Box Office "Flop" Awarded Prize

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 27, 11 January 1935, Page 15

Box Office "Flop" Awarded Prize

"Man of, Aran," English Film Which Has Flopped in Many Towns, Given American Award For Best Film of Year — Hollywood, Starts — Filming "David Copperfield" With Frank Lawton.

HB first British film to be awarded the first prize of merit by the United States National Board of Review, "Man of Aran," has the distinc-* tion of having been a first-class box office "flop" in many of the theatres in which it has been screened. So far it has been shown in only one New Zealand theatre-the State in Wellington -and there was certainly no scramble for early doors during that week. In fact it went so far over the heads of the majority of patrons that dozens walkea out during the screening. The fact tha: it was shown in Wellington was principally due to the request of a wellknown headmaster in the Capital. "Man of Aran" was in New Zealand for some months before it was shown in Wellington, and. even now there is no rush for bookings. It wiil be screened in Palmerston North in the near future, and it will probably be shown in Auckland, but it is safe tc say that there are many New Zealand towns that will not see the picture at all. Not that it is not a good picture From the purely artistic viewpoint it is one of the finest ever made, but put it beside films like "House of Rothschild" and "Blossom Time," and it wouldn’t stand a ghost of a chance from the box office point of view. The setting is the Aran Islands off. the West Coast of Ireland. The islands are three-small, barren of soil 2a¢ trees, and swept in the winter by the huge seas that roll across the Atlantic The actors are the islanders themselves -people grimly fighting for a livelihood. The picture came into being from a conversation which the director.

Robert Flaherty, the maker of "Tabu," had with an Irish engineer while crossing the Atlantic. Tiger King, his wife, .Maggie, and his son, Michael, are the principal figures. The photography is marvellous-huge waves piling themselves against forbidding rocks, figures wending their way across the top of 2 cliff, struggles with the huge basking shark in the foaming waters. "Man of Aran" can never be a huge suecess-but it spells hopefulness for the artistic future of motion pictures. OLLYWOOD has just begun practical work on what it hopes will be its masterpiece, the filming of the English classic, "David Copperfield." The two men who will be primarily responsible for the job are Mr. David Selznick, producer, and Mr. George Cukor, director. Both men have been ass0ciated before, and have shown in "Tittle Women" that they can handle a classic with success, writes H.G, in the London "Observer." "David Copperfield," of course, is & weightier proposition. In the first place, Mr. Selznick promised a 100 per cent. English cast-and has been very nearly as good as his intention. Here are some of his results:Mr. Micawber .......... W O.z Fields. David wvsvervavevves Frank Lawton. Mrs, Copperfield .... Dlizabeth Allan,

Barkis .......+.. Herbert Mundin. Mrs. Gummidge ...... Una O’Connovr. Mr, Dick ..-... seeee- Lennox *Pawle. Betsy Trotwood .... Hdna May Oliver. Steerforth ........° Hugh Williams. Mr. Murdstone .... Basil Rathbone Mrs. Micawber ........ Jean Cadeil It will be seen that this cast’ includes a long list of well-known BEnglish comedians and "straight" actors. Young Mr. Frank Lawton would probably be yoted by a huge majority both of Enzlish and American theatre-goers, as the best possible man for the part. The younger David still, the boy David of the earliest chapters, is being played by a young English boy, Master Frederick Bartholomew, ‘chosen out of hundreds, and imported into America after great difficulties with foreign la bour restrictions. Mr, Charles Laughton was originally engaged for Micaw ber, but he voluntarily resigned, feeling he could do less than justice to ithe part. Mr. Fields is an American music-hall comedian, and has been a great success in one or two films. Dora will be played by Miss Maureen O’Sullivan, whom we have become accustomed to see being flung from treetop to tree-top as the bride of: Tarzan Miss O’Sullivan is Irish’ and not American. Dan Peggoty.is being played by Mr. Lionel Barrymore, Agnes by Miss Madge Evans, both American, The balance of the cast, however, remains preponderatingly English.: Mr Hugh Walpole, novelist: and Dickens expert, taken to Hollywood for the pro: duction with the idea of keeping an eye on the dialogue, has found himself

unexpectedly cast for the part of the Rector of Blunderstone, who sent the young David to sleep, and will make his positively first screen appearance in this film Mr. Selznick’s summing up of the whole matter: "The public has finally decided to accept the classics as screen pictures. I do not pretend that the public is not interested in modern and original stories-but they must be original. The mine is in danger of being exhausted. ‘David Copperfield’ is one of the classics that is as vital to-day as in the years when it was written. I hope the production will preserve all the old memories." g R. R. Lb. GRANT has received the following cable from the British Empire Films; Sydney, after the private screening of "Grandad Rudd," starring the well-known comedy acter, Bert Bailey: "Just coming from private screening ‘Grandad Rudd,’ undoubtedly Cinesounds biggest money-getter to date. Screams from start to finish. In every way superior to ‘On Our Selection. Whole organisation can feel elated with this one. Definitely qualifies fer long run. Release State Theatre, Sydney." , Those who saw and enjoyed "On Ouz Selection" will be. delighted to hear that this new film, which is coming soon to New Zealand, far surpasses the old with its combination of human interest, appealing humour and-fine workmanship, all of which are present t9 a far greater degree in "Grandad Rudd." ‘