THE BANNED FILM.

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17384, 21 April 1928, Page 17 (Supplement)

THE BANNED FILM.

HERBERT WILCOX. THE MAN WHO M\DE "DAWN." Though the men who make films are usually less interesting to the public than are the men and women who appear in them, at the moment the name of Herbert. Wilcox, who made the Nurse Cavell film which the German Government, does not wish us to see, js on everyone's lips, says a London writer. A slight, dark, young man. cleanshaven, with the bluest, of Irish eyes, Mr Wilcox was born in Cork in 1892, educated at. Brighton, and not long before the war was sent, abroad for his health. His own humorous version of the sequel is that, returning to England in August 1014. and believing he had only a few months to live, he determined to enjoy the life that remained t.o him. With some young companions, on August 4 he joined the crowds assembled before Buckingham Palace. Awoke In the Army ! What happened between that and the next, morning he will never know, but when he woke he was informed that, he had joined the Army. After a year in the ranks lie wa«

gazetted to the Ruffs and transferred to the Flying Corps. In the intervals of flying in France —with one, bad crash —he acted as flying instructor to the first American flying squadron that, came over. He boxed for the Flying Corps at Ost 41b.

The war over, he went into the film-renting business in Leeds. On meeting Mr Graham Cults, then managing a cinema, in Newcastle. Mi' Wilcox suggested that, they should produce a iilm together. Neither of them knew anything about, film-mak-ing, but their joint effort, " The Wonderful Story," produced for less than £2,000, was an artistic, though not a signal commercial, success.

Mr Wilcox was the first British director to take an American screen star to England, when Mac Marsh appeared in "Flames of Passion." His

"Chu Chin Chow," made in Berlin, ■was the first Anglo-Ccrman production after the war. "Southern Love." made in Vienna, was the first film lo be trade shown at the Albert Hall. Hold Up fop Lack of Money. Then came " The Only Way," followed by the, engagement of Miss Dorothy Cish to play in "Nell Gwyn." Held up half-way through for lack of money, which, however, was forthcoming eventually, this picture cost. £22.000. and has, it is stated, played to date to over £IOO.OOO. It, was the first British film to be shown on Broadway aflcr the war.

The three films, "London," Tiptoes," and "Madame Pompadour," which he made for the company that built the new studios at Elstree, in which he was the first man to work, were followed by "Mumsee," with Miss Pauline Frederick.

It was the fact that. Mr Wilcox had Miss Frederick on contract, but lacked a suitable story for her. that first gave him the idea, of making the Nurse Cavell film, which he felt would give an actress he much admires a role of which she would be worthy. After plans had been made. Miss Frederick had to return to America. That Miss Tborndike consented to interpret the heroic role of Nurse Cavell, that the picture was produced last, autumn, and what, happened to it at the British Film Censor's office after Sir Austen Chamberlain had intervened in the matter are facts known by everyone.