BRITAIN AGAIN TO THE FORE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 922, 15 March 1930, Page 15

BRITAIN AGAIN TO THE FORE

AMAZING FILM SUCCESSES The amazing rise of British International Pictures owing to the “talkie” situation, is one of the most startling incidents in the whole history of. pictures. The company lias made in succession' five gigantic successes which have captured London, and which have even invaded the American market. This is the first time this has happened for very many years. The secret of it all is now out. Mr. J. P. Maxwell, the head of British International Pictures, at the last meeting of shareholders, announced that the company control enough theatres to cover the eost of any production however lavish. The largest theatre chain in England, known as the A.8.C., is under the control of this company. These, of course, are the lines which enabled the enormous production of the major American companies.

British International Pictures have seized upon the advantages of the reservoir of English acting talent, and the convenience with which they can get Continental types of all sorts. In rapid succession appeared “Elstree , ■ —i— Calling,” in which Will Fyffe, Cicely Courtneidge, Jack Hulbert and a host of L o n d o n’s brightest and best revue artists take part; “Juno and the Pay cock”: "Atlantic,” which Is the story of the Jack Hulbert sinking: of the Titanic; “The Hate Ship,” in which Jameson Thomas plunged into fame at one stride; and "Harmony Heaven ” a colour jazz song picture, arrived and made London gasp The English papers are falling over themselves with excitement at this amazing reality and seem in a state of almost pious exultation that England has at last come into her own in the film business.