BRITAIN TO THE FORE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 454, 8 September 1928, Page 17

BRITAIN TO THE FORE

BIG FILM DEAL In an interview with The Sun representative, M.r. Barrie Marschel stated that for the last two years strong efforts have been made to induce an English firm to produce moving pictures that will reflect British psychology, culture, manner, and speech in contra-distinction to American pictures, which pay not the slightest attention to such things, even though the British Empire be a great and integral part of their market. As the result of Parliamentary allusion, debate, and newspaper propaganda, with legislative measures as practical support, there has, during the past twelve months, been a big step forward in the making of British pictures of a class well calculated to vie with the American product. Such is the output to-day that companies are being formed in various parts of the overseas Dominions to exploit these films, and one has already been floated in Australia, with a capital of £ 250,000, which has the Right Hon. W. A. Watt, ex-Prime Minister of the Commonwealth, as its chairman of directors, its objects being to import and distribute the best products of the British studios. This company is extending its operations to New Zealand, and recently appointed Mr. Marschel (late manager in New Zealand for Metro-Goldwyn) its general manager. Mr. Henry Hayward viewed several productions brought to Auckland by Mr. Marschel this week, with the result that yesterday one of the biggest deals for months past, and certainly the largest transaction ever .recorded in connection with British pictures in New Zealand eventuated. The arrangement provides for the weekly distribution of 52 all-British programmes throughout the extensive Fuller-Hayward picture theatre circuits. The merit of the pictures shown to Mr. Hayward is of an unusually high order. One of these British super-pictures, entitled “The Battle of Coronel and Falkland Islands,” recently shown before the Iving and Queen at Buckingham Palace, will be the chief attraction at the Stx-and Theatre for Trafalgar week. MUSIC AT ZOO TO-MORROW A charmingly varied musical programme will be given by the Municipal Band at the Zoological Park on Sunday afternoon at three o’clock. The items to be played include the fine marches “Cadiz” and “The London Scottish,” pati'ol “The Wee Macgregor,” overture to “Raymond,” selections “The Songs of Ciro Pinsuti” and Squire’s popular songs, waltz “Wein, Weib and Gesang,” and other tuneful numbers. iimiimmmmimiiimimminMmiiimiriiiimiimiiiiiiiiiinmii