Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1944)

British Producers Can Get }0% of Nation 's Playing Time In 5 Years — Says Korda [Working hard, British producers in five ears will obtain possibly 50 per cent of the Jaying time in British theatres — a playing •me now preempted by American pictures, hat is the opinion of Sir Alexander Korda, ricish production chief for ]M-G-]M, who arved in New York this week on a visit to lis country. He plans to confer with Nichois M. Schenck. MGM president, in New York, nd with Louis B. Mayer, vice-president in harge of production, and other MGM studio hiefs, and to obtain studio equipment which, Jr. Korda observed, in the instance of cameras, ■ was breaking down ever\ hour or so." Film making in Great Britain, he remarked, vas difficult enough, with the menace of iwmbs which slow production by forcing personnel to seek shelter, and with the continuing ihortage of studio space, commandeered mainy by the Government. Production equipment, le said, was old even when used by Government units : the latest British equipment is datfed 1937. Of British hopes of capturing more playing ime, he said, "We should be very near 50 per cent of our playing time in five years — and .vithout a quota ; and we also will be getting similarly , more playing time in the world markets." ' Makes Plea for Reciprocity This prediction was accompanied by a plea ior reciprocity in post-war trade, Mr. Korda's 'point being that Great Britain after the war can only show American pictures by being able to export its own. In this instance, he said : "It may come to a choice between films and butter and eggs ; we will be forced to examine carefully our purchases. I can assure you that after years of eating powdered eggs, for instance, it may well be desirable to get fresh eggs before film. That is not to denv that the demand of the public for film will not be the same. It will be a matter of choice in buying." British producers will be doing a better job, and will not need quotas in dominion countries, in Mr. Korda's estimation. He deprecated the quota as "a prop — we must do a good job on our own," he said ; "and we must make more pictures about the countries in our commonwealth." Hollywood, in his opinion, will continue to hold its world eminence, but it will also allow the other Allied countries their own voice in production. The war was not eliminating national identities, he noted, and in this connection predicted that France ^'i" Alexander Korda would be as great a film producer as before the war, and that her product, in application to British film making, would be, not "a commercial competitor, rather, a stimulant." "It is in the interests of the American film industry to help us, the British film makers," Mr. Korda said. "This has nothing to do with the freedom of the arts, and it is not merely one British film maker speaking. It is a matter of the exchange and free flow of money. W'e must be able to pay for your -pictures." He will exchange stars with MGM after the war. "It is part of a campaign, so to speak, to make British pictures more saleable in the United States," he said. Similarly, more British stars in U. S. pictures will improve their business in Great Britain, he pointed out. However, he does not feel that interchange of writing and technical talent will be necessary. The war is producing many new writers, and many technicians. Similarly, while war pictures are in some instances not wanted any more, good war pictures score, and in his opinion, the best war pictures remain to be made ; for, he said, present war pictures are written, produced and acted by persons with no real war experience. Reissues, now doing exceptional business in England, will continue that business so long as the film industry uses critical judgment in reissuing films, he said. Should Think About Television Of television. Sir Alexander said, "in a very short time, in my opinion, television will be a great commercial possibility, and we should very much think about it. I personally think all these great inventions are not harmful to us ; we can use them." Of Russian production, Mr. Korda said he was in "constant correspondence" with his "Russian colleagues" and that he believes Russian production, now almost totally given to war, will become a great factor in the world film business. He added he was pleased with reception in Russia of his "Lady Hamilton" and "The Thief of Bagdad" and others, and particularly pleased and surprised that the Russians like George Formby, British comedian. Mr. Korda is considering 14 scripts. He expects to make three pictures, beginning in May; and his contract, for MGM, he added, allows him to make as many as he wishes, per year, limited only by conditions. The three pictures, two of which may begin in May, and each of which, he said, would cost $1,000,000 or more, are "Velvet Coat," a biography of Robert Louis Stevenson ; Nevil Shute's "Pastoral" ; and "The Pickwick Club." Carol Reed, he said, probably would direct the second ; and Robert Donat might star in the last. Wants Production in Far East Of production of films about, and in, the British Empire apart from England, Mr. Korda said he would like to film again in India, and that in considering production in Australasia, thought was being given to a story in MGM hands, "Green Dolphin Street," the locale of which is New Zealand. Mr. Korda will go from New York to the Coast next week, and said he hopes to return to London by January 15. GENERAL FILM DISTRIBUTORS 25% STOCK INTEREST UNIVERSAL PICTURES, U. S. A. EQUIPMENT 1 G. B. KALEE S. B. EQUIPMENTS, LTD. SOUND EQUIPMENT, LTD. EXHIBITION I ODEON THEATRES ODEON THEATRES (CANADA) COUNTY CINEMAS, LTD. GAUMONT BRITISH DENMAN PICTURE HOUSES GENERAL THEATRE CORP. UNITED PICTURE THEATRES PROVINCIAL CINEMATOGRAPH THEATRES ASSOC. PROVINCIAL PICTURE HOUSES ALBANY VVARD THEATRES MOTION PICTURE HERALD, DECEMBER 16, 1944 27