BERNARD SHAW—G and S—THE DOLLAR

Radio Record, Volume XII, Issue 33, 27 January 1939, Page 4

BERNARD SHAW—G and S—THE DOLLAR

Three Reasons Why Future Of British Films Will Be Very Rosy FoR three major reasons, 1939 should be a memorable year in British film production. Those reasons may be summed up as George Bernard Shaw, Gilbert and Sullivan, and an influx of American capital and talent.

SINCE the early boom in British pictures, in the days ef ‘Sunshine Susie" and ‘‘Rookery Nook,’’ the industy has been through many vicissitndes. Last year it was very

much in the doldrums. Now it is swinging back to its early high standard and prosperity, says Ernest Turnbull, managing director of Gaumont British Dominions Distributors. Mr. Turnbull, who is also general manager of the Fox Film Corporation (Australia) Ltd., was visiting New Zealand

last week in connection with the distribution of his company’s product; and when interviewed by the "Record" he was enthusiastic gbout the future. "In the years after the first British Quota Act came _ into effect, between £5,000,000 and £ 6,000,000 of British capital was fost in speculation, due very largely to the activities of promoters and inexperienced people, who dabbled in movie production," said Mr. Turnbull. "Now most of them have fallen by the wayside; and for the first time in six or eight years we seem to be getting back to the early high standard of British films, "Spasmodically during that offperiod, an occasional outstanding British film appeared, but many fimms were made that were not British in the sense that the early successes had been-they were

made with the deliberate object of trying to capture the American market. And that," said Mr. Turnbull, "was in his opinion equivalent to chasing an illusion. *T have always felt that we should make pictures for what I describe as the all-red route; that is, Great Britain and the Dominions. When we used to do that they were successful." On the other hand, Mr. Turnbull acknowledged that as a result of the new quota legislation in England there would un-

doubtedly be some very big pictures made.in England in coming months by teading American organisations, notably 20th Cen-tury-Fox and M-G-M. Biggest deal for years in the British industry is the recent £1,000,000 transaction whereby 20th Century-Fox will take over the monopoly of production at Gainsborough’s Islington Studios. A logical development of this is the closing down of Gaumont British’s distribution offices in New York, since the world release of the

British-made product will now bé done by the Fox organisation. Biggest event of the coming year, from the point of view of actual pictures, is certain to be the « release of "The Mikado," firs€ screen version ever made of 2 Gilbert and Sullivan opera, in the opinion of Mr. Turnbull. Produetion has now been completed at the Pinewood Studios, and the picture will be released fairly soon in New Zealand. Only after a very great deal of negotiation had the screen rights to Gilbert and Sullivan been secured by British praducer Gabriel Toye, in competition with many other producers. The colour in "The Mikado" ig the fmest he has ever seen, says Mr. Turnbull. As the first of a new kind of motion picture, it assured of sensational success. Following it will be "The Yeomarf" of the Guard," also in colour. "Another very important thing that has happened to the British industry is that George Bernard Shaw has finally agreed to be associated with the sereen. ‘Pygmealion’ has already been filmed. I¢ is a remarkable picture and cone tains, I am sure, Leslie Howard’s best work to date. "Tt is anticipated that three of Shaw’s novels and plays will ‘be filmed this year. "Another pleasing feature is the return of. Annabella from MHaliywood to make pictures in England, the first of which will be called Trenchie’ (in colour), and the second "Let’s Go To Paris" Gracie Fields’s two films for 1939 will be ‘Keep Smiling’ and. ‘Salty Of The Shipyards.’ " Hivery year sees the discovery of sensational new stars. In 1939, says Mr. Turnbull, watch out for Wendy Hillier (who plays Eliza Doolittle in "Pygmalion") and Michael Redgrave (leading man of "The Lady Vanishes"). And colour will be as important in British production as it is im American. Of the 26 films G.B.D. will be releasing in 1939, at least six will be in colour.