The Bioscope (Jul-Sep 1931)

August 19, 1931 THE BIOSCOPE 17 Kane Outlines Paramount British Plans Famous Writers and Directors for Elstree “Only British Artists Need Apply” Robert T. Kane, General Manager of Paramount European Productions, this week makes an announcement confirming Bioscope predictions that the Paramount British production unit would eventually rank foremost among the companies now engaged seriously in the making of first-rate British films. Plans are laid for the production this year, and early in the spring of 1932, of films based on the works of several famous authors, including Rudyard Kipling, Martin Brown, May Edginton, Ernest Vajda, Saint Granier, and the late Arnold Bennett. To produce these films Paramount are sending to this country such well-known directors as Alexander Korda, Louis Mercanton and H. D’Abbadie D’Arrast. Except in unusual circumstances, only British artists will be employed — good news for scores who await their big chance ! Hollywood Worried About Canada Suspicious of Political Censorship The Bioscope special correspondent in Hollywood says that Hollywood is worried about the Canadian situation. The GaumontBritish appointment of Oscar Hanson as Canadian general sales manager, coupled with Commissioner White’s recent report to the Canadian Government charging America with monopolising the Dominion’s trade, is taken as the beginning of the end for Hollywood’s dominance of that market. It is also taken for granted in Hollywood that the frequent bannings of U.S. films by Canadian censors are political rather than morality moves. Question of London Releases C.E.A.-K.R.S. Meeting To-morrow At an emergency Executive Committee meeting of the London and Home Counties Branch of the C.E.A. last week, consideration was given to correspondence which had ensued with the K.R.S. since the last meeting of the Committee, and it was reported that Sam Eckman, Junr., as President of the Society, had offered to arrange a joint meeting. The members of the Committee very readily agreed to accept Mr. Eckman’s offer, and the joint meeting will be held to-morrow (Thursday) at the K.R.S. offices, to discuss the question of West End pre-release runs and London release dates generally. Wolverhampton Plans Approved Wolverhampton Justices on Monday approved plans for a new cinema to seat 2,000 on the site of the Agricultural Hall, Wol ve rh ampton . They also approved alterations to Wolverhampton Hippodrome. Both these halls are under GaumontBritish control, who intend to exhibit films at the Hippodrome during the rebuilding period of the new Agricultural Hall. New Cairo Agency A new cinematographic agency has been opened at Cairo, under the style of Ed Cohen and M. Zaccai, with offices at 114 Rue Emad El Dine. The company will concern itself with the purchase, sale and distribution of films and other matters relating to the industry generally. The company has agencies at Alexandria, Port Said, Beyrouth and Jaffa. Prince Sees Marie H.R.H. The Prince of Wales visited the Empire on Friday evening last. This is the Prince’s second visit to the Empire in the last fortnight. The DresslerMoran comedy " Politics ” was, no doubt, responsible for his attendance on Friday night. His previous visit was to see Joan Crawford in “ Laughing Sinners.” A production unit from Paramount’s Imperial Studios, Elstree, will leave England early in November for the Near East, where scenes will be made for a talking film version of Rudyard Kipling’s novel, “ The Light That Failed,” of which Paramount British Productions, as announced exclusively in our studio news last week, have acquired the dialogue rights for production by Alexander Korda. The official announcement was made by Robert T. Kane, head of Paramount’s European production, in the course of an interview, in which he outlined the company’s British production plans for the ensuing months. The Paramount unit will comprise first and second cameramen, sound recordists and other technical staff and such members of the cast as appear in the Egyptian scenes. The desert sequences of Kipling’s vivid story will be produced in the actual Sudan campaign locations. Alexander Korda is a director of international reputation, and Rudyard Kipling has agreed to collaborate with him in bringing the world-famous novel to the screen. In regard to details of historical authenticity, Paramount are assured of the full co-operation of the War Office and the Sudan Government. No definite casting arrangements have yet been made for “ The Light That Failed.” In his summary of Paramount’s immediate production arrangements, Mr. Kane disclosed that as soon as “ A Child in Their Midst,” now in production at Elstree, is completed, the stages will be occupied by a film written by the celebrated author of “ Fata Morgana,” Ernest Vajda, and directed by H. D’Abbadie D’Arrast — the brilliant writing and directorial combination that produced Adolphe Menjou’s “ Service for Ladies ” and several other successful light comedies. Lajos Biro, scenarist of “ The Last Command ” and " Hotel Imperial,” who is at present at the Paramount Studios, Joinville, Paris, will prepare a talking screen treatment of the story. Martin Brown, the author of “ Cobra,” one of Rudolph Valentino’s greatest successes, is now engaged on an original story for production following the D’Arrast picture. The scene of this story is laid entirely in the British Isles, with special " atmospheric ” aspects reflecting phases of English life. Another story by May Edginton, author of " A Child in Their Midst,” at present before the cameras at Elstree, is being considered with a view to its adaptation for the screen and will probably be the next Paramount British production after the Martin Brown picture leaves the studio. In the course of next week a cast of French actors will arrive at Elstree to appear in the French version of ‘‘A Child in Their Midst,” under the direction of Louis Mercanton, who is making the English version. These productions will occupy the stages at Imperial Studios, Elstree, during the remaining part of this year. In the early spring, production will be started on “ L’ Assurance ” by M. Saint Granier. Saint Granier has written some 90 of the most successful revues produced at the Folies Bergere, Casino de Paris, Theatre Marigny, etc., and was the famous playwright who wrote the French version of “ Rose Marie.” Fernand Gravey, the French actor, who is the present sensation of the Paris theatrical season and a perfect master of the English language, is to star in this production. The talking screen possibilities of Arnold Bennett’s novel “ Barbary Sheep ” are at present under consideration by Paramount British Productions, and this story will probably be scheduled for production early in the New Year. Mr. Kane stated that the British studios policy in regard to acting talent will be in line with the well-established Paramount policy of developing star material from the ranks of players appearing in Paramount pictures. These players in some cases will be drawn partly from very best talent of the English stage, but screen talent will also be sought among the “ undiscovered ” players of the screen. It is his intention to build a number of personalities of starring “ timber ” into deserved prominence by careful casting in selected roles. All the company’s future productions will have 100 per cent. British casts, excepting in such cases as the interpretation of a particular role obviously renders the employment of a player of other than a specific nationality incongruous.