N.Z. PRODUCED FILMS

Chronicle (Levin), 17 April 1946, Page 3

N.Z. PRODUCED FILMS

POSSIBILITY MENTIONED BY MR. KERRIDGE j LONDON, April 15. - Oue direct result. of the partnership of Mr. Kcrridge, tlie New Zealander, with Ihe Rank organisation is the possibility that lilms may be produced in New Zealand. Before leaviug London today to calc.h tlie Queen Mary to New Yoik, M.r, Kerridge said: "There is quitc a possibilily that fuU-length iilins may be made iu New Zealand, and it 5s likeh that the iirst oue may be, ' Ho They Began, ' by John Brodie. Nothing defmite has been decided yet, however." Mr. Brodie, formerly ' of Ncw Plyniouth, wrote "The'Little Country" and "So They Began" bcfore Ihe war. An option to lilm the latte.r was takou up, but the plaus were iutorrupted by tlie war. Throughout the war, Mr. Brodie sorvcd with Figliter Command in the R.A.F. as an operations controller. Now in London, lie is the editor of "Books of Today." Commenting on tlie new partnership, Mr. Kerridge said: "Tlie management will be exactly the same as at present. I will be managing director in New Zea land and Mr. Rank and Mr. Jolin Davis will be joint direetors, but tliere will be no resident representative of the Rank organisation in the Dominion. Both organisations liave a 50 per cent. interest and there is no control on either side. The object of ihe partnership is to give the Britisli iilm industry the opportunity it deserves, both from tlie patriotic and the merit points of view. Britisli fllni production ' facilities, despite the handicaps suffcred throughout the vyar, are Teaching the stage where they coinpare cjuite favourably w'ith those of Hollywood. The Americans are taking the English activities very seriously, and the net result will be an improvement in the standards of both Britisli and American filrns. Tlie partnership also means that there will no longer be delay in British films xeachmg New Zealand. ' Mr. Iverridge also stated that it was lioped that arrangements would be made for English theatre companies to visit New Zealand. He had no comment to make on his visit to Paris. -With Colonel R. F. Gambrill, he will spend three weeks in New York and a similai time in •California. They are expected to reach New Zealand on May 25.