FilmIndia (1948)

FILMINDI A Aprfl, 11 Satyarani and Tiwari recollecting their youthful days in "Apni Chhaya", Chitralaya Ltd's maiden production. ference begins its session on the 23rd instant, Mr. Chandulal Shah was given a hearty send-off by his employees. WHAT IS IN A NAME? Paris, March 22. M. Henri Verdoux, the Paris citizen, who had brought an action against the distributors of Charlie Chaplin's wife murderer film "Monsieur Verdoux" pleaded by saying that he had six points in common with his namesake of the film. They were: his surname, his Christian name, his employment in a bank, the fact that he was married, that he was father of a boy of five and that he was a specialist in financial questions. M. Verdoux claimed 5,000.000 francs from United Artists Distributors and cinemas. He asserted that his reputation, peace and well-being had suffered. He had been chased by journalists, harried by photographers and had completely lost his former calm. Customers at the bank where he worked called him "Bluebeard". The suit however, was dismissed by the court who decided that there was no real resemblance between Mr. Verdoux and his screen namesake. 58 PRINCESS AS PRODUCER London, March 19. Princess Yvonne Murat, 32year-old brunette, who was once Vivien Leigh's stand-in, is investing about Rs. 13,00,000 in producing British comedy films — 10 sixty-five minute second features a year. The princess whose ancestors fled to England in the French Revolution is the managing director of a new company called Talent Films Ltd. On the board of directors of the company are two former rank key men, Major A. M. Sassoon, Chairman of 'Two Cities Films' during the production of pictures like "In Which We Serve" and "Henry V" and Major Leslie Cardew, Mr. Rank's exlocation director. Princess Murat (professional namife: Yvonne Murray) learned film business as a small part actress and a scenery and costume designer. She is backing the new venture with a fortune built from a legacy and a series of investments. BRITISH ACTOR HONOURED Hollywood, March 21. Mr. Ronald Colman, 57-yearold British actor, has gained Hol lywood's highest honour — an ( car gold stateutte — for his role a crazed actor who turns mi derer in a "Double Life". His selection as top film ac of 1947 by the Academy of M <'x tion Pictures, Arts and Scien marks the climax to a career 25 years as a screen star. FILM TITLE HAS VALUE |cr[ New York, March 14 \p A survey of American filmgo has disclosed that between 23 a 26 per cent, of them pick up th evening entertainment solely fn the title of the picture. Never before have film tit received such elaborate attenti Titles are being changed up three times before the film finally shown. Film men s that if the title turns out to be "dud", so will the film itself. "The Bishop's Wife" which v\ shown at the Command Perfi mance in London, is, according screen authorities, a good enou film, but the title is not catcl Apparently Samuel Goldwyn's t tute staff were quick to notice tl because they suddenly switch their advertising campaign to teaser line, "Have you hea about Cary Grant and tl Bishop's Wife?" Twentieth Century Fox char ed the title of one film thr times. All the changes were ma after the film was produced a: the cost of publicity for the n< titles is said to have been abo Rs. 750,000]-. Very few films in India ha really catchy titles that alo may induce film-goers. On £ contrary some good films ha suffered at the box office on a count of their uninviting ai crude titles. Indian producers a not yet literate enough to choo even attractive titles for their pi tures. THEY DON'T LAG BEHIND Dacca, March 10. The Government of East Be gal have promulgated the Ea Bengal Amusement Tax (Ameo ment) Ordinance which came force from March 4, 1948 According to the provisions < the ordinance sub-section (3) < Section 3 of the Bengal Amus i*