PRODUCTION IN 1934.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20221, 3 February 1934, Page 24 (Supplement)

PRODUCTION IN 1934.

Return to Simple, Human Films Prophesied. “ The next twelve months will see a great revival of popularity for simple, human pictures, dealing with the emotions and interests of every-day life.” This statement was made recently by Mr Winfield Sheehan, \ r ice-president and general manager in charge of production for the Fox Film Corporation. Continuing, Mr Sheehan said:— “ I do not mean sentimental stories written to formula, but plays written with knowledge of human beings and their tasks and problems, insight into human character, and faith in human nature —clean, sympathetically-written stories with plenty of wholesome humour. In my opinion the cynical, sophisticated screen play, with its smart, superficial glitter and its synthetic sinners masquerading as men and women is a thing of the past. The public are interested in real people trying to make the best of life. A Great Mission. “ It is the great mission of motion pictures to take the lead in meeting this public demand. Literature and the stage have given themselves over to decadence. The screen must undertake the renaissance in clean entertainment for the whole family. This may open a new literary field for those who are prepared to learn the technique of the screen and to express their ideas directly in that medium. “ Musicals with good plots, witty lines, catchy music and interesting personalities will make money now as always. Hackneyed stories with poor music and indifferent players will fail. Those who are responsible for production should remember in choosing subjects that the prevailing political unrest in the world is producing a public reaction against the sombre and tragic drama and a demand for optimism, comedy and wit. I@©©©@©®©®®@®®®@®®®® S

“I prophesy that this year will produce a new crop of screen personalities. Young actors and actresses recruited from all over the world have been trained, tested and developed to the point where they are ready for presentation to the public. Not all of them will ‘ make the grade,’ but from their numbers the stars of the future will emerge, and they will not be less accomplished than those of to-day. * Britain to the Fore. “ Nothing has given Hollywood producers more pleasure than the increasing excellence of the British product. The screen in an unobtrusive W'ay can do a tremendous amount to forward, the common ideals of the English and American peoples. Fine English pictures will do more to make England and English life a reality to the people of America than all the statesmen and all the conferences that have been held since the Great War. From the artistic point of view also we welcome the new development in England. Such films as “ Good Companions,” “ I Was a Spy ” and “ The Private Life of Henry VIII.” are excellent contributions to the screen the world over, but considered from this angle it seems to me that nationality hardly comes into the matter. There is a certain point of excellence towards which we are all striving. Sometimes one picture gets a little nearer to it, sometimes another. What does the country of origin matter? Nobody bothers about the nationality of Rembrandt, or thinks better of Gainsborough’s portraits because he was an Englishman, or of Sargent’s because he was an American.” “ The Dubarry.” British International Pictures have acquired the film rights of “ The Dubarry.” and will put it into immediate production under the direction of Paul Stein. The stage production of “ The Dubarry ” was given its Australian premiere in Sydney on January 20.