The Times (29/Jan/1930) - The Film World
(c) The Times (29/Jan/1930)
- keywords: Alfred Hitchcock, Anna May Wong, Betty Balfour, British International Pictures, Cicely Courtneidge, Clemence Dane, Elstree Calling (1930), Ewald André Dupont, Gainsborough Pictures, Harmony Heaven (1929), Helen Simpson, Islington Studios, London, Ivor Novello, John Van Druten, Monty Banks, Murder! (1930), Victor Saville
Entertainments
THE FILM WORLD
BRITISH TALKING FILMS
Six more British, sound films, all of which are available as quota films, have been completed by the British International Pictures, Limited, and these will be shown privately at the Alhambra on consecutive Thursdays in February and March. Appropriately enough the first of these films to be shown will be a screen revue entitled Elstree Calling, in which Miss Lily Morris, Miss Cicely Courtneidge, Mr. Jack Hulbert, and many other artists whose names are well known in the variety world will be seen and heard through the cinema in the house in which they have appeared' with such success in person. The second presentation will be Raise in the Roof, the first British backstage romance, with Miss Betty Balfour in the principal part. The other films to be shown are A Compulsory Husband, with Mr. Monty Banks and Miss Gladys Frazin in the cast; Song of Soho, which, as the title implies, deals with life of London's foreign quarter ; The Road to Dishonour, a talking and dancing film, in which Miss Anna May Wong will be heard speaking English and Chinese ; and finally Harmony Heaven, with Miss Pollie Ward, Mr. Stuart Hall, and the Tiller Plaza Girls in the company. Many of the scenes in this last production will be in colour.
Five more British sound films are to be made almost immediately by the same company at their Elstree studios. In the first, adapted from Mr. Dion Titheradge's play, Loose Ends, and directed by Mr. Norman Walker, the role of Malcolm Forbes will be played by Mr. Owen Nares; the second film, Suspense, "a War-play by Mr, Patrick MacGill, is to be directed by Mr. Walter Summers. The screen version of Mr. John Van Druten's play, Young Woodley, will be made under the direction of Mr. Thomas Bentley, in collaboration with the author; and Enter Sir John, by Miss Clemence Dane and Miss Helen Simpson, will be directed by Mr. Alfred Hitchcock. A trilingual talkie, The Two Worlds, will also be produced by Mr. A. E. Dupont, the director of Atlantic, which is in its second month at the Alhambra.
Two more productions, The "W" Plan, to be directed by Mr. Victor Saville, and another picture to be produced by Mr. Harry Lachmam, the director of Under the Greenwood Tree, will also be made during the year.
Gainsborough Pictures are using the Elstree studios to complete Balaclava, which was interrupted by the recent fire at their Islington studios, as well as for the production of Symphony in Two Flats, for which the American screen "star," Miss Jacqueline Logan, has been brought over from Hollywood to play opposite Mr. Ivor Novello.
