MULTI-LINGUAL FILMS,

Waikato Times, Volume 108, Issue 18159, 25 October 1930, Page 17 (Supplement)

MULTI-LINGUAL FILMS,

AMERICAN STUDIOS IN ENGLANDBRITAIN’S 'BIG OPPORTUNITY. Further evidence of America’s determination to make England a centre for the production of multi-lingual talk films comes with the announcement that Col. Frederick Levy, an important figure in the American cinema industry, will shortly produce talkfilms in London. This is the fifth of the big American producing interests to make such plans. The others are the Fox Film Company, Metro-Goldwyn Mayer, Famous-Players-Lasky, and R.K.0., Pictures Ltd., the London distributing firm for the giant Radio-Keith-Orpheum circuit in America. The reasons are: Cheaper production costs. The fact that London is the natural clearing-house for Continental actors and actresses possessing the necessary language qualifications, and it is cheaper to use this talent locally than to import it to Hollywood. The rising scale of quota films offering a bait to American interestsThe myth of second-rate film production in England has been exploded. American executives have observed with a shock of surprise the technical brilliance and acting ability in such films as “ Atlantic,” “ Loose Ends, and “ Murder.” . Added to these reasons the allround superiority of the English voice, so that England bids fair to be in the forefront of the world's film-produc-ing countries.