English and European

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 538, 15 December 1928, Page 13 (Supplement)

English and European

Cinema Art Films

The year 1929 will see the commencement of Cinema Art Films’ third year in the motion picture distributing field in Australia and New Zealand. The past two years have been years of steady progress that have placed Cinema Art in the front rank of distributing organisations.

Cinema Art films announce that during the 1929 season they will distribute a schedule of 46 releases, culled from the entire output of the British International Pictures and the noted Continental producers known as U.F.A.

Among the outstanding U.F.A. productions there will be the great drama, “The Burning of Moscow,” picturising the imperishable memory of the world’s most strategic retreat; “Asphalt,” from the story “My Lady of the Pavement,” and photographed by the man who “shot” the great “Metropolis.” "Secrets of the Orient,” an Eastern fantasy of unparalleled splendour; “Hungarian Rhapsody,” with a strong cast, and 5,000 minor players; “Homecoming,” a story of shipwreck; “Bondage,” a story of the Russia of 1850, when peasants were slaves to their lord; and finally a number of the fine U.F.A. nature study gems.

The bulk of the films distributed by Cinema Arts, however, are the products of British International Pictures, an entirely British company. Their studios are at Elstree, Hertfordshire, a few miles from London, and according to many American film men who have examined the plant, there are no finer or more up-to-date studios in America or on the Continent. Among the directors and artists on contract are Alfred Hitchock, Captain Norman Walker, E. A.. Dupont. Betty Balfour, Monty Banks, Jameson Thomas, Lillian Hall-Davis, Estelle Brody, Carl Brisson, Gillian Dean, and other prominent artists. The floor space allows for six producers working simultaneously. There are, of course, many other directors and artists who are engaged on individual productions. The former include Dennison Clift, Harry Bachman, Castleton Knight, in addition to Victor Saville, the director for Burlington Films: the Associate Company of British International Pictures; Anna May Wong, Joseph Striker. Jean Bradin, Ferdinand Von Alten. Annette Benson, Ernest Thesiger, Winter Hall, and others. There is not the slightest doubt that activities at Elstree are sincere, intelligent, thorough, and extensive, and by far the most important that have occurred in the whole history of British motion pictures. British International Films, Ltd., sold their first year’s production of 13 films for showing in America and throughout the world, for hundreds of thousands of pounds, and advance payments of £150,000 have already been made. These films are “A Little Bit of Fluff,” starring Syd Chaplin and Betty Balfour: "Champagne,” “Moulin Rouge,” “The Ring.” “Poppies of Flanders.” “The Silver Lining,’ “The White Sheik,” "The Farmer’s Wife,” "Tom,” “Not Quite a Lady,” “Adam’s Apple,” "Widdicombe Fair,” and "Tesha.”