BRITISH FILM CRISIS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 9, 26 January 1937, Page 11

BRITISH FILM CRISIS

Alexander Korda-London Fifans Not Affected PR0GAMME NOT INTERRUPTED Recent cable news from London reported that British film-producins companies had suffered serious losses during the past year. It was stated that over £2,000,000 had been lost through the production of unprofitable films. The manager of the New Zea land branch of United Artists, who are the distributors for Alexander KordaLondon Flms, the most important British producing company, has been advised by cable from bead office at New York that Alexander Korda-London Films are in no way affected by tbe failure of other British film companies. Alexander Korda, who presides over London Films, advises that no changes whatsoever will be made in tbe policy of London Films production. Korda' s plans for producing during the current year ( will involve an expenditure of £2,500,000. Each picture is being designed for world-wide distribution, and many of the pictures will feature stars of international fame supplied by United Artists' Ameriean studios. Tbe first of these pictures will be Charles Laughton in "Rembrandt," due for early release in tbe Dominion. Others to follow are "Knight Without Armour," starring Robert Donat and Marlene Dieti'ich and now completed at a cost of £250, 000; ''I, Claudius," witb Charles Laughton and Merle Oberon; "Fire Over England, ' ' with Flora Robson and Vivian Leigjb; ' Luen Are Not Grods," with Miriam Hopkins and Sebastian Shaw; "Elephant Boy," directed by Robert Flaherty; "Bicycle Built For Two,'' a Rene Clair musical productioii ; "Troop Ship," and "Divorco of Lady X." Alexander Korrda Was the producef of many of the greatest British film Buccesses of the past two years; "The Private Life of Henry VHl," "The Scarlet Pimpernel," "Catherine the Grreat," "Sanders of .the River," "The Ghost Goes West," and "Things to Come" were among his Most lidtable achievements, and through his association with United Artists theBe films enjoyed world-wide distribution and popularity. He has since become partbwner of United Artists organisation with Gharlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, Samuel Goldwyn and Douglas Fairbanks.