Englishmen Form Strong Alliance

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1034, 26 July 1930, Page 25

Englishmen Form Strong Alliance

FILM CONTRACT FORMED BY WIRELESS LONSDALE AND TOM WALLS The greatest contract yet made for the production of talking pictures in England was completed recently in a telephone conversation between London and Hollywood. Mr. Frederick Lonsdale spoke to London from Hollywood; at the London end were representatives of the Aldwych Theatre Company, Ltd., and the British and Dominions Film Corporation, Ltd. The agreement provides for an alliance between the British and Dominions Company, Mr. Tom Walls, Miss Yvonne Arnaud, Miss Mary Brough, and the other members of the sue eessful Aldwych Company, and Mr. Lonsdale. The Aldwych Company made "Rockery Nook.” This is easily the most, important step which has yet been takep in connection with English talking pictures The first picture which the new alii ance will make will be “On Approval,” the stage play by Mr. Lonsdale, which ran for nearly 500 performances at i London Theatre two years ago. “Shooting” in this picture has nowbegun at the Imperial Studios of the British and Dominions Company at Blstree. Mr. Edmond Breon, who played the part of Richard Halton in the original production, will have the same part in the film. Mr. Breon went to the United States at the conclusion of the run of “On Approval." To secure his services the producers of the film have Lad to guarantee him not only a firsrclass passage to Europe, but also a salary of £2OO a week. Major Charles Steel, the business manager of the Aldwych Company, saidVecently: “I have always believed that the English talking voice was the best in the world. With an alliance like this we can beat the world.” The present agreement is valid for three years. Mr. Lonsdale as author, Mr. Tom Walls as producer, Miss Mary Brough Miss Winifred Shotter, and Mr. Ed inond Breon as actors will undoubtedly compose the strongest comedy talking picture “team” in the world. Already “Rookery Nook” has proved Its strength to appreciative Aucklanders.