1953-12-28 — Page 4

:

THE

ONLY

ENGLISHMAN

WHO CAN MAKE THE RUSSIANS LAUGH

T

By ELLEN FRASER

TE way to please the Russians, skyn a man who knows, is to make them laugh. That is why the most popular British film star In Russia is neither Caire Bloom nor Laurence Olivier. It is George Formby.

The Fornby phenomenon was di eussed by Mr G. V. Alexan- Ir v, the 50-year-old Blm pro- ducer who bus been visiting Britain with cultural 'delegi-

on from the Soviets,

Two of the Formby Bima shows in Rusia were "Turned OUL Nice Agaity” and "Let

40. Re Do it."

he says. "Wo film producers must do more to show what life is really like,"

One question he is constantly asked : How much censorship is enforced in film-makng? Hla want to do." reply: "Noue. Wo do what we

مادة

Bul

Alas support the views of the Government? "Yes, Art in the Soviet As subsidised by the State and It reflects the view of the State.**

They're Serious

To Western cars this may be a little unconvincing. Less con- vincing is his reply to the third question: Suppose you made film contrary to the views of the State?

#

"Everyone in Rus-lo sang the songs from his shows," said Mr Alexandrov, "L remember "You could," he said, "Where 1. ure was one very popular

is no low against it. But it number about ង red-hatrett

would be a failure. For the man."

people would not accept such ideas."

Mr

101.18

Alexandrov, who look [[:sat, with

and square

his reky Bur hands wil

much of a talking dives an expert view. yond his life trying

h:

Russians laugh.

for him.

For he To make

He is a master t satire comely The laughter he has created ha brasht hima Stalin Prize, the title People'a Artist of the U.S.SR. (meaning he is one of the lap half-dozen producers in The country)

average in come of 20,000 roubles a month (about £1.800 at the official ex- change rale).

and an

Life for him in the Soviet is He has, comfortable. very Among other things, * flat in Morrow, a home in the country. ar, cight red os and two 1 le- vision sets.

Trapeze Act

How did he reach the heights? By way of a trapeze..

Grigory Vassilyevitch Alexan- arov, born in the Ural Moun

Q

tains, the tou of a slee)-worker started work in a elreus, "I was trapeze artist, a tight-rope walker and on actor," he says. Then one night at a Workers Theatre When I was 19, I met Elsenstein (une of Russia's most famous producers]. He liked my work.

his assistant."

ht

Now, as a People's Artist, he Keta a bu te sulary of about 0,000 roubles a month (£475).

which For his scenarius, writes himself, he gets 11⁄2 per- cent of the gross take for the picture, and for producing the film, another 15 percent.

"I would like to make a flim

next year on the life of a com-

he shrugs, poser,"

"but the Russian people want comedies. So 1 must make comedies,"

During Mr Alexandrov's month in Great Britain he has lectured, discussed Miras with English producers, met miners, actors, factory workers, and danced Highland reet in Sept-

land

"They gave me a kill," he said with a chuckle, "and we had the traditional kissing too."

What are hii Impressions? "1 find rather a foggy atmosphere here about our life in Rus in,'

WINTER SALE!

Russkus take Allins very seriously. So 0:3 netor who plays the part of a steel-wirken must spend a month in the lac- tory before he start. He ha to be right.

"Once," says Mr Alexandrov, one of my actors picked up a pen between his forenger and finger, instead of the nuddie normal way. I had hundreds of letters from protesting teachers,

They said all the children were using their pens the same When the tenchers told way. Them not to, the children said the go and see the fim." teachers were backward

Another "y" question ask- ed in Bellain, says Mr Alexan- trov, is:

is: Cun

succeed if you you are not a member of the Communist party?

Then he showed that the fog is not all on one side.

the referred to the Coronation, and to the crowds of people who gathered to say goodbye to the Queen when she left London for the Commonwealth Tour.

"Who,"

1

SIR

P

THE CHINA MAIL, MONDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1953.

“Now with reference to this railway strike-1 suppose all of us at some time or other have wanted to be an engine driver.

wonden Express Service

WINSTON CHURCHILL'S WAR MEMOIRS

THE

RESIDENT TRU- MAN arrived in Ber- lin [for the -1945 Potsdam Confer-

my

VICTORIOUS THREE

AT

POTSDAM

洲

Chapter 36 Of "Triumph And Tragedy"

inoder civilisation

do

his of the

course I know culties he might own country.

very

seem

10

المودر

and fuelling points.

neither side

bo a

Sovietisation of

any of those countries. They would have free elections, and all except Fascist parties would participate..

then

And he replies: The Com-ence] the same day as I did.

spoke of the difficulties in Yugoslavia, where we had no muni party looks after every- was eager to meet a po- rendered himscif, saying, "Do or any of the high purposes of the United States about bases Baltic and the Black Sea. I material ambitions, but there bocly I am a member, but only tentate' with whom

what you will with me, but San Francisco,

then brought up the question had been the 40-60 arrangement. about 40 percent of pro-cordial relations, in spite of spare my misguided people." I

of Turkey and the Dordanelles. It was now 99 to one against ducers are, and uboyt 20 percent

have no doubt that he would

The President seemed in full Tho The President said he would

Turks were differences, had been estab- have shared

naturally Britain.

that Stalin protosted the fate of lm actors.

if it could anxious. utmost; but of accord with this,

the proportions were 90 percent. lished by the correspon- Nuremberg criminais.

all the dim- be presented in a suitable fash- dence included in this

Yugoslav, have in his lon, and did not appear to take Stalin explained what had British, 10 percent. volume. I called on him on The moral principles of

crudely the form of a military happened. The Turks had ap- and 0 percent. Russian interests. the afternoon of our arrival, prescribe that the leaders of

alliance

Soviet Government often These last proached the Russians about a The n deux. were not his words, but give treaty of alliance. In reply the did not know what Tito was and was impressed with his nation defeated in war

his Russians had said the impression I got of

that there about to do. inlnd.

could only

treaty gay, precise, sparkling man- be put to death by the victors,

Stalin also said that he had Encouraged by this, i went Russia, however, wanted Kars mand for a change of Govern- beked, "stage-ner and obvious power of This will certainly stir them to

had any claims. been hurt by the American de- managed that?”

fight to the bitter end in ony decision.

THEN spoke about Imperial on with my future war, and no matter how

long-cherished and Ardahan, which had been ment in Rumania and Bulgaria. Preference, and explained that idea of keeping ilves. many

the organisa- taken away from her at the end He was not meddling in Greek are needlessly it might cause a split Next day both the Presi- sacrineed,

in the tion of the Combined Chiefs of of the last war. The Turks said affairs, and it was unjust of it costs them

no Conservative party if it were Staff in being, at any rate until dent and I made separate more.

not wisely handled. had the world calmed down after tours of Berlin. The city

heard that America It is the

was mak- the great storm and until_thera of 'the masses

great was nothing but a chaos of people

reductions in her who have so little

was a world structure of such tariff. The President said it had proved strength ruins. No notice had, of say about the starting or end-

and been reduced

capacity by 50 percent., that of our ing of wars who pay the addi- and he now had authority

we could

safely confide course, been given visit

to ourselves to it. and the streets

tional cost. Jullus Caesar had

reduce. It by another 50 per- only the ordinary passersby; and his conquests were due al of its prewar height.

lowed the opposite principle, cent, leaving it at one-quarter The President In the square in front of most as much to his clemency that this was a great the Chancellery there was, is to his prowess. however, h considerable

That will be the biggest laugh Mr Alexandrov gets in Britain.

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crowd.

When I got out of the

car and walked about among other them, except for one old

man who shook his head dis- approvingly, they all began

from Cairo

10

10

fol-

was replying

they could not consider this.

RUSSIA then, raised the ques-

tion of the Montreux Conven-

I replied to this in an encouraging way tion. Turkey said she could not

factor, when we were interrupted by discuss that either, Bo Russia and would have a powerful in his officers reminding him that replied that she could not dis fluence on our Dominions, es he must now start off to see cuss a treaty of alliance, pecially Canada and Australla. Marshal 'Stalin.

this, on

for

them. I said I had not yet seen the American proposals. He ox- plained that in countries where there had been an emigre Gov- ernment he had found it neces- sary to assist in the creation of

a

home Government.

to Rumania and Bulgaria, where

This, of course, did not apply

everything was peaceful. When

I asked why the Soviet Govern- ment had given an award to ho said ho King Michael thought the King had acted

of the coup d'etat.

rolling

He was good enough to say that this had I said that I personally would The President

been the most enjoyable support an amendment to the raised the chicon he had had for many. Montreux Convention throwing bravely and wisely at the time. subject of air and communica- occasion I In icns. He had great difficulties years, and how earnestly he out Japan and giving Russla spected a four-mile line of to face about airfields In Bri- hoped the relations I had had access to the Mediterranean.

I then sald how anxious American armour drawn up in tish lerritory,

In with President Roosevelt would repeated that I welcomed especially

people were about Russia's ini- impressive array, and also many Africa, which the Americans be continued between him and Russia's appearance on the tentions. I drew a line from, the to cheer. My hate had died pened a soldiers' clubs for the ought to meet them

British troops and tanks. had bullt at enormous cost. Wo me.

oceans, and this referred not North Cape to Albania, and to the Dardanelles, but also named the capitals cast of that only with their surrender, and I 7th Armoured Division, whose and

to the Kiel Canal, which should fine which were arrange a fair plan

In was much moved by their extraordinary voyages

and

Russian common use.

have a regime like the I. assured him

Suez hands. It looked as if Russia demonstrations, and also by marches

the that if I continued to be re-

Canal, and to the warm waters were

on westwards. their haggard looks and goal of victory have to some sponsible

of the Pacific. This was not out Stalin said he had no such in- I would reopen the extent been mentioned in pre- question with him personally. THAT night, July 18, I dined of gratitude for anything Russin tention. On the contrary, he was threadbare clothes.

vious volumes, Three or four

with Stalin. We were alone had done, but was my settled withdrawing hundred of them were gather-

troops from the It would be a great plly

it except

for the Chan- ed in the club. Then we entered

Birse and Pavlov policy.

West; two million men would They all sang the Americans got worked up [British and long "For

Russlan inter- cellery, and for quite

bo demobilised and sent homs he's a Jolly Good Fel- about bases and air traffic and preters), time walked through

He then asked me about the within the next four months. Its shat- low, and were entirely friend- set themselves to make a win ably

We conversed agree- teres gallerits ündi halls. Our ly. I thought 1 detected a cer- of it at all

from 8.30 in the evening German Fleet, He said that Russian guides then took us to thin air of sheepishness, which come to the best arrangement reaching

We must to 1.30 next mornig without share of it would be most use Hitler's air raid shelter. I went might be due to most of them in our common

any crucial topic. ful to Itusia, who had suffered down to the bottom

He was interest. Pre- Major Birse produced a fairly severe losses at and saw having voted adversely.

sident Roosevelt knew

had the room in which

well long note which he and his

I summariso grateful for the ships we that I wished to

delivered to him atler the sur- mistress had committed

Bo much herë. sul- On July 18 I lunched alone further on this matter of air- cide. and when

with we came up

the President, again

burned..

they showed

#

and

COSLY,

.

БЕЛ

render of the Italian Navy, but FURTHER demobilisation wa we nelds and other bases, and My host seemed indeed to be he would like his share of tho only a question of mufcient the touched On many toples. would have liked to have a re- physleally rather oppressed, but German ships as well. did railway transport. Russian place where his body had been spoke of the melancholy, posi ciprocal arrangement between his easy friendliness was most not dissent.

tion of Great Britain, who had

had our two countries all over the agreeable, About the British The course Hitler had taken more than half her for world.

us than the one

The Gold Room

Hotel Miramar

eign Investments for the com-

a

smaller

י

not

losses during the war had amounted to five million killed election, he said that all his in He then spoke of Grack ag- and missing. The Germans had formation. from Communist and gresalon on the Bulgarian and mobiilsed 18 million men, apart was much more convenient for mon cause when we were all

other sources I had feared. alone, and now emerged

confirmed his Albanian frontiers. He said from industry, and the Russians from

belief that I should be return there were elements in Greece 12 million. At any time in the last few the war with a great external months of the war he could debt of £3,000 million.

ed by a majority of about 80, which were stirring up frouble. This

Ho thought the have flown to England and sur- had grown up through buying

I said I hoped that before the Labour party I repiled that the situation on suppiles from India, Egypt, and PRITAIN WAS

would obtain between 220 and the frontiers was confused, and Conference ended we should bo 230 scats.

the Greeks were grievously able to agree about the fron- chewhere. with

Lend Power than the United

ilors of alarmed about Yugonavin:

all the European Lease arrangement, and, would. States but she had much I did not attempt to pro- Bulgaria, but I had not heard of countries, as well as Russia's Impose upon us an annual ex- to give. Why should not phesy, but I said I was portation without

any fighting worthy of the name. access to the seas and the divi any com- an American battleship sure how the soldiers had

alon of the German Fleet. Tho pensatory import to nourish, calling at Gibraltor be able to voted. He said that the Army The.Conference should mako three Powers gathered round the wages fund,

get

the torpedoes to fit her preferred a strong Government its will plain to these smaller the table were the strongest the lubes and the shells to fit her and would therefore voto for Powers, and none should be all world had ever seem, and it was He followed this attentively guna? Why should we. not Conservatives. It seemed plain lowed to trespass or fight. They their fasic to maintain the peace and with sympaily, and de- share facilitico for defame all that ho hoped that his contacto

*mado, to understand owed

that any Great Britain an Im 50 percent. to the mobility of be, broken.

Stalin apologised for not have alteration to the frontier lines ing officially thanked Great Brt- mense 'debt for having held the American Fleet.

could only be "selijed at the the fort at the beginning, “I

He saked why the King was Peace Conference.

tain for her help In pending you had gono down

like

Mr Truman replied that all not coming to Berlin and I

supplies during the war. Russia, France," he said, "we might these rentiments часто vory said it was because his visit

would - mako her acknowledg- [be fighting tho Germans on near his own heart. Any plan would complicate

mont, our security the American const at the would have to be fitted in, in problems, Но then affirmed present time. This justifies us some way, with the policy of that no country needed: a) mon- in,regarding those matters as the United Nations. I sald that archy so much as Great Bri- above the purely financial was all right so long as the fain, breause the Crown was the lead fese, elections, and Soviet Russia abroad would be PREECE was to have a plebis. I said that the best publicity for facilities were shared between unifying. force throughout the Britain and the United States, Empire, and no one who was suggested that the Great Powers the happiness and well-being of I said I had told the elec. There was nothing in it if they a friend of Britain would do should wand observers to Athens, her people. Stalin spoke of the Hon crowds that we were live were made common to every, anything to weaken the respect. Stalin thought this would now continuity of Soviet polley. If ing to a large extent upon body,

awant of confidence in the there would be good men ready shown to the Monarchy,

to happen anything were

to him American imported food, for

honesty of the Greek people, to step into his shoes. He was which we could not pay, * but «A mán might propose, marzi- Our conversation continued. He thought that the Ambass we had no intention of being age to a young lady, but it wan I and, that it was my polley to dors of the Great Powers should thinking 30 years aboad. -- kept by any country, however not much use if he were told welcome Rust as Creat repose on the elections. near

(Continued Tomorrow) to us in friendship,two, that she would, always be i'n Power on the see, I wished to should have to ask for help to sister to him. I wanted, under een Russian wolpa: 2 Balling

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Stalin

He said that Husada was roady to talk about trade with Britain,

and unul, we got our wheel continuation of the existing Russia had been like giant Amy the Russian, soller was to. (World Copyright reserved. – Hei furning properly my we could be warlinse mutent of reciprocal" with his nostelis "Vinchia “by “we Ja hoor Lyraendrojot production, won perilaliy, in an jor little use to world” becurity facilities between Britain, and the; narrow, exit from the sovereign maty më sa ngali