The Film World

Radio Record, Volume VII, Issue 52, 5 July 1935, Page 23

The Film World

Four British Films Showing Together in Hollywood Gaumont-British Chief. Happy About Future | Four British films-"The Iron Duke," "The Scarlet Pimpernel," "Unfinished Symphony" and "Little Friend’-running simultaneously in Hollywood. A vital interest in British pictures -even in the Middle West. . Jessie Matthews-especially in "Wvergreen’-creating a sensation wher- ) ever her pictures were shown. These, and others as interesting, were the discoveries made by Michael Balcon, production chief of Gaumont-British, when he visited the United States a few weeks ago.

"T have signed up 2 number of American stars-Walter Huston, who is to play Rhodes for us, Richard Dix, Madge Evans. Maureen O’Sullivan, who

‘ is the only real Irish colleen on the tcreen," said Mr. Balcon to a London . newspaper. "I baven’t chosen these *yeople haphazard, but because they seem to me ideal for the parts I have in mind. By using their known names in conjunction with our own starsVeidt, Lynn, Jessie Matthews, Hulbert, and the rest-I hope to build up a programme with less sales resistance for American theatres. Mind you, I’m not trying in any way to alter the national character of our pictures, merely to. make them more readily acceptable to the point of view of American enter: tainment." . Asked whether America was kindly disposed toward the British picture, Mr. Baleon said: "Wherever I went, even out in the Middle West, I found eyeryone vitally interested in British films, I don’t say they were violently enthusiastic, that would be unreason-

able. But from top to bottom of the industry they had an eye on our product -they wanted to come and work in England for at least one picture-and the public was friendly and interested. Do you know that while I was in Hollywood there were four British pictures playing simultaneously in the theatres. ‘The Iron Duke,’ ‘Little Friend,’ ‘Unfinished Symphony,’ and ‘The Scarlet Pimpernel’? "Do you know that we have had to open an entirely new department at our London office to handle . the growing volume of American fan mail for our stars? Of all the people with Ganu-mont-British, I should say that Jessie Matthews in ‘Evergreen’ has made the biggest hit. Wherever her pictures are shown in America the people flock to see her. She’s becoming something of a film sensation on the other side of the Atlantic, "ver since talkies began, the Wnglish market has become more and more important to Hollywood. They have made more and more American films with British atmosphere and Bnglish players, like ‘Clive of India’ and ‘David Copperfield,’ and made them with enormous success, Now I see no reason why I shouldn’t make successfui pictures for both markets in the same way, by using British subjects and signing a fair number of players from over there who will appear in the stories . without spoiling them. I don’t say that _ I shall try American subjects, though I confess that if I could get a story like ‘Dodsworth’ for Walter Huston I would have a shot at it, I haven't signed many players, but I believe in those I have signed, And I have made a number of invaluable contacts, so that when-and if-the . occasion arises, I shall always know where to go to get the directors and writers, and stars I’m wanting to make our pictures more acceptable for the American sereen,"

BiIne CROSBY recently gave to charity £2000 worth of singing. He made four records for the Catholic Misslonary Society, the sale of which will raise funds for missionary work. The records are "Holy Night," "Adeste FWidelis," and two other sacred songs. The Decea record company, Georgie Stoll and his orchestra, and Recordings, Ine., donated their services so that the society would be able to realise a greater profit from the recordings. Bing recently declared that he planned to stop making records, but made an exception for the charitable purpose. He also recorded "Soon," "Down by the River," and "Easy to Remember," the Richard Rodgers-Lorenz Hart numbers he sings in his latest Paramount picture, "Mississippi." , TWELVE little words! In just so few as that May Robson sums up the philosophy of her living. "I try to be." said the great actress, who is featured in RKO Radio’s "Strangers All" with Preston Foster, "what those who love me think Iam." And she wrote it down as her "gospel" of how people should conduct theniselves in these sophistieated ultra-modern days. The reason for the miniature "sermon" Miss Robson explained, was a long letter she received from a publication asking her for a 500-word article on ‘What has religion done for you?"