British Films Make Progress

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 1, 12 July 1935, Page 30

British Films Make Progress

NE could. better describe the rise .of the . British film industry;as' the "fall and- rise,’ because prior to 1914,. Britain was*the world’s leading film-producing.. country, but the Great ‘War: upset, among many other flourishing ‘industries, that of film: production. The

year 1918 found British. film production sadly at sea, but, in characteristic fashion, she resolutely set about to bring back to its rightful place the fame she enjoyed prior to the war, not, however, :that she was very successful in this attempt until the: advent. of the talking picture, when, overnight. almost, .the. Mother Coun: : try, the country who invented cinematography, became 2 real force, and has. yearly, since ‘then, further increased her one-time grip on the world markets, which to-day, by sheer merit alone, she rules, if not supremely, then cojointly with her American cousins. However, our concern is not with the industry, but with those famous pioneers who built this now mighty industry, about which we so proudly write. First.and foremost is the gigantic parent company, Associated. British Picture Corporation, controlling. vast theatre interests, Associated British Cinemas, British International Pictures at Elstree, B.I.P. (Export) Ltd., and numerous: other smaller but no less important concerns. The corporation is under the leadership of Mr. John Maxwell, who, in 1925, was the owner 9€ a small theatre circuit in Glasgow. To-day, in 1935, a span of merely 10 years, the assets of this concern, still under the, leadership of John Maxwell, are £7,000,000 sterling. , From almost obscurity in Glasgow, John Maxwell, a youthfl-middle-aged man, born a Scotsman, and a Solicitor hy profession, set going the machinery that ultimately has given to the world many of its greatest pictures. Having built and aequired the silent. studios at Elstree, and with the shadow of.the talkie coming. up over the horizon, he was able, when that moment to act, and act quickly he did, for almost overnight the silent studios at’ Hlstree were converted to sound. Since that day many momentous steps have been taken: (1) The first all-British, full-length talking. pictur e, "Blackmail," was produced hy British International Pictures at Blstree (one of the associate companies of Associated British Picture Corporation); (2) the first multilingual film was.pro(luced by the same company, "Atlantic";

(3) the first British "Film Weekly" contest, taken by public ballot for the best ali-British film, was won by B.LP., with "Blackmail"; (4) the first British talkie to introduce a colour sequence was from B.I.P., and the title was "Wlstree Calling"; (5) the first all-British company ‘to. open up offices and distribution in New. York was likewise: B.LP., who actually went into the very country who then claimed, and perhaps rightly at that time, world film supremacy ; (6) the. first British company to send ambassadors. to foreign lands outside Great Britain was B.LP., who, in 1930, sent the pick of her head office staff to Canada, South Africa, Berlin, Spain, South America, Australia, Singapore, Far Hast, India, Central Durope and New.Zealand; (7) the first, again, was B.I.P. to import into Elstree stats from abroad, who could better fill certain types of parts and stories, and, as well, further stimulate the sale of British films in America an@ on the Continent. To convince you of the sustained progress, allow us to recount that not"only did B.I.P. win the first all-British pallot for the best film of the year in 1928, but three times since then, and agaiu this year, with "Blossom Time," was this coveted honour won. This is purely a pioneer record of remarkable progress, which has been as financial to the company as it has been entertaining to the millions . who, during the past 10 years, have seen British films in all parts of the world and in all kinds and classes of theatres. The biggest film expense B.I.P. have so far gone to in connection with,a product is £130,000 spent on "Abdul the Damned.’ The story is of the despot sultan, who, .together with his hirelings, ruled in tyrant fashion his people, and had no less than three hundred wives. ° It’s a magnificent effort in film production, and a most fitting conclusion to 10 years of success. . Depression or no depression, the company has always shown her shareholders a good return; and going back only as far. as 1981 (all. of the preceding years there was also a profit showing) we have the following year, ending March, 1931, £495,452 profit ; _. (Continued on page 35.),

(Continued from page 30.) 1932, £394,487. profit; 1933, £308,108 profit, 19384, £489,686 profit: 1985, £652,017. So.far as the Dominion and foreign countries are concerned, B.1.P. (Export) Ltd., under the most capable and energetic control of Arthur Dent, has sold her product and put it on the map in no uncertain manner, In New Zealand, for instance, B.1.P. films are bought by the best theatre interests in the country and screened at te very best theatres,