Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Wednesday 13 July 1938, page 16


FILM CRITICS DIARY

Mr. Zanuck's Worries

by EDWARD AXFORD

Darryl Zanuck, once a longshoreman, now one of Hollywood's

most brilliant producers, went to London last month on a polo holiday. While there he unburdened his heart about censorship restrictions that are the bane of his busy

life.

In 1931 Fox Films were in debt to the tune of £800,000. In 1935 Mr. Zanuck took charge of the Twentieth Century part of the Fox Corporation. Last year Twentieth Century-Fox made a profit of 5 1,700,000. As production chief of that organisation, Mr. Zanuck turns out one big film every 13 days of the year. Each film costs from 3 100,000 to a 400,000, and they have to make £6,000,000 a year for the company to show a profit.

Mr. Zanuck's worries are endless. Not only has each of the 49 American States

| its own censorship, but many cities have

regulations of their own. When his film version of "Outward Bound" failed in the United States he consoled himself ) with

the thought that he would get his money back In Great Britain, but it was banned there completely, and he lost £100,000, "The House of Rothschild" was banned in France because the French authorities thought that a disproportionate part had been allotted to the English branch of that famous family. And because the Rothschilds were Jews the film stood no chance in Germany.

Says Mr. Zanuck:-"All the Spanishspeaking countries have allied themselves to protest at slights, and if you want a villain you have to make him a half-breed or an American preferably an Ameri-

can."

* * * * *

Hollywood Says

The latest story from Hollywood concerns Charles Luders, a Dutch actor who may be seen in Olympe Bradman's first starring film, "Stolen Heaven," now at the Capitol. Judels had to play a part demanding the ability to speak French, so a language instructor was sent to the studio to coach him. The two men spent ten days together, rehearsing the scene, at the end of which Judels stepped on the stage, spoke a lot of gibberish, which sounded good enough to pass as French, and stepped down. "Thank you," said the instructor. "You did very well."

"You're welcome," replied Judds In Dutch. The instructor's face brightened. He was a native of Holland, too.

He took Judels aside and whispered:"I can't speak French, either."

Film Society

Several Melbourne people who feel that they are being deprived of an important adjunct of modern film entertainment because of the disinclination of the commercial cinema to show foreign films have taken the first steps in the formation of a Melbourne Film Society. They hope that before the year is out they will have procured a collection of French, German, Russian, Italian, and Czechoslovakian films for private exhibition to members in a suitable theatre. The time has not arrived to enrol members, but the provisional committee would be pleased to hear from anyone who can supply information concerning the procedure to be

adopted In importing foreign films. inquiries should be addressed to Mr. B. P. Lazarus, TO Power avenue, Toorak, S.E.2.

A Royal Divorce"

Production has started in England of Herbert Wilcox's new film, "A Royal Divorce," with Pierre Blanchard, distinguished French actor, as Napoleon, and Ruth Chatterton as Josephine. The picture, which will cost about £100,000, begins with Josephine's determination to marry again for the protection of her two children after the execution of her first husband, the Vicomte de Beauharnais, during the Terror, her marriage to the 26-year-old Bonaparte, her unfaithfulness during his campaigns, her eventual love for him, and the tragedy of her divorce when desire for an heir led him to marry

Marie Louise.

Pierre Blanchard played the murderer in the French version of "Crime and Punish-ment" (a role played by Peter Lorre in the less distinguished American version) He scored a later success in the French film, "Un Carnet de Bal," which excited the admiration of filmgoers in London recently.

New Australian Film

A new Australian film, "Show Busi-ness," has been completed at National Studios, Pinewood, Sydney, for New Era Films. It follows "The Avenger," the company's first venture into Australian film production. The cast includes Jim McMahon, John Barrington, Charmaine Ross, Fay Astor, Guy Hastings, Bert Matthews, Chic Arnold, Fred Tupper, and Betty Matear.

Screen Calendar

"In Old Chicago" (Regent, Saturday).Darryl Zanuck's great spectacle of the Chicago Fire of 1870, with Tyrone Power, Alice Faye, Don Ameche, and Alice Brady.

"Big City" (States, Friday) Drama of a taxi war, with Spencer Tracy and Luise Rainer. Supporting film. "My Dear Mrs. Aldrich," comedy, with Edna May Oliver

and Maureen O'Sullivan.

"Under the Red Robe" (Athenaeum, Friday). Film romance, with Annabella, star of "Wings of the Morning," and Conrad Veldt. Support, "Sweet Devil,"

with Jean Gillies.

"The Shadow" (Lyceum, Friday). -Murder mystery, with circus setting, played by Rita Hayworth and Charles Quigley. Support, "Happy Landing," the Sonja Henie film, transferred from the Regent.

is

STAGE AND SCREEN

ENTERTAINMENT programmes

for city and suburban theatres appear to-day on page 16.