Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1943)

December 18, 1943 MOTION PICTURE HERALD 45 in BRITISH STUDIOS by PETER BURNUP in London Ben Goetz's landing in England, long anticipated and long deferred, induced a vast flurry of activity at MGM's headquarters in this theatre of operations. Said Mr. Goetz peremptorily, "We start at once." It was as though a typhoon had swept through the calm of the Belgrade Square Korda mansion; a calm, be it said, which, in the opinion of many, had threatened to become completely monumental. Studio space, a commodity as scarce in wartime England as lemons, nylon stockings, private-consumption gasoline, was promptly arranged with the Arthur Rank empire at Denham; shooting ordained to start "early in the New Year." True, that zero hour wears a faded, belated air after earlier optimistically promised beginnings by Sir Alexander. But this time it is as definite as maybe. There'll have to be a cataclysm at Denham or a parachute descent by Hitler troops to prevent the Korda cameras turning about January 15. "The Perfect Strangers" To Be First Picture The first subject, "The Perfect Strangers," promises to be an expansive essay into the effects of the war's impact on a characteristic young suburban man and wife. As at present understood, Sir Alexander's wife (Merle Oberon) will not figure in this effort, leads being assigned to Robert Donat, fifth in Motion Picture Herald's Ten Best British Stars, and Deborah Kerr, who missed inclusion this year in the same elect catalogue by a mere handful of votes. The whole plan of production wears a refreshing, not to say eager, air; as does, indeed, the impressive future lineup now under consideration by Mr. Goetz. One subject in particular seems to be a "natural" for Korda. This is a dramatization of Malta's siege. Suggestions by amateurs of motion pictures often are characterized by amiable enthusiasm rather than a sense of the practicalities, but it is notorious that Sir Alexander's pictures are held in remarkably high esteem in the most august circles here, and it was at the direction of just those very circles, months ago, that the Admiralty set its planners at work making ready the deep-sea background for a Korda Mediterranean epic. The plans are ready. It may be taken that Malta stands high in the list of Goetz-Korda priorities. "A Canterbury Tale" Now In Work At the moment, the Michael Powell-Emeric Pressburger team is making "A Canterbury Tale," telling again in modern guise the pious aspirations, tribulations and joys, of travelers along this land's most ancient but still visible pathway, The Pilgrim's Way, leading from Winchester to Canterbury Cathedral. Study of the script and occasional attendance at "shooting" justi fy the promise that the team is producing another first rate job. There is, too, the astonishing example of Two Cities, pace-makers in chief in native production. Theirs has been a remarkable succession of achievements; "In Which We Serve," "The Gentle Sex," "The Lamp Still Burns," "The Demi-Paradise," all films of significance, each laying itself open defiantly to the slings of captious criticism; each progressing triumphantly to box office approval. Edward Black Resigns as Gainsborough Producer Observers on the local sidelines have been conjecturing how long the mercurial but determined Fillipo del Guidice, Two Cities' leader, can keep it up. But del Guidice not only maintains his pace, but quickens it. He has three more films of high promise almost ready for showing. Laurence Olivier proceeds with his — and Shakespeare's — "Henry V." The impasse in Gainsborough's studio control, notorious to all observers, has ended by the resignation recently of Edward Black from the office of producer. Symptoms of disturbed uneasiness in the dual control of the enterprise — "Edward Black producing: Maurice Ostrer in charge of production" — was the formula officially devised for the use of the publicity envoys — have Ion? been apparent. Mr. Black has one more picture to supervise so his resignation cannot become effective for some months. However, he already has made plans for future production activities. Pleasant to record that, executive upsets notwithstanding, Gainsborough is aiming at a new high in productive endeavor. At the organization's Islington Studio, Sidney Gilliat, writer-turned-director, has made what promises to be a remarkably successful and courageous approach to a problem, part of the incidence of war, discussion of which has even been shirked by the daily press. Gilliat Faces Problem in "Blue for Waterloo" Judges of Assize have repeatedly expressed their concern at the number of young women, with husbands away in the forces, who in the current phrase "go wrong." The problem, perennial in wartime, has developed such proportions that earnest social workers are pressing for its discussion in Parliament. Mr. Gilliat manfully faces the problem in his production, "Blue for Waterloo," a title undoubtedly due for amendment, with some fine contributions from John Mills and Stewart Granger ; in the opinion of many the two most up-and-coming actors on English screens. But, let it not be thought that Gilliat is concerned with making an earnest "social" picture. "Blue for Waterloo" is adorned with much authentic London comedy and lashings of swift movement. Michael Balcon. Ealing chief, startled the industry the other dav with the announcement that he has placed Francoise Rosay — known on your side as Frances Rosay, wife of Facques Feder — under long term contract. Miss Rosay fled from Unoccupied France to Tunis at the time the Nazi forces marched down to the Mediterranean. The German invaders caught up with her, but she contrived to escape into Algeria, where traveling prospector Cavalcanti took her under his wing and brought her to the sanctuary of Britain. The BBC took her to the microphone the other night and her broadcast descriptions of French women under German tyranny, her oblique references of the unmentionable horrors to which they have been subjected, startled millions of listeners out of their accustomed amiable Sabbath calm. Mr. Balcon plans to star Miss Rosay in a production shortly to get under way, dealing with the age-old rivalry between Cornish and Breton fishermen, and in which his new star has the role of a woman of Brittany who becomes a sort of Scarlet Pimpernel to shipwrecked sailors. RAF Assisting Soskin on "Signed with Their Honor" Air Ministry archivists are busy with Paul Soskin's technicians on back-room work for Mr. Soskin's production of the James Aldridge novel, "Signed with Their Honor." Mr. Aldridge's book, one of those rare efflorescent transcriptions of heroism whose writing — as it seems — is onlv made possible in the stress of war, is virtually a record of its author's own grim experiences as a flying officer in the tragic Crete campaign. Aircraft in this war have become so swiftly obsolescent, their behavior when air-borne so soon forgotten, that research has become necessary even into so comparatively a recent episode as Crete. The R.A.F.'s have not only turned over to Mr. Soskin the library copies of their ancient blueprints, but also have detailed a special "flight" of pilots who took part in the campaign in question to ensure meticulous accuracy in the ultimate result. Flying sequences are now being made, but their location may not be disclosed for manifest security reasons. Al Lichtman to London His destination London, his mission to confer with Alexander Korda and Ben Goetz regarding plans for picture production in England, Al Lichtman will soon leave Hollywood and his duties as a member of MGM's executive_ staff. In Mr. Lichtman's absence, his duties will be divided among other members of the executive staff. The studio also announced that Lawrence Weingarten, an executive at MGM for the past 18 years, would produce a number of the company's important pictures each year, in addition to his duties on the executive board. Heads Chamber of Commerce Fritz H. Thomas, manager of the Lyric Amusement Company, operator of theatres in Huntsville, Tenn., has been elected president of the Huntsville Chamber of Commerce.