WILCOX TO PRODUCE IN ITALY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 49, 20 November 1937, Page 14

WILCOX TO PRODUCE IN ITALY

Herbert Wilcox, whose film "Victoria the Great" recently won the Gold Gup for the best pictrure of any nation^ ality in the VeniceExhibitiou, is to produce films in Rome in English, French, and Italian, under the auspices of the italian Governmeut. The proposal was made to Mr. Wilcox as a direct result of the Venice exhibition of "Victoria," which aroused the most unprecedented enthusiasm in Italian film circles. Mr. Wilcox is to visit New York for the premiere of "Victoria," and will return tp Rome immediately by an Italian boat, to negotiate the deal finally and discuss detaiis. The Italian Government, passionately interested in the development of a new and vital film industry for Italy, has promised every possible facility, ineluding finance, for the new venture. The invitation js for any number of pictures for which suitable subjecta may be fortbcoming, but for the moxnent Mr. Wilcox is contemplating the production of one subject only. "I shall produce it, and direct the bhxglish version myself," he told an interviewed, "but I am no linguist, and shall have to find a director for the French and Italian versions. "Gast? Oh. yes, I shall take over English actors to Rome for the English version. Story? That is left entirely to my discretion. I have a definite story in mind, but at the moment 1

can't tell you more than that it trill be an historical subject. "The ltalians," he adds, "have an extraordinary sense for pageantry and spectacle. Do you remember the early silent films of 'Cabiria' and 'Quo Vadis' that made ns first. realise twenty — twenty-five — years ago that the pictures were something more than a peep-show entertainment? I hope, jvith the wonderful natural backgrounds that c4an be found in Italy, to catch something of that sam© pageantry in a modern sound picture. "Proud? Yes, I am proud. What pleases me most is to think that 'Victoria the Great' after all our hopes and heartburnings, has proved to be such a wonderful ambassador of goodwill between the nations."