FilmIndia (May-Dec 1938)

Notes and News THE GIRL FROM INDIA Even though Merle Oberon will average $220,000 a year in earnings, she will net in only $7,000 for herself. The rest of her income will be taken away in taxes by two Governments: U.S., British and two States: California and New York, not to mention 10Tc for her agent. NEW YORK FAIR The motion picture industry will be represented in the 1939 New York World's Fair. Each major company is to contribute $35,000 for a colossal joint exhibit. That is showmanship. When will our producers afford even half that amount? IN ELEVEN LANGUAGES Walt Disney's "Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs" has become the most popular world entertainer . The latest language in which the dialogues are being dubbed is Danish. Incidentally it is the tenth language and Japanese will make the eleventh. A MONEY MAKING RUSE The M.G.M. studios are going through trouble with their neighbours. Until recently the studio paid these neighbours a big price for keeping quiet during the shooting of scenes, but when the "hush"' money was stopped the neighbours began "noise" again. There is now a deafening roar of hammering, radio and phonograph playing whenever the studios start shooting. Now M.G.M. is looking up to law. A PATRIOTIC GESTURE Mr. M. B. Billimoria, the Hon. Treasurer of the Motion Picture Society and well known distributor has decided not to purchase or distribute "Tiger of Eschnapur" that German film which slanders India. This patriotic gesture of Mr. Billimoria should provide an object lesson to other Indian distributors. In future, it will never pay anyone to abuse India and foreign producers should now realize this. « * « THE NEW PRESIDENT Ralph Morgan will succeed Robert Montgomery as President of the Screen Actors' Guild. James Cagney and Joan Crawford have been nominated as Vice-Presidents. Komilla, the heroine of "ChabukwalJ" was given a reception at Ahmedabad and Baroda, but on return to work met with a bad motor cycle accident while shooting her new picture "Cyclewali" (Mohan Pictures). India should have an Actors' Guild to check the frolics of some fascist producers. • • • THE VERSATILE LUBITSCH Ernst Lubitsch, the famous director made his first picture twenty-three years ago. "Bluebeard" which cost £250,000 is his sixty seventh. They say that Lubitsch has so far spent nearly £10,000,000 in productions and has earned a tenth of that for himself. In all his career as a film director, he has made one flop, "The Merry Widow" which cost £500,000 and brought in only £200.000 to its producers. Some figures, aren't they? • * « THE HERO'S OWN HEROINE Ronald Colman, that famous actor married the London-born actress Benita Hume on the 1st October 1938 at Santa Barbara, California. • ♦ « FILM MAGNATES IN BANGALORE During the month gone by Bangalore was lucky to see them all together, giving a surprise visit to the city. We refer to Mr. Mahomed Akbar Fazalbhoy (Film City), Mr. Chandulal Shah (Ranjit), and Mr. Chimanlal Desai (Sagar) who were given receptions and addresses by the local trade during the week beginning from the 1st ol October 1938. People have always gone to Bangalore for rest and variety. Several of them however, return overworked and with rings below the eyes. We hope our film magnates enjoyed their recreation from work. • « • A BOOK OF GOLD The Research Council of the Motion Picture Arts & Sciences have published a wonderful book under the title "Motion Picture Sound Engineering". On another page we have published a review of this book. If our sound "engineers" only study this book, we won't have any bad sound on the screen in future. Studios should buy this book and insist on its careful study. s v • MUSSOLINI'S WAY II Duce is creating an Italian Hollywood, at Cinecitta in Italy. Already he has spent over 10 crores of rupees to build a number 65