The Film Renter and Moving Picture News (Jul-Aug 1922)

10 THE FILM RENTER & MOVING PICTURE NEWS. July 22, 1922. “THE ROYAL DIVORCE” TO BE FILMED BY ALLIANCE. W. W. Kelly tells ‘‘ The Film Renter” why he has previously refused to sell the Rights of his famous play. HE veil has now been drawn aside, and we know. from T ‘the Hips of Mir. Wo oW. Kelly himself the reason why for so dong that grevt and evergreen play, ‘* The Roval Divorce’ has remained unfilmed, ospacially having regard to the fact. drecly adimitted by all in the least degree capable of expressing an opinion of value on the subject, that it) will undoubtedly nicke a most successful film. That the filin rights of “oA Roval Divorce’ have at. length been disposed of, was confirmed by Abr We OW. Kelly, in’ the course of an interview the other day. when he stated that he had. on the previous evening (Wednesday of last week) signed acontract in recerence thereto for a very considerable sum, As to the exact mature of the amount he declined to be drawn, contenting himself with the statement that it) was ‘ta con. siderable sum’ and volunteering the further intelligence (writes our Liverpool correspondent) that he is to receive a vocd share of the royalties which the film will produce. On the Road for 30 Years. In the course of further conversation Mr. Kelly said: *t I don’t know how many times T have refused tempting offers to sell the film rights of * A] Royal Divorce.’ Ino fact, almost every film producer in the industry has approached me at one time or another with a view to inducing me to dispose of the film rights in the play, but To have always said ‘No my reason being that Iodid not want to injure the play.” Proceeding, “OW.W." regaled tha interviewer with some interesting statixties regarding the phenomenal attraction, 1 A Royal Divoree, has proved inoall parts of the country, ‘The play has been ‘oon the road" for thirty-one years continuously, has been produced on TL oecusions each in Manchester and Liverpool, and the public have so far shown me signs of tiring of it. Why ‘‘ W.W.K." Has Refused to Sell Before. As to what he meant by ‘declining to part with the film rights of the play for fear of injuring it.’ Mr. Welly explained his view was that, after having seen the piece produced as only the kinemaois capable of producing it, with luge armies and in fitting scenery, people would not care to withess the necessarily less elaborate stage version, 7° E have orten been told that my view is) wrone,”’ opinion. he went oon, “but that was ms The Alliance Film Company have acquired the pictorial rights in the play. and the producer is Mr. Harley Knoles, two of whose outstanding — film Bohemian Girl.” Tt need only be added (comments cur correspondent) that the production of *! A Rovil Divoree "in film: form will create much interest throughout the whole of the extensive Merseyside distriet, where both the play and WAWLIRK. are not onty extremely well known, but also excesdinuly popular, suceesses ure‘ Carnival’? and oo *t The “BROADCASTING” CONDITIONS ANNOUNCED. British Apparatus to be Exclusively used for Two Years== Postmaster General's Statement. N echo of a Cabinet meeting held a fortnight ago was A heard in the House of Commons on Tuesday, when, in answer ton question by a Scottish member of the House, Mr. F. G. Kellaway, the Postmaster-General, made an announce ment which will give vreat satisfaction to all interested in providing entertainment throughout the country by means of “wireless broadcasting.” Conditions of Licence. When the Cabinet met, a difference of opinion was apparent between the two schools of political thought contained in’ the Coalition Government, ene of which wished to admit apparatus from abroad, and the other which wished to stimulate the production of apparatus in this country, Mr. Kellaway stated in the House that he had intimated to a committee representing the manufacturers of wireless apparatus in this country the conditions upon whieh he proposed to grant licences for ' broadcasting.” and theses proposals were being submitted to the general body Google of manufacturers forthwith. He had informed the manuiaeturers that in the event of their supplying the capital required and providing efficient * broadcasting “* services, he would agree that the apparatus which it would be possible te use under the Post Office licence for the reception of these services should, for a period of two years, be restricted to apparatus manufac. tured in Great Britain. Wireless Station Site Selected. Answering questions, some of which were of a very critics! nature, questioning the power to do as had been proposed, Mr. Kellaway said it was inconceivable that. opportunity should) be given for foreign imanutacturers to exploit. this new for of communication ino this evuntry. Mr. Kellaway further stated that a site for the proposed high-power wireless station had been provisionally selected, and its final adoption depended upon the result of certain inquiries which were now in progress. Tt was not possible at this stage to sas by what date the installation was likely to be completed,