fo the aiter of the '"Nonti-CiiNa Day News"
SiR—A few weeks ago your film correspondent titillated our hopes by reporting rumours of a determined attempt to put on British films in Shanghai. Since then we have heard no' mores There is no healthy reason why British ims should not be shown re~ gularly in Shanghai: but there are many good reasons why they should be. In America—a country which at first blush ome might consider to have the greatest prejudice against Britisn films—they are taking British ims to their hearts, One of the latest British and Dominion films "Nell Gwyn" was put on at the Astor Theatre in New York recently before a distinguished American audience "which included "the biggest assembly of pressmen and film exhibitors ever gathered lurider one roof in New Yorke to see a British film". It is recorded that this hard-boiled audience "applauded continually during the screening". Sir Cedric Hardwicke, who takes the part of King Charles 1, is histrionically of the same calibre as Charles Laugh-on and George Arliss but has hardly been seen in Shanghai.
The films of London Film Productions and British and Dominions are being energetically pushed in. the States, and now comes the big move of Gaumont-British (o build up their own chain in the State by renting theatres in all important centres, British International Pictures ete. fare also not without representation, Some of the recent British achievements and immediate projects are worth recording:
1. Ped Wagon" with Charles Blektord, Raquel orres and Greta chow" with "Anna itay Wong and. George. Robey. (ita fo 8 gears "an te sage Mondon during' the War) G-B—"sew Suse" Starring Conrad Yeidta spectacular picture of Lean Fevehiwanger'smemaranie navel. Ge Bhave spent tne on ths picture Two of the jrentest voices in the world tre "tobe heard. ringing Unvoush "G-B's "My. song for You" with Jan Klepura, and BLP. "Bios. fom ime" with Richard Tauber and Schubert's music. Jan Kleptra has Already started on il second pletare for G-B.
British and Dominion's have bought over 'Thornton Freeland, the 'American director who made "Whoopee" and "Flying Down to Rio", to make a big musica! plete staring Taek' Buchtnan.
Fred Mann, who. was responsible for the models and the tidal wave scene in the Hollywood plelure "De-Inge" recenty shown here, Isto make the models of cities for London ilm Prosietions big pletiriation of H. Wells book "Shape of the Things Come"—which Includes the supposed destruction of the leading cities of the world inthe next war by neral 'A Bulldog Drummond picture te progress by BAP. and London iim Productions are making a picture of the eighteenth" century" 'Bulldou Drummond character, "The "Scarlet Pimpernel", starring 'Leslie. Howat The same company are pulling Char les Laushion, Maurice Chevalier and Douglas Fairbanks, rs together in one really big lecture In' which. Chaves Laughton again plays the character of Henry Vill GoB, are starring George Antss in
more Is expected shortly 10 appear bg' pietires and Sohn Barry"
British pleluro, whist Chariot Farrell is now making his tst Bile ish film in. Rogland.
One could write payer about the things and progress o¢ British fins what of Jessie Mattvews, Gene. Ges elds, Leslie Puller and ther brilliant performers before the creen, who make. plture ler picture that' we never see here That British Films are leading Tollywood in some respects may. be ews to some people in Shanghai, but (is seen "clearly in two" recent 865, "The Private Life of Honey introduced "most courageously successfully the fashion for cos ume fins, ighich Hollywood was not Now in copying. Jack Hulbert in his eeent™ picture' "the Camels' are oming™ selected the. pyramids. and Sphinx as his locale—now eddie anter's next plete will unblush y show the very same pyramids!
Harold Lloyd said in a recent ulogy of the improved "quality "at tish films that this new real com tition will be a." good thing for fllywood—that is "true in severs es pact not only of Hollywood but of he International screen, Biltish fins are good clean enter-sriment, and. this fort of success competition will be a godsend 10 follywood—especially with the re-
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