Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Aug 1944)

"Henry V" Finished by Olivier; Cost 2 Million Project Viewed with Doubt, but Rank Backed It; Runs 2 Hours, 20 Minutes London Bureau At the order, so it is said, of Laurence Olivier, producer and star, mystery attends the unveiling of Shakespeare's "Henry V." Maybe «a measure of mystery is justified in the picture's presentation for it is the first subject by which J. Arthur Rank will stand or fall in the matter of world prestige. Considerable trepidation was evinced two years since before Mr. Olivier was allowed to embark on his long-cherished project. There were those who said, with the war going none too well for Britain and her Allies, that that was no time to undertake such a costly enterprise; one, moreover, which inevitably would cost a mint of money, but might conceivably also tie up precious studio space urgently demanded for less ambitious endeavors. The skeptics were overborne; Mr. Rank accepted the joint pleadings of Mr. Olivier and Fillipo Del Giudice that that was pre-eminently the accepted time. Let the tide, of battle flow against us, so the arguments, ran; that surely is the hour when Britain demonstrates her faith in herself. Exhibitors Doubtful Also It should be added that Mr. Rank's financial advisers and technical help were not alone in their qualms. When the project was first mooted, a considerable body of exhibitor opinion — with memories long enough to embrace certain Hollywood adventures in the Shakesperian field — likewise joined the doubters. Meanwhile, it is asked, why this excess of an almost mystic secrecy about it? Mr. Del Giudice's publicity envoys, rated as among the best of their craft in this land, preserve an unaccustomed dumbness in the face of inquiries. Just why, there is a difficulty in understanding. Here are the facts. The film, when the last count is made, will be found to have cost something approaching £500,000 (about $2,000,000). Anything like that vast sum has never hitherto been dreamed of in this land by the most wild-cat producer; let alone a person of Mr. Rank's stability. It runs two hours and 20 minutes, which is also an all-time high in British production. It opens at the Carlton theatre, Haymarket, November 27, for an extended, exclusive run at West End stage-play prices. Paramount Controls Carlton There's an unusual circumstance, too, in the opening's venue; for the Carlton is controlled by Paramount, is utilized by that company for its more difficult presentations of the calibre of "For Whom the Bell Tolls." Mr. Rank's leading West End house — the Odeon, Leicester Square — is booked for months ahead for his routine productions. Hence the agreement he has concluded with David Rose. But Paramount will not undertake the mechanics of presentation. William H. Thornton, respected manager of the Odeon, has been listed for the job. The sum of £15,000 has been allocated for preliminary publicity. Maybe, and incidentally, there's more in that Rank Paramount booking arrangement than meets the eye. For "Bell Tolls," regarded by many as one of those problem pictures which does not fit nicely into the orthodox exhibitor's schedule of running time, has been booked at terms, openly declared by both parties as "highly satisfactory," around the whole of the Odeon Circuit. There is, moreover, that already announced Rose-Rank intention for Paramount production over here under the Rank auspices. Whatever develops along that line, the pattern of Mr. Rank's challenge as a potential maker of wide scale, significant, prestige pictures is clear in the manner of presentation of "Henry V," now planned for the film by his coadjutors. Preserved Integrity of Text Mr. Olivier claims to have preserved the integrity of the original text. In other words, he disdains any adventitious modernizing of the play. The film opens with a sweep across the whole vista of Tudor London. The patiently, exactly reconstructed model for that scene was recently on view at an exhibition promoted by London's post-war town planners. It excited considerable interest among architects there. In accordance with the Rank order whereby the Gainsborough Shepherds Bush Studios shall be shared, at least for the time being, by the Two Cities and Independent Producers outfits, shooting starts at the Bush August 28 on Anatole de Grunwald's "This Side of the Ocean." As previously reported, under a number of other tentative titles, the film is another of those tales of Anglo-American collaboration in the air war. They have a strong cast assembled for the purpose, including Michael Redgrave, John Mills, Basil Radford and Rosamund John. The only other immediate Two Cities' project— Del Giudice is taking a breathing space getting his various units into shape under the new Barrington Gain fiscal setup — is "Man of Two Worlds." And this is held up by bad weather in Central Africa. The photographic unit has been on the Congo these many months getting authentic backgrounds for the tale of a Negro, hailed by the fashionable white world as a great artist, who suffers an unconquerable urge to return to his own people. To Make Film at Denham Maybe, the delay is all to the good; for the film, so it is planned, will be made at Denham. Stakes there are likely to be filled for a long time hence with Pascal's "Caesar" and Korda's "Perfect Strangers." Leslie Arliss — he made "Man in Grey" — is hailed as one of the persons who matters in local production — has persuaded Maurice Ostrer to allow him to make Magdalen King-Hall's most popular novel, "The Wicked Lady Skelton," into a film. It's a tale of a noble lady of Stuart times who, wearying of the polite futilities of aristocratic life, takes secretly to the road at night, becomes a "highwayman." She has her adventures, thereby, not least of which is her encounter with a real highwayman. James Mason, lately voted in a widespread fan poll to be our best romantic actor, will play the highwayman. Production is scheduled for the autumn in Gainsborough's alternative studio at Islington. British Education Ministry Plans Film Program \ by PETER BURNUP in London A statement of policy was made in Parliam recently of immense import to the country's motj picture industry. Minister of Education R. A. Butler, in ans' to a question in the House of Commons, sa "My department, in collaboration with the M istry of Information, are arranging for the d duction in the current year of a limited num of educational films. "They are in consultation with the Boardl Trade about the use for educational purposes! film equipment which will be released by the Sa ices and by the supply departments after the \l and about the demand which will have to be I in the post-war period for new school project! "The Board (Education Ministry) have receB appointed a staff inspector with special respojl bility for advising them on visual education incH ing the use of films. In these developments W Board hope to have the advice and assistancfl the British Film Institute." That forward-looking policy wa?s expounded detail many months ago. Its advocacy at that fl was the occasion of a considerable outburst of 1 tility in circles which it might have been anticfl ed would have welcomed the development. I they were precisely the persons who exhibit a I dain of the motion picture's first and paramH function, entertainment. J. Arthur Rank is the man whose organiz?™ controls the greater part of the productiorjl equipment suitable for use in schools ; who had i| lied his factories to the business of furnishing! Services with efficient projectors for their trail films ; who had, over a term of years, built uM unsurpassed library of educational films. Opponents argued it was all part of a gig^ plan to inflict a Rank oligarchy of control the nation's thought, parallel with its creaj present influence in screen entertainment. In any event, Mr. Rank and Education Mid Butler will go into conference immediately Pf| ment rises for its summer recess. By the end of autumn it may reasonably b sumed, Minister Butler will have all his laid regarding the place of films in the educat pattern. "In Society" Shown in 350 Houses August (0-19 I A record number of advance bookings fl Universal picture had been obtained for the! bott and Costello comedy, "In Society," vi was shown in 350 theatres between August ll August 19, according to an announcement by Afl Scully, general sales manager. It has been rell in the majority of key cities including New J Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroii Louis, Pittsburgh, Dallas, Washington, DS Boston, Cleveland and Cincinnati. Decency Legion Reviews Nine New Pictures Nine new films, reviewed by the Legion c| cency last week, were classified as follows : 1 A-l, unobjectionable for general patrcjl "Dangerous Journey," "Heavenly Days," I Mysterious Night." Class A-2, unobjectionalfl adults: "Abroad with Two Yanks," "Am City," "Maisie Goes to Reno," "Moonligh j Cactus." Class B, objectionable in part: jl bary Coast Gent," "Sign of the Cross." t Robot Hits London Theatre During a robot bomb raid on London last a theatre, which was not being used, was by a direct hit. Several people, who were slj on the stage, were saved by a lowered safet tain. 36 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, AUGUST l<