BRITISH FILMS

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20917, 23 September 1939, Page 15 (Supplement)

BRITISH FILMS

BIG PRODUCTION PLANS HUGE SUM TO 'BE SPENT Within the next three days the giant Gaumont-British film studios at Shepherd’s Bush, are to reopen after being " dark ” for four years, says a London paper. Hundreds of studio workers end technicians will be given work. Scores of actors —crowd artists and the like—will receive jobs. For three years, British film-pro-duction has been in the doldrums. No one would venture money. Studio workers of all kinds —electricians, plasterers, carpenters, soundmen and camera-operatives—starved. It seemed that Hollywood, in spite of the Films Act, -which prescribed that a given number of British pictures should be shown at every cinema, had triumphed. Now the industry believes that a new era is starting in British films. At Shepherd's Bush alone 650 people are now guaranteed continual employment. Altogether more than 5500 people who have been without jobs during the past four years will now have work. The first production will be “ Charley’s Aunt," in which Arthur Askey will appear. “ Boom ” Everywhere During the last few days a reporter has found that at 12 major studios alone £1,000.000 will be spent on production during the next three months. At Denham, " The Thief of Bagdad” will cost £200.000. “ The Arsenal Stadium Mystery ’’ and “ On the Night of ihc Fire" arc also in production. Mr Irving Asher has finished “ Ten Days in Paris," and is preparing "That Immortal Bard.” This will he followed bv a spectacular navy film in which the Admiralty will collaborate. Contracts have been signed for the production by a new company or three films, each of which will cost £60,000. They are a spy piclure in which Ralph Richardson repeats his performance as a Secret Service agent, a Bairnsfallier, film written around “ Old Bill,” and “ The Conjurer,” in which Conrad Veldt and Sabu will appear. Alexander Korda will then make “ Manon l.escaut," in which his wife, Merle Oberon, will appear. Other studios also have films going into production. More New Films At Ealing, Robert Stevenson is completing a £60,000 production, “ Return to Yesterday.” At the Gainsborough unit in Islington “ They Came by Night" is just finishing. It will be followed by " Rob Roy ” and “ The Blue Lagoon." Later in the year, Gainsborough will make “ Band Waggon." Mr John Maxwell has prepared a vast production schedule for his ElsLrce studios. At Highbury. Teddington. Twickenham, Shepperton. and Walton-on-Thames, the studios are working at full pressure. Equipment for Television Television is being discussed in the studios. At Shepherd's Bush a Gaumont British olllcial told a reporter that it would be the most interesting development there this year. “ Before the end of the year,” he said, “ more than 100 cinemas will be equipped with television receiving apparatus. We have been planning programmes for many months.”