1934-12-29 — Page 9

BRITISH FILM INDUSTRY

AMERICAN. TOUCH SEEN IN PRODUCTION

BY MILTON BRONNER

"If the British dlm mökers were alow in taking up the talkies, slow In spending big money and slow, in making big pictures, they were even slower In another aspect, They simply could not nen tho American way of building up big- a namo stars.

For a long time they adhered to the iden of general good all- round acting, with no boosting of anybody in particular. Now they have changed their stant: They have capitulated to the American achome of things.

But the people they have re- cently starred have mainly been outaiders who were developed, not in English studios, but elsewhere -Conrad Veidt, George Arliss, John Barrymore, Clive Brook. Lili Damita, Richard Tauber, Elizabeth Bergner, Lealle Howard.

Alexander Korda of London Film Productions has developed the actress who is in for starring honours-Merle Oberon, a giri from the Empire--the island of *Thamania,

Gaumont Britial are carefully nursing a young English girl as a star-Nova Pilbeam. British and Dominions atar is Anna Nenglo.

Charles Laughton and Jack Buchanan, both British, had nl- ready acquired reputations on the spanking stage.

*

HOLLYWOOD TRANSPORTED

But the most significant thing about British film-making to-day is the earnestness with which the companies are trying for the big time stuff, the money they are spending, the huge companies they are enrolling.

Come along for a brief after- Bril- noon out at Borchum Wood. fah Dominions is making a screen version of "Brewster's Millions." Arthur Wimperis and Douglas Furber, two of the cleverest bret- tlats for the London reviews, have contributed to the script. Ray Noble, whose songs have eaught on everywhere. has written n catchy lyric, "Pull Down the Blinds," which will be sung by Lili Damita.

"י

On the afternoon we visit Borc ham Wood, the sun is shining and the company is making frantic use of the unusual October event, Over 500 people are gathered in a Corsican village square, obedi- ently obeying the megaphoned American accents of Thornton Freeland, the Hollywood man who made "Whooper" and "Flying Down to Rio."

Jack Buchanan, iho star, emerges from the green dragon of the village festival. Jack has beeti playing the front legs of the mulla-” ter!

AMERICANS IN COMMAND

Now let's go to where Korda of London Film, Productions is busy on his next two big productions. Here is a roplica of St. James' Palace, London. Standing in front of it are 400, men dressed in the ancient uniforms of the British

DECEMBER

LEAGUE OF NATIONS PALATIAL NEW HOME

BY MILTON BRONNER

Whatever fate may have in store for the League of Nations, and. though many mamber countries. have failed to pay their dues, there has been no let-up in the drive to finish before next, summer the magnificent set of buildings which will house the League's activities hero.

Ever since the first Assembly of the League met in' Gonava in the winter of 1920, it has been evident that more adequate quarters were needed. The buildings occupied were more or less of a make-shift order and the Assembly met In a hall with little accommodation for proes and public and with poor acoustic qualitice. The Swiss were especially anxious to wes. special buildings erected, because that would mean the permanent tle- up of the League to Geneva as headquarters city. At times there had been moves to transfer quar- ters to Vienna to help out that derelict city.

COST $5,000,000

The cost of the new buildings

'A striking aerial view of the new Palace of Nations st. Ganuva

was fixed by the Assembly of 1932 [ cecretaries, have seats for 600 inated the apparatus for simul- American patriot, Simon Bolivar. Kiving at 26,577,160 Swiss france, or working Journalists and provide taneous tolophonic interpretation Little

something like $6,000,000 nt par value. This does not include the library the entire cost of which estimated at $2,000,000-is being. borne by John D. Rockefeller, Jr.

In the plan, the Council wing, the committee rooms, the Hasem-

about 800 seats for the public. The acoustics have been made as nearly perfect as modern science can provide.

FURNISHINGS DONATED

Luxemburg

"RAMSAY MAC'S". FUTURE

BY MILTON BRONNER

battle for health apparently won, Great Britain's "Ramsay Mac now prepares for another fight to retain political leader ship.

For no sooner had he stepped ashore in England after his. récent Canadian vacation than a new crisis confronted the 68 year-old Prime Ministër, s

There is nothing less at stake. than his head-ship of the National government. And, by the same token, his friend and collongue Stanley Baldwin's leadership of the Conservative party ja involved.

Ever since the election of the autumn of 1931 when the National: government got an overwhelming majority in the House of Commons, there has been more or less trou- blo. The so-called National Liber als and National Labourites have but a sparse representation In Parliament. The vast majority of those who give the government its support are Conservatives. They are restive at having a former" Socialist as Prime Minister and equally restive at having. Baldwin as their loader. Almost 50. per cent of the delegates of the Con- servative party recently voted against the government's policy about self-government for India. They took further slaps at Bald- win and MacDonald by hitting at their slum clearance polley and· other essential planks.

SEEK TO SIDETRACK HIM.

If they could and if they dared they would like to unhorse Baldwin as fender, kick MacDonald upstairs into the Governor Generalship of to be used in the Assembly Hall. wrought-iron gates for the en-

New Zealand is panciling ongrance way. Australia is sending Canada or Viceroyalty of India and put one of their own kidney. room. In native wood. Southa presidential table and furniture,

In ns Prime Minister. However, All in Australian wood. Spaln is

Baldwin still stands as a lion in Africa is panelling a committee

decorating one largo committee

their path. Loyal in his co-part- room in its native wood. Holland is

room and Switzerland is providing nership with MacDonald, Baldwin another. China is sending a price has a habit of being most formid- leas set of embroided panels. Fin-ablo when his buck is to the wall. The wiser Torles know their party would be split wide open if they went the limit in their fight and this would mean the chance of a victory for Labour. So the plot- tors led by Winston Churchill, Sir Henry Page-Croft and others may nat succeed in their plans.

ice. India has sent a set of furland is donating hand-woven cur- niture for the room of the Prestains and Austria a large Gobelins dent of the Assembly. Stam has

tapestry. Sweden sont a carved book case.

is giving the furniture for the room of the President of the Coun- cil. Persia has sent carpets. SOUTH AMERICA CIVES PLAQUE

giving the decoration and furnish When It is completed, it is ex-ing of the Secretary-General's of bly hall and the library are group pected that many adornments to ed around a rectangular court of the group of buildings will have honour which will be terraced on been secured without cost to the two levels. There has been. Ittle Longue. This, because of dona. attempt ut ornamentation, the tions by countries and Individuals.

The designs of the buildings are architects relying for their effects Although the United States has

the point work of five famous European architects: H. P. Nenot, upon the imposing masses and pro-never entered the League, it is portions of the several buildings, heavily represented in the buildings.

Who won the grand prix of Rome, has "Young John"

in Inspector General of French The total length of the group Is Not only

Greece has donated a reproduc-national palaces and was the archi- about 1,200 feet and the area about Rockefeller donated the library, 10,000 square yards. In size they but the Woodrow Wilson Foundation in bronze of an antique Greek tect of the Sorbonne in Paris; M. will be only slightly less than the tion has given $25,000 for the statue. Bolivia, Colombia, Pana- Broggi, of Rome; M. Flegenhelm- vast group of the Palace of Ver- monumental bronze doors to the ma, Peru and Venezuela have unit er, of Geneva; M. Lefevre, also an sailles.

main entrance of the Assembly ed to present a bronze tablet bear-Inspector General of French na- Hull. Edward A. Filene, well-ing an inscription of two sentences tional palaces, and M. Vago, of known Boston merchant has, do- from speeches by the Great South Budapest.

The assembly hall will accommo- date 600 delegates, exports and

HAMBURG HELPS-

THE IDLE

MENTAL INTERESTS

SERVED

Few German cities have been mort severely hit by the economic depression than Hamburg, and much is being done to help un- employed from falling into des- pair.

One of the institutions with a notable record has its centre in the "Lessual," or reading room of the inner city. When it opened in January, 1982, it had only 25 visitors, now there are more than 1,100 dally.

Realising that the state alone could not meet all the needs of the unemployed. Dr. Walter Schweer, its honorury director, and his co-workers, planned to

Guards regimente - bright red coats, white knee pants, tallatisfy particularly the "Intel-

shakoon,

A former captain in the British army, who had much to do with Army tournaments, is drilling these men. Then ahouts an Amuri

voice that of the chief

can

camera man:

"General, will you please get your army in action?"

Sitting on the sidelines, dressed In old-time cloak, his fair hair shining in the sun and watching the "takes," is one of the best known stars of Hollywood, him self a Briton brought back to star in the picze. He is Lesile How ard, and the play is "The Scarlet Pimpernel."

ÁFRICA IN ENGLAND Now a step inside into a big in- door studio. You walk out of an

lectual hunger" of the unemploy- ed, to give them a place where they could spend, their enforced free time in good reading and instruction, without the feeling that they were on charity. Thanks to a local-bank which gave on? of its former buildnigs, the hour. ing problem was solved. Various arms and individuals helped by giving books, furniture and finan cial assistance. To-day, there are three large publle reading rooms and à bray containing 0,000 volumes, as well as many German. foreign newspapers and periodicals.

.

and

A number of language and cont mercial courses are given by unem. ployed teachers, whose services are voluntary but the hours taught are accredited to them. In one hall there are 20 new typewriters at the service of the unemployed.

"For," Dr. Schweer explained, "nobody can read all day long.

PRINCESS

MARINA'S ROYAL BRIDESMAIDS

Princess Jullann

of Hullam

Prince Irene of tireece

Princess Elianbetli of York

firand Duchess Kira of ilunnia

OFPO

Princess Eugenlo

ast Grecen

Jaily Irix Monggbatten of England

Tandy Mary Cambridge of England

Princess Katherius of tirerco

Eight bridandaids of royal blood who attended the Princess Marina of Greece when she be came the bride of the Duke of Kent in Westminster Abbey, London, on Nov. 21. Three English girls, Lady Iris Mountbattán, 14; Lady Mary Cambridge, 10, and Frincess Elizabeth, 8, of York, included, Thres of the others are Grook princessos-Irans and Katherine, ristora of ex-King George, and Eugenie,, daughter of Prince George, Princess Juliana, only child of the Queen of the Netherlands, and the Grand Duchess Kira of Russia, younger daughter of Grand Duke Cyril, head of the hours of Romanoff, complete the ilat,

English scene right into the heart of savage Africa, straw-thatched hute African idol. coal-black African warriors, and overything. and so courses wore arranged to MUSIC FROM A DRAWING

In front of the warriors stands give the unemployed further op their chief, no less a person than portunity to improve their know. Faul Robeson, Harvard graduate,ledge along useful lines. We also "famous actor and singer of vegro have our own orchestra and choir

spirituale. He looks just what he is supposed to be an African Eavage chieftain..

Talkies And A New

System

and workrooma with our own car- pentors, painters, electricians, and 80 on. We have found that

Music and speech is "bottled" They are shooting zome of the especially the younger men who on talkie films as a narrow elip scopes for "Sanders of the River," return from the labour camps are of toothshaped markings on one the African film based upon some anxious to be always busy."

edge of the Alm. Just, as the alories by Edgar Wallace.

"In our large kitchen, where indentations on a gramophone ro For six months a working unit daily about 1,000 portions are given cord can be turned into music of the company

was out in the out, we have to learn to reckon again by causing them to make a Belgian Congo, gotting actual with a fraction of a penny, but we needle vibrato, so can the sound chots of the Congo, blacks at work bave found it possible to sorve a track on a film be turned into and play, hunting, rowing and Wholesome moal for 20 to 30 dancing. Now some of the natives pfennig (about 10 cents, US.) are here to act with the Harvard consisting of meat, vegetables and day, good reading, instruction, graduate, meNG

potatoes, with dessert for an extra food, entertainmont and comrade 10 Ponto this Lesesaal" soon in this way hope is maintained

pfennig if dostred shows how great a blessing this in- and the unemployed men and stitution has been to the thousands women kopt more or less prepared of unemployed, giving them at a to take up any now work which minimum cost shelter during the may come their way

What we have seen at Boreham Wood could also to soon at the other studice of the bigger com-. panies. They are all at work with an eye on the America market and the American:dellar,

ship

If the cat of legend has nine lives, "Itamaay Mac" seems to have nine political lives. He has dared and done things which in the United States perhaps would have, ended his career three or four timea and always again come to the top. It's because the British

strike man when he angers area tolerant crowd, who may them, but do not keep on hitting him. In fact, they give him i chance to come back.

OPINION INVITED VIOLENCE Born at Lossiemouth in Scotland of poor farm peasantry and with only a common school education, MacDonald was by turns farm inbourer, pupil-teacher, poor half- starved clork in London, secretary to a member of Parliament, news- paper man and, finally, one of the prime organizers of the Labour party, which is a Socialist party,

"RAMSAY MAC”.......

Jauntily strolls through a Lon. don park after. Els return from. A Canadian "health vacation."

lackness in prosecuting Com- munists. In the etcetion which

famous "Red Letter" in which, a followed, his opponents pulled the Russian statesman was alleged to bo intorfering in British affairs. The Labour party went down to Emashing defeat. "Ramsay Mac" (seemed finished. But in 1929 he camo back again as Prime Minister of the second Labour government,

Things ran swiftly to another crisis. The budget badly needed balancing. The majority of his Labour colleagues opposed his proposals for economy. In August, 1931, the cabinet resigned. It was thought once

more MacDonald Never afraid to express his wns through. But, upon the re- honest convictlens, he was pro- quest of King George, MacDonald- Boer when England fought the formed his famous National gov Boers in the ninetics of last cen- ernment,which balanced the bud tury. He ran for Parliament in get, made rigid economies and Lalcenter, narrowly escaped roughthen went to the people-in-an- handling and was badly beaten, election in which it was over- That seemed to end his carcer, whelmingly sustained. MacDonald But he kept plugging away and, has been Premier ever since. finally, in 1906 the constituency ONLY MODEST, MEANS which had rejected.him, now elect Not a rich man, although his ed him. Then came the World official home ia famous No. 10 War. Once more MacDonald took Downing Street, his real home is his political life in his hands. He a modest place out in the Hamp-. opposed England's entry into the stead suburb of London. Mac- Onco more campaigning was Donald never worries about 'the difficult and dangerous for him. future. Every time he has been; He was beaten at West Leicester entertained by the American news- in 1918 and again at Eart Wool-paper min in London, he has wich in 1921. Ones more his practically said the same thing: carcer seemed ended. But Abera- "When I am through with this yon elected him in 1922 and he job, I will go right straight. became as of right the head of the to my old one-yours." Labour party.

war.

TWICE PREMIER

.back

Illa onemios may call him a statesman among journalists and He formed the first Labour a journalist among statesmen,` cabinet Britain ever had in Jan-But "Ramsay Mac" himself con uary, 1024. It tumbled in Novem-siders himself a newspaper man ber of that year because of alleged among newspaper men.

nor

:SNAKE SKIN

SHOES make :

· IDEAL NEW YEAR

$14.90

music by shining a light through has already produced one or two It and letting it fall on a photo films, of the cartoon type, in which electric cell. The photo-clectric music, as well as the characters, cell is a device which responds to is drawn by hand. In the making. light variations

as the of this dim neither actors Juat microphone responds to. sound musicians were employed, variations:

Horr Pfenninger can reproduce, Looking at the film sound tracks, with considerable fidelity, the persons have timbre of any desired instrument; some. Ingenious pondered on the possibility of but actually he aims at producing and producing music markings entirely new sound effects, which and producing music from them, ho does with success

Once the basic shapes of differ- cutting out altogether the original necessary. Three or four years which will produce them can be studio performance which is now ont sounds are known the drawings ago the markings to give a few made in a form which enables aimple worda wore actually drawn, them to be used over and photographed, and successfully over again. In this way Herr Pfenninger is able to cut down reproduced.ZA

the labour of constructing any particular musical sequance. Ho hopes, in a short time, to perfect a kind of mechanical type setter, which will allow him to produce quickly musical items of consider able length

Recently Captain A. G. D. West explained and demonstrated to the Television Society: the Pfenninger Synthetic Sound, system, which is now a commercial Impossibility. The Rudolph Pfonninger, na

tor

GIFTS

14.90

12.90

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Repair Sarvica &. Chledpody,