When Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer do a thing they almost invariably do it well and among the things they are doing well at present is the invasion of English studios. There is no reason to object to this. They are giving plenty of employment which cannot be found by English companies and it is hoped that they will soon be turning out good pictures. Certainly, they are working as seriously and systematically as they could do at home. *A Yank in Oxford," their first venture in this field, with Robert Taylor has been finished and Taylor has gone back to Hollywood.
In the months to come, their English, pictures will include "Finishing School" with an entirely British cast, "Shadow of the Wing," "Goodbye Mr. Chips," "And so Victoria" and "Rage in Heaven." For the last of these it is probable that Luise Rainer will be brought over. The most urgent problem in this venture is the casting of the film version of A. J. Cronir colossally successful novel "The Citadel." For this the female lead has been settled. she will be Elizabeth Allan The problem of casting lies around the doctor here. M.GM. have made up their minds to engage an actor of the very first rank. The absolute preference is given to Robert Donat but there are difficulties about h other engagements. Ronald Colma appears to be next on the list and on thinks at once of "Arrowsmith.
Then follow as possibilities Franchot Tone and Clark Gable. Clark as Andrew Manson would seem to be a piece of casting about as unsuitable as Clark Gable as Charles Stuart Parnell, But the Parnell picture has appeared, anything else ray happend. One thing seems to be certain that Doctor Manson will be played by an actor with a big box-office bull.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.