Motion Picture Herald (May-Jun 1939)

54 MOTION PICTURE HERALD June 3, 1939 IN THE BRITISH STUDIOS by AUBREY FLANAGAN in London For Norton-Somlo Ostrer Buys Currently in production at Denham for Norton-Somlo Production is "A Window in London," which is being directed by Herbert Mason. This will be followed by "On the Night of the Fire," which Brian Desmond Hurst will direct from a best-seller by F. L. Greene. It has a provincial city background. Leading artistes in the film will be Diana Wynyard and Ralph Richardson. Production starts in two or three weeks. Williams Chosen Emlyn Williams, British stage and screen actor-playwright, is to play one of the leading roles in the film version of A. J. Cronin's "The Stars Look Down," a Grafton Production to be released by Grand National. Michael Redgrave and Margaret Lockwood already have been assigned to the principal roles. Among others in the cast is Nancy Price, of the older generation of stage personalities. Mutz Greenbaum is to have charge of the camera, and Carol Reed will direct. Three Stories Three stories are scheduled for production in the near future at the Warner-First National Studios, Islington. First is the life of Baron de Renter, who established the world-famed news agency, for which an original story has been written by Valentine Williams. Second is a story already prepared, dealing with the foundation of the Cunard Line. Third is Somerset Maugham's "Caesar's Wife," adapted by Ian Hay. Elstree Activity When Herbert Brenon took the floor at Elstree last week with the Edgar Wallace thrilller "The Flying Squad" the number of Associated British pictures in current production totaled four, making the Studio the most consistently active of all British studios — consistent, that is, as regards the sustained level of production and the number of films before the cameras at one time. Other pictures on the floor at Elstree include the Tommy Trinder musical comedy, the title of which has been changed from "Runaway Romance" to "She Couldn't Say No." Graham Cutts is directing, and Googie Withers, Greta Gynt, Fred Emney, Basil Hadford and David Burns are in the cast. Claude Friese Greene is at the camera. Shooting on "Poison Pen," the Flora Robson drama, has been concentrated upon an old church at Aldenham, a village three miles from the studio, where exteriors have been filmed. Fourth on the floor is "Dead Man's Shoes," in which Leslie Banks is starring, with Thomas Bentley directing. So great has been the demand for space at the Elstree Studios that exterior shooting has been transferred, for the time being, to the Rock Studios across the meadows, with the building used as setting for a French factory. Gunther Krampf is cameraman. Seven new subjects have been purchased by Maurice Ostrer, director of Gainsborough Pictures, for ultimate production at the Islington Studios. Four of these are novels and three plays. First is "The Ghost Train," which was filmed by Gainsborough in 1931 and is due for a new adaptation with Arthur Askey, radio comedian, in the lead. Arnold Ridley, author of "The Ghost Train," is also represented with another story, "Third Time Lucky," which also was produced by Gainsborough some years ago. It has a setting in Devonshire and London. The third is "The S.S. Mystery," a sabotage thriller. Others include "Midsummer Mischief," by Nelson Mapple, the story of a country curate and set in the hamlet of "Market Fogbottom" ; "Fighter Blake," the study of a big man in the coal mining industry ; "Behind the Scenes," Lance Lanyon's satirical comedy of newspaper life, and a mysterv melodrama, "Stolen Death," by Leo Grex, which is to be adapted as another vehicle for Inspector Hornleigh, with Gordon Harker and Alistair Sim in the leading roles. Shipyard Locale Settings on the Gracie Fields comedy, "Shipyard Sally," have switched to the shipbuilding yards of Clydebank and neighborhood. One recent set, which has an important share in the film, is that of a neighborhood street to which Gracie returns after presenting, in London, a petition from her fellow workers for the resumption of shipbuilding on the River Clyde. A line of typical Glasgow shops is set before a skyline of derricks and industrial machinery. Over a hundred crowd workers were engaged. The next set in course of erection will be the foyer of a London hotel. Monty Banks is directing with Maurice Ostrer in charge of production. Foal to W reath The story of a horse, from the day it is foaled to the day it wins the Grand National, classic steeplechase of the year, will be told in "Happy Event," which Leon Hepner of AngloFrench Films is producing at Highbury. Exteriors already have been shot at premier British race courses. Hurst Park and Newmarket. Stanley Wooton, leading English trainer, lent eight horses for recent sequences at Hurst Park, which cameraman Leslie Murray shot from numerous novel angles. Portrait "Tinker" Russel Flint, 23-year-old son of the British painter, exhibits in this year's Royal Academy a portrait of Robert Stevenson at work on the set of "Young Man's Fancy." Seen in the composition are stars from the film, with the focus on Billy Bennett in a Hussar's uniform and Anna Lee as the Human Cannon Ball about to be fired from a gun. Formby Returns Recovered from his recent illness, George Formby, winner of Motion Picture Herald's Box Office Champion Poll, and most popular star of the British screen, has commenced work at the Ealing Studios on "Come On, George!" The same team associated with the recent Formby successes, producer Jack Kitchin and director Anthony Kimmina, again are with the Lancashire comicker. Formby this time plays the part of a jockey. Providing the romantic interest is a "discovery," 18-year-old Patricia Kirkwood. Others in support of Formby are Joss Ambler as a racehorse owner, George Hayes as a trainer, Dave Burnaby as barker to a flea circus, and Gibb McLaughlin as a psychoanalyst with a trained horse. Anthony Kimmins wrote the original story which he and Leslie Arliss are adapting. Itemized Shooting has been concluded at Ealing, two days ahead of schedule, on the Jimmy O'Dea comedy, "Cheer, Boys, Cheer," which Walter Forde has been directing. * * * Venture Films, whose two most recent productions, "Two Days to Live," with Richard Goolden, radio star, and "Trouble for Two" have been acquired by Anglo-American Film Corporation, have now completed arrangements for work to start upon a third, "The Murder Auction," at Worton Hall, Isleworth. To follow will be another Richard Goolden picture. * * * A film story of the King's First Dragoon Guards, and shown under that title, has been made by British Foundation Pictures, of which Ronald Haines is director-producer. This is to be followed with a subject entitled "Sailors with Wings," which is a story of the Fleet Air Arm. * * * Cast for an important role in the NortonSomlo production, "A Window in London," is 20-year-old brunette Patricia Roc. Miss Roc, who has not played considerably in British films, is called a "discovery" of merit. * * * June Duprez, whose work in "Four Feathers" attracted considerable attention, has been chosen by Alexander Korda to play the part of the princess in the new color film, "The Thief of Baghdad," to be made at Denham. Conrad Veidt and Sabu will play in this film and Ludwig Berger will direct. * * * R. C. Sherriff, playwright, novelist and scenario writer, has joined the staff of Alexander Korda Productions. He will act as literary adviser and will work on scripts and scenarios. Sherriff's record as a screen writer includes such better known achievements as "Journey's End," "The Invisible Man," "The Three Coriirades" and "Goodbye, Air. Chips." * * * A series of short subjects dealing with Palestine is to be made by a new company called Bulldog Films, which has been formed by Ernest Gartside and Alex Bryce, erstwhile directors of Fox British.