Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1944)

WARNERS PRODUCE ^^'^'^^ syndicate NEW BRITISH FILM t^c" Is Outdoor Subject; Little Hope Is Seen of Early Studio Rebuilding London Bureau Warners, with little hope that their Teddington Studio can be rebuilt for many months, have started work on an outdoor feature. Max Milder, managing director for the company in England, has decided to proceed with the film, which will have a minimum of action necessitating indoor shooting. Last week Warners decided to let go their staff at the studio of 120 persons, which had been kept on full pay since the robot-bombing of the plant. It was indicated the company saw no hope of obtaining priorities from the British Government for early rebuilding. The new film is to be a story of valiant service given to the merchantmen of the world by Britain's sea-going life boats. The story 's completed and casting is in progress. Metro Signs Pat Kirkwood Pat Kirkwood is one of the most sought after young persons on London's light musical itage. Mr. Milder has declared that she has all it takes to make a star ; and built around her that Warner film, "Flight from Folly," which was finished at Teddington two days before the fateful bomb fell. "Flight from Folly" has not yet left the cutting room but it — or Miss Kirkwood — must be good. Ben Goetz, in behalf of MGM, has given her a seven-year contract estimated to be worth £250,000 (almost $1,000,000). The announced intention is for Miss Kirkwood to make films for Metro both here and in Hollywood, but the American debut will not be for a long while. Her first film will be a musical — largest yet made in Britain, says Mr. Goetz — but that can only start when MGM and Sir Alexander Korda get into their own new studio well after the war's end. Evidently, Mr. Goetz is going for "musicals" in a big way. In addition to Miss Kirkwood, he has placed Sally Gray — another popular song and dance player, under long term contract. More Shaw and Shakespeare Despite the jaundiced asseverations of the cynical, it is understood that at least two more Bernard Shaw plays are scheduled for ultimate filming by J. Arthur Rank's people ; that, moreover, Gabriel Pascal will be the producer of both of them. There's a feeling, common to exhibitors on both sides of the Atlantic, that Shakespeare and Shaw are sort of poison-ivy to the screen. Mr. Rank doesn't think so. His enthusiasm for the as yet unseen "Henry V" is considerable. Also, despite all those unhappy delays not to say the considerable additional unexpected expense involved, he believes that ultimately he will have a valuable property in Pascal's "Caesar and Cleopatra." Not least among the rooters for further and bigger Shaw films is the aged Mr. Shaw himself. The dramatist has been sending voluminous epistles of criticism and encouragement to the studio. Clearly, he has been badly bitten with the film making bug. An unanticipated. nevertheless exceedingly cordial, intimacy has developed between Rank and the voluble veteran. "St. Joan" obviously will be the next Shaw subject. Mr. Pascal wanted to make it three years ago with Greta Garbo in the name-role ; was urged not to do so at that time when the French political and military setup was so delicately uncertain. "Perfect Strangers" Nearly Finished Sir Alexander Korda has reached the final shooting stages on MGM's "Perfect Strangers," which he began early in April. The Denham peasantry has been vastly edified these last few days by an unusual exchange of distinguished courtesies. Both Sir Alexander and Mr. Pascal have been busy with crowds on giant exteriors; Sir Alexander's the familiar wartime London scene, Mr. Pascal with the ancient Alexandrian quayside. They've had to do some ingenious dove-tailing so that the Roman cohorts vociferously hailing their Caesar don't get caught up in the Korda soundmixers. Maybe due to Filippo del Giudice's recent serious illness — he is not yet properly back in the saddle ; maybe, on the other hand, Mr. Rank is just cautiously waiting for public reactions to "Henry V," there's a strange, unaccustomed, lull in Two Cities' hitherto overflowing production program. From his convalescent couch, del Giudice protests to us that he has a whole host of films just waiting round the corner. The fact is that only two are in the realm of practicalities. Anatole de Grunwald has begun work at Shepherd's Bush on an Anglo-American flying picture. Completes Exteriors for Film Thorold Dickinson has completed all his exteriors on the other Two Cities project, "Men of Two Worlds." He is home from Central Africa with hundreds of thousands of feet of film. But he must wait until Mr. Pascal is finished with the Denham Technicolor cameras — not to say studio space — before he gets on the floor with his star, Eric Portman. V Meanwhile, Cine-Guild — Anthony HavelockAllan, David Lean, Ronald Neame — who lately left the Two Cities fold and enlisted under the friendly but rival banner of Independent Producers, have two Noel Coward subjects lined up. Informed studio opinion has it that the trio has turned in a magnificent job of work with Coward's "Blithe Spirit." The nature of the two new stories is as yet undisclosed save that both are originals and not based on any of the author's stage plays. Work is scheduled to start on the first of them immediately Ronald Neame has returned from his Hollywood tour of inspection, undertaken at the instance of Mr. Rank. V British National — Lady Yule's production outfit, takes the prize for industry. They're currently working on no fewer than seven subjects. "Twilight Hour," "Meet Sexton Blake," "Strawberry Roan" are in the cutting stage; Oswald Mitchell's out-of-doors effort, "Loyal Heart," is on the eve of completion ; "The World Owes Me a Living" in production at Elstree ; "Peter Pettinger" and a new Old Mother Riley film due for the studio soon. London Bureait Further indication of increasing competition England with the J. Arthur Rank production-di tribution and exhibition interests is seen this wei in a report that John Gibson Jarvie, well knov financial authority, has been negotiating to acqui Mrs. John Maxwell's 25 per cent interest in Ass ciated British Pictures Corporation, important pr duction-exhibition company. Mr. Jarvie reported has the backing of the Bank of England in tl venture. Philip A. Warter, a director of ABPC and M: Maxwell's son-in-law, is understood to be a mei ber of the syndicate, headed by Mr. Jarvie, anglii for the ABPC shares. Mr. Warter has been pr posed as chairman of the, ABPC board. According to the report, the syndicate also pla to buy Warners' 25 per cent interest in ABP Warners' British head, Max Milder, is joint ma aging director with Eric Lightfoot, of ABPC a of Associated British Cinemas, third largest c cuit in Great Britain, and one which now looms a formidable competnor to Mr. Rank's Odeon c cuit and the Gaumont-British theatres. Recently, it was learned. Lady Yule, patron the production unit, British National, and the d tributing company, Anglo-American, was mappi plans to compete with Mr. Rank at home a abroad. Navy Shows Three New War Incentive Films The Industrial Incentive Division of the Na Department now has available for showings factories and war plants four shorts, "The Retu to Guam," "Invasion — Nazi Version," "Tarj Japan" and 'The Battle Against Shop 13." Ea is available in 16 and 35mm and each runs minutes. "The Return to Guam" shows the smashi amphibious assault which brought the U. S. fore back to Guam with Admiral Spruance's 5th Fie in the van. "Invasion — Nazi Version" is a ca tured German battlefront film depicting the AUi storming of Europe through the eyes of a Ns camera. In "Target, Japan," Admiral King di cusses the plan of battle and the attack in the P cific, and the execution of the plan is shown. "The Battle Against Shop 13" opens in a w. plant as an employe is leaving to join the Nav He IS shown in battle in the Pacific area and later shown as a prisoner in a Jap camp where 1 IS permitted to broadcast that he is well and happ In this broadcast he refers to "Shop 13," which the dump heap at the war plant. The transcri] tion, relayed over the plant's public address syster serves to spur his co-workers. Decency Legion Reviews Twelve New Filnfis The National Legion of Decency this wee classified 12 new pictures as follows: In Clas A-1, unobjectionable for general patronage, ar ' Brazil," "Cyclone Prairie Rangers," "Dead o Ahye," "Reckless Age," "Wild Horse Phantom. In Class A-2, unobjectionable for adults, arel "Conspirators," "Dark Waters," "Girl Rush" "| Accuse My Parents," "One Body Too Many, "Mana Candelaria" (Spanish), "Mark of th Whistlei." 48 Klein Resigns Roshon Post Edward L. Klein, who resigned October 1 s director of public relations, advertising and put hcity of the Russell C. Roshon Organization, m tional 16mm motion picture distributors, is tal( ing an extended rest. Mr. Klein, former pres: dent of the Association of Motion Picture Advei tisers, recently was awarded honorable mentio by the Office of War Information for work ii connection with the Fifth War Loan drive. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, NOVEMBER 4, 1944 i