ALEXANDER KORDA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 280, 29 November 1935, Page 10

ALEXANDER KORDA

GREAT COMPLIMENT PAID. ASSOCIATED PRODUCERS. Alexander Korda, of London Film Productions, has been paid one of the greatest compliments ever won by a British producer. A cable received in London recently announced that he had been elected to the Board of the United Artists’ Corporation of America as a profit-sharing and producing member. He thus becomes, with Charlie Chaplin, Samuel Goldwyn, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks, a member of the most famous band of co-operating independent producers in the world. Mr. Korda’s films have been distributed by United Artists for the last two years, but hiherto he association has been merely a contractual one as between producer and distributor. His films, including H. G. Wells’ “Things to Come,” now nearing completion, will continue to be distributed by United Artists, whose ramifications cover every country where there is a cinema. This development concludes a period of reorganisation. The United Artists’ Corporation will now handle thirty-five pictures, compared with the previous schedule of 28. The total cost of the 35 is to be about £3,500,000 More than one-third of the United Artists’ output, including that of Mr. Korda, British and (Dominion Films, and the new Lasky-Pickforc^company, will be made in England. The first of the two musicals in which Columbia plans to star Ann Sothern during the coming season will be entitled “Moonlight on the River.” James Dunn has already been engaged for the leading male part and Victor Schertzinger, of “One Night of Love” and “Love Me Forever” fame, is to direct. The vehicle was adapted by Wallace Smith from a story by Harry B. Smith. * * • * Among the imposing list of talent now signed for London Film Productions is a newcomer, Miss Vivien Leigh. This young actress, who is only twenty years old, leaped to fame overnight In her stage part in “The Mask of Virtue.” Immediately after the first night almost every critic hailed her as a great new star discovery, with talent comparable to that of Elizabeth Bergner. Two directors of London Film Films were at her first night, and the next day Miss Leigh signed a contract with this company for five vears, for which she will be paid £50,000. During this period she will be called upon to make ten films.