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"HENRY VIII" MAKING BOX OFFICE HISTORY
When bluff King Henry VIII was making history back in the 16th century, it probably never occurred to him that a picture based on his life would make history of another kind in the 20th century. But that's precisely what "The Private Life of Henry VIII" is doing making box office history.
With Mr. Kelly personally on the spot, the world premiere
of the picture at the Lord Byron Theatre in Paris turned out to be an unqualified triumph for all concerned. Press dispatches cabled to all parts of the world emphasized that it out-rivalled the most brilliant Hollywood opening. The distinguished first night audience consisted of stage and screen stars as well as political and society notables, including such bigwigs as Princess Louise, sister of King George, the British and American Ambassadors, and Charles Laughton, star of the production,
The fact that London's outstanding picture was making its world debut in Paris gave added zest and importance to the opening, Critics vied with one another in hurling superlatives at the film, the public stormed the box office, and all records for receipts and attendance were broken during the first week's showing. The entire campaign reflects great credit on our Paris office, particularly Messrs. Leclere and Melnitz, who handled the publicity and exploitation details.
In the United States, the first public showing was in Boston, at Keith's Memorial Theatre, and here, too, the picture was ushered in with a typical "Hollywood opening," following one of the most elaborate exploitation campaigns in local history. Among the group of newspaper people who made a special trip
to Boston to cover the event was R.H. Machell, American drama critic for the honcdon Télecrapa,
As a result of all the advance publicity, public interest in New York was at fever heat when the film opened at the Music Hall Theatre largest in the world — on Columbus Day, Oct. 12. It is sufficient to say that the police had to be called to handle the crowds, and that the first day's receipts established a new record for the house, to emphasize the tremendous reception accorded the production, Incidentally, the Music Hall paid United Artists the highest film rental
in its history for "The Private Life of Henry VIII." New York critics — conceded to be the hardest—boiled bunch of reviewers to be found anywhere — lavished unstinting praise on the picture, "Liberty," national weekly, awarded it 4 stars. And throughout the country from coast to coast this English film has aroused a furor of discussion. The promise that it
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