Motion Picture Herald (Sep-Oct 1938)

October 8, 1938 MOTION PICTURE HERALD 51 IN THE BRITISH STUDIOS by AUBREY FLANAGAN in London Lorry Drivers Selected to play the role in "They Drive by Night," story of England's all-night lorry drivers, is Emlyn Williams, actor-playwright. Williams will have the role of a young criminal, who, falsely accused of murder, takes to the lorries of the Great Trunk Roads to evade capture. Arthur Woods will direct. "They Drive by Night" is to be adapted from a novel by James Curtis and is set against a background of all-night cafes and roadhouses of the Great North Road. Its personnel are the hitch-hike girls and lorry drivers whose business takes them along the great arteries of England while the rest of it is asleep. Production will be under the Warner First National banner at Teddington. Ice-Rink For several sequences in "A Gentleman's Gentleman," the new Eric Blore comedy now in production at Teddington, Warner Brothers took over in its entirety the icerink at Richmond, Surrey. On a hot Indian Summer day, typical Swiss alpine scenes were shot there, early September not being practical for similar scenes even in Switzerland. The rink was cut in half and with the collaboration of the arts department it was possible to shoot indoor and outdoor sequences. A hundred film extras in flashing woolens and gay mufflers waltzed, glided and "cocktailed" on the ice against a background of pine clad mountains and timbered chalets. Later the unit went to the Albert Hall, London, where, with the aid of hundreds of extras, was shot a reproduction of the annual Chelsea Arts Ball, which takes pl'ace on New Year's Eve. Another location trip has taken the Teddington cameramen to Croydon aerodrome. Co-directors on "A Gentleman's Gentleman" are Austin Melford and Graham Cutts. Nursing Homes A nursing home forms one of the sets used in the Gaumont British production of the Jessie Matthews film, "Climbing High," at Pinewood. Now, following the Pinewood precedent, a nursing home set has gone up at the Associated British Studios, Elstree, for a sequence in the film "The Outsider," in which Mary Maguire, Australian, is playing the lead. In the roles of four famous surgeons are London actors Kynaston Reeves, Walter Hudd, Edmond Breon and Ralph Truman. Pleased with the success of Miss Maguire in "The Outsider," producer Walter ' Mycroft has signed her to play the part of the AIR RAIDS POPULAR — IN NEW PICTURES Air Raid Precautions — colloquially known as ARP, are the inspiration of the new Butcher -Rembrandt production, "Anything to Declare", currently on the floor at Walton-onThames under the direction of Redd Davis. The story, written by Hayter Preston, Fleet Street figure and expert upon international affairs, is designed as a thriller, despite its propaganda leaning. The leading roles are handled by John Loder, Noel Madison and Belle Chrystall. Madison appears as a peace campaigner who has ulterior motives for his pose. Ralph C. Wells and Neville Carter are supervising for the producers. Geoffrey Faithfull is in charge of the photography. Another ARP film made by British National earlier this year is to be extended from a 3,000-foot documentary into a 6,000-foot feature. It has now been given a dramatic interest by writing in a story showing the effect of ARP on the lives of an everyday couple. Studio sequences have been shot recently under the direction of Aubrey Baring. 17 -year-old heroine in the forthcoming production for Associated British of "Black Eyes." Wilfred Lawson is to appear in the leading male role as a Russian waiter who masquerades before his daughter as a wealthv business man. It has now been arranged that "Me and My Girl," to be produced at Pinewood, will be directed by Albert de Courville from a scenario by John Paddy Carstairs, and Anthony Havelock Allen will be executive producer. The rights for the film were obtained in the face of strong American competition by Pinewood interests and already negotiations are under wav for a French Aversion. Distribution by General Film Distributors will be worldwide. A replica of Lambeth Walk will be built in the studio. Lambeth Walk is a noted street in South London's working-class nuarters from which the song, "Me and My Girl," derives its name. A Pinewood personality, Elisabeth Bergner, will execute the intricacies of "The Lambeth Walk" in her film "Stolen Life," and not, as migrht first be imagined, in the new Lupino Lane production. Her Fourteenth Jessie Matthews has completed her fourteenth, and last, film for the time being. It is "Climbing High," now in the cutting room. "Climbing High," a Gaumont British production, is the second G-B picture to be distributed in this country by MetroGoldwynMayer. The first was "The Lady Vanishes." It is the first time that Carol Reed, one ■of Britain's youngest directors and creator of "Penny Paradise" and "Bank Holiday," has directed Jessie Matthews. Formby 's Brother Frank Formby, younger brother of British comedy star George Formby, has been signed by Gainsborough to star in a new screen version of the perennial stage success, "Charley's Aunt." With him will be Graham Moffatt and Moore Marriott; hitherto they have been associated with Will Hay. Special film tests of Formby Number Two were made by Maurice Ostrer, Gainesborough chief, and the results were so satisfactory that a contract immediately was offered. Itemized Just off the floor is the Gainsborough Will Hay production, "Old Bones of the River," which is now in the cutting room, under the directorial aegis of Marcel Varnel. Hp. s(s sjc Shooting has. been completed at Elstree on the Associated British spy thriller, "Luck of the Navy," directed by Norman Lee. Geoffrey Toone, Elstree's new discovery, and Judy Kelly have the leading roles. Canada 16mm. Field Declared Growing Canada is experiencing a boom in 16 mm. film development, both in the non-theatrical and educational fields, and the large rural areas which have no established theatres are being amply supplied by circuits of 16 mm. operators, according to Helen Mason of General Films, Ltd., of Toronto, who was in New York this week on a film buying trip. General Films alone supplies more than 80 circuits of itinerant exhibitors out of its Toronto and Regina offices, providing projection equipment and programs of features and short subjects. A recent development is the entry of the N. L. Nathanson organization in the 16 mm. field in opposition to General. The films used are from one to five years old. General Films has a library of 180 programs consisting of features and short subjects.