fall down. In order to get the funniest effect, Miss Pickford fell down fifteen times.

Henry Mortimer, who was the Rabbi in “Abie’s Irish Rose,” is the brother-in-law of Dorothy Gish, whose new feature “London” has just reached Auckland. Mr. Mortimer was a passenger by the Aorangi en route to New Y'ork. The screen actress and his brother, James A. Rennie, have been married for nearly eight years. Henry Mortimer has aiso acted on the screen in support of Pauline Frederick, Dorothy Dalton, and other stars. He confesses though that he prefers the legitimate stage.