TASTES IN FILMS.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 400, 6 April 1937, Page 6

TASTES IN FILMS.

EVEN NEW ZEALAND. Hollywood Considers. Auckland, April 6. A declaration that New Zealand, for all its relative unimportance, is given direct consideration by a. group of experts in Hollywood Vefaen the important. issue of the public’s varied tastes in film entertain mi nt comes up, was made by Mr. Harry Hunter, who passed through Auckland on R.M.S. Aorangi en route to take up managing directorship in Sydney of Paramount Pictures in Australia and New Zealand, in succession /to the late Mr John E. Keniiebeck, after 15 years as head of the Washington branch. Mr Hunter said that Australasian tastes could not be ignored in choice of sltory material and production, as that market was rated fourth in the ‘ world*—following the U.S., Britain and France. His company had long discarded the policy of producing' pictures with appeal only Ito “home” audiences and were concentrating on efforts which would have an international audience. Mr Hunter added that there was a wave of enAhusiasm in Hollywood a.t present, taking the form of a drive for talent and new faces. “Hollywood is not overflowing 'With atulity,” he said. ‘Talking picture requirements are so exacting dhat no artists come ,io the screen ready made.” Talent J scouts were operating all over the ( world. Their “discoveries” must be tirelessly trained and encouraged. In ternaltionalism'was a factor in this training. While in Hollywood, Mill unter, who was accompanied by his wife and -a son, saw several pictures in production, notably, “Maid of Salem,” “Souls at Sea,” “Waikiki Wedding,” “Swing High, Swing- Low,” and “High, Wide and Handsome..’