The Film World

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 44, 10 May 1935, Page 23

The Film World

American Producers Turn Eyes on English History

"Vanessa" and "Clive of India" Are Two Recent Examples of This Fact America’s increasing regard for Britain’s domestic charms and farflung battle-line has become one of the phenomena of modern talking pictures. There seems to be no end to these tributes. "Cavalcade" Wits an early-and probably the most outstanding-example. Since then picture-goers have been treated to the -spectacle of Lewis Stone running up the Union Jack over the blockhouse in the American version of "Treasure Island." At the present time half New Zealand is flocking to see three husky young Americans, Gary Cooper, Franchot Tone and Richard Cromwell, doing theiy bit for Bngland in "Lives of a Bengal Lancer." Two more American films with an oh! so English atmosphere recently released in the, Dominion are "Vanessa" and "British Agent." A third due for early screening is "Clive of India."

"NT ANBESSA" is one of those gentle stories of "The Queen, God bless ‘er’ that really have nothing to do but look charmingly archaic. "British Agent" also contrives to get a pictuyesque note into the proceedings. "Suggested by’-a tactful description

-the memoirs of Bruce Lockhart as British consul in Moscow, it manages to introduce 2, romance with an aristocratic Russian turned Communist, 2 hidden vault piled with munitions where the hero is to be blown up by the Terrorists at nine pip emma, and a happy ending in a Pullman car. Yor all that, there is a definitely high-mind-ed note to the proceedings. The hero ag been educated at Oxford, but conxciously outgrown it. He says things Aike, "Wngland’s integrity is fairly well ‘known," and "Lhe Wnglish would never agree to helping in the overthrow of a foreign government." .

"Clive of India," adapted from the successful London play and brought to the sereen. by United Artists. is a more academic tribute to ‘Hngland’s greatness. ‘It is an account of Clive’s career, in India and out-of it; his ambitions, his love story, his campaigns, and his ultimate disgrace. There is one imptessive scene in it-the charge of the battle elephants at Plasseyotherwise it is a quiet, collected, and adequate picture of life in India and London at the time of the elder Pitt, and.it should at:least instruct the public in some facts of history that are not too wildly garbled, and remind thei that there are other problems and coun-

tries to be considered than those at their own back door. The well-known London critic, C. A, Lejeune, commenting on America’s increasing liking for films with an Euglish setting, says: ‘In case you should feel embarrassed by Hollywood’s regard for Wngland in these epics, I would suggest, very mildly, that there may be more init than meets the eye. American feeling is kindly disposed to us, 1 am well aware, but America also knows that the Wnglish market is important. With the language barriers shutting off foreign distribution for pictures to a very great extent, Hollywood is becoming more and more dependent on its monopoly of the Wnglish-speaking possessions. It is learning to be cirecumspect. The silly ass Englishman, the Iinglish society dame, you will observe, is quietly fading out of the picture. The English on the screen are becoming a race of stout fellas, in spite of our more obvious limitations of speech and sentiment."