World Film News and Television Progress (Apr 1936-Mar 1937)

Meetings and Acquaintances In This Issue ESLANDA GOODE ROBESON, known as Essie to her friends, is making her debut as a professional actress in her husband, Paul Robeson's, new picture. Big Fella, a British Lion film. She plays the part of a coloured cafe keeper. Her next part is the Arab chief's wife in the film Paul will make after his month's concert tour in the Soviet Union. They will go on location to Cairo for three weeks. Bom in Washington, D.C., Essie was an analytical chemist before she married. She gave up chemistry, and for several years concentrated on managing the business side of her husband's career. When they settled in England, she became interested in Africa, and has been a student of anthropology at London University under Malinovski for some years. Last summer she went to South and Central Africa where she took a unique series of photographs. Her nine-year-old boy, Pauli, went along with her, and they motored several thousand miles through the country, living much of the time in African villages. She is the author of Paul Robeson, Negro, which was published in England some years ago. Has decided views on education, is always perfectly dressed, and is a marvellous cook; her vegetables once eaten are never forgotten. Recently there were great preparations at Denham. The Duchess of Kent was going to look over Korda's studio. Everyone waited expectedly — a vast car slid up to the main entrance— everyone dashed forward to open the door — two young women stepped out. Which was the Duchess? In unison they said, ''Miss HoUoway, please." They were just another couple of would-be stars! DOROTHY HOLLOWAV, assistant casting director to London Films, has to cope with the film-struck youth, middle-age and old age of Britain. The strangest letters arrive by every post, the most pathetic and comic interviews take place in her office ; and always she is the incarnation of tact. At the age of eighteen she began her career as a municipal clerk at Bexhill. Then she became in turn accountant to the technical journal. Twentieth Century Advertising, secretary to Brendon Bracken of English Life: and circulation manager of Advertising World. Twelve years ago ''Holly' was lured into the film world. She became secretary to Harold Lipson, and stayed with him for five years. Then she went to Paramount British Productions as secretary to the casting director; passed over to London Film Productions in the same capacity ; later becoming assistant casting director. She has also done free lance journalism, and is part author of Paul Robeson's recent film. Song of Freedom. She has several other scripts on hand. Ambition — to tour the world; in the meantime her hobbies are photography ('I'm an awful amateur," she says), gardening and Chinese porcelain. DEISIS MYERS, has just relumed from a holiday in Algiers to his labours in Fleet Street, congratulating himself on missing night work on the Constitutional crisis. His interviews for World Film News will be resumed next month. Meet .\L LEWIN. For twelve years intimately associated with the late Thalberg, he is in Europe taking a four-month vacation before going over to Paramount.' Al Lewin, five feet of genial benignity, looking more like the American coimterpart of Strube's little man than a Hollywood big shot, supervised the production of Mutiny on the Bounty, Romeo and Juliet, and the forthcoming Good Earth, Thalberg's last picture. He says that Good Earth, which took 2 i years to make, was a vast effort to show agricultural China with absolute honesty. He believes that public taste has outgrown the "boy meets girl" theme. IMi DALR'i'MPLE, Scenarist-in-chief to Victor Saville Productions. Bom in South Africa and educated at Rugby and Trinity College, Cambridge, he is fast proving that the Public School and the 'Varsity provides a starting-ground for a successful film career comparable to the best news-vendor's stance. For some years supervising Editor to Gaumont-British and Gainsborough, he turned to free-lance writing and joined Victor Saville early in 1936. Has made the film adaptation of Storm in a Teacup and assisted in its production as co-director. Believes films will never become an Art if only for the reason that no really creative artist would choose film as his medium for self expression. MAURICE JAUBERT (see W.F.N. July issue), at present in London working on soundscore for Cavalcanti's We Live in Two Worlds — a film of Switzerland. Jaubert, young, energetic, and a typical Southerner, regards music for films as separate art. demands simplicity, has no inhibitions about different instruments for recording. Was recently seen at Simpson's in the Strand fierily denouncing present-day Sibelius cult to protesting J. B. Priestley. Jaubert is a fast worker, supports the Front Populaire, has boundless admiration for Milhaud, Ibert. Honegger. His wife sings his compositions superbly and looks lovely at the same time. Cover Still Best of the Year's Films . Meetings and Acquaintances Editorial ... People's Pictures and People's Palaces by Richard Carr The Siege of the Alcazar, an open letter from Ivor Montagu Digest of Views .... A Visit to the National Picture House How the Movies Began to Move, by Marie Seton Secrets of British Film Finance Review of Reviews Radio and Television People with Purposes In the Hands of the Doctor Films for Children Newsreel Filming a Farm by Andrew Buchanan Cockalorum Vicky Cartoon Film Societies Seeing Films in Strange Places Film Guide . Continental News Margo in Winterset PAGE 6 7 8,9 10, 11 12, 13 15 16, 17 18-23 24-27 29-31 33 35 37, 38 39 40,41 42,43 43 44,45 46 47,48 48 WORLD FILM NEWS: EDITOR. MARION A. GRIERSON: BUSINESS MANAGER. STUART LEGG. EDITORIAL REFERENCES FILM COMMISSION: Proposed by Moyne Committee that Government appoint body of two or four men to watch operation of the new Quota Act, and make proposals for promoting quality and interests of Brtish films. BRITISH FILM INSTITUTE: A Company Limited by Guarantee, with no share capital but assisted by government grant, formed to encourage use and development of the cinematograph as a means of entertainment and instruction. THE TRAVEL .\ND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOOATION: A nontrading organisation formed with government support whose purpose is to spread throughout the world knowledge of the products and industries as well as the amenities and attractions of the British Isles. FILM COUNCIL: A research unit set up by World Film News to investigate and report on the financial and political background of the film industry. IMPERIAL INSTITUTE: An institution to promote the educational and informative contacts of the British Empire, and to circulate Empire Films to racial and educational organisations in the United Kingdom. FEDER.\TION OF BRITISH FILM SOCIETIES: Formed to advise, coordinate and encourage the formation and work of societies, and to facilitate the booking of films. THE BRITISH COUNOL: Formed by government support to make better known in foreign countries the cultural side of British life: its language, art. music and literature.