Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 - 1954), Thursday 29 February 1940, page 9


SOME SCREEN REFLECTIONS

ADDING UP THE COSTS ????.-?'???'? ?? ? i ?? ? . ? Films Make Money Fly

MOST of the departments associated with Hollywood studios are concerned with 'illusions,', but there are no 'castles in the air' built by the men who foot the bills. They are purely materialistic. Anyone re

quiring a financial insight into the costs of puttingLord t a into an epic should glance at the balance sheet of a producing company.

\ptr Films MAGIC, MIRTH, DRAMA FIRST-RUN city theatres have a good line-up of films for presentation as their weekly change. Magicians seem to be popular in Hollywood at the moment and two of the pictures will feature members of the 'now-you-see-it-now-you-don't' fraternity as heroes. ;.' . ANEW juvenile artist will lie seen on the screen to. morrow when 'The Under Fup'1 is shown at the Tivoli Theatre. This is Gloria Jean, claimed by Universal Filmp to be the equal. of Miss Deanna Durbin. jsJHE Is 11 years of age, acts well, and is credited with a soprano voice of wide range. In the picture Gloria sings 'Penguin -.Song.' 'I'm Like a Bird,' and 'Annie Laurie.' In theme 'The Under Pup' outlines Gloria's experiences at a boarding fchool and a bevy of other young girls form a background for- the new star. It is treated deftly and lightly, and a

hand-picked adult cast romps through many hilarious sequences. Nan Grey is prominent throughout. 'Risky Business' with George Murphy and Dorothea Kent will be screened in support. ? DAVID NIVEN'S role in 'Eternally Yours,' which comes to the Regent tomorrow, is that of a magician, 'The Great Arturo,' who performs amazing tricks with rabbits !n hats and all that. AND there Is no hocus-pocus about '~ the con luring, for Niven Is an adept in the art of sleight-of-hand. But the magical display is merely secondary to the sparkling comedy romance, which MAGICIAN is unfolded as ...,.,-, the tale proceeds. NIYEN Fresh breezy, sparkling dialogue, and amusing' situations pepper the film As an added thrill the audience will be treated to a headlong dive towaid the World's Fair from an aeroplane 15.000ft above. Loretta Young is Niven's 'offsldei and this new 'team' should win approbation from 'fans' generally. Biodcrick Crawford. Hugh Heibeil Billie Burke, C. Aubrey Smith, Zasu Pitts, and Virginia Field are the supporting players. ' The second feature is 'Gambling on the High Seas a drama of 'crooks,' and what not. ? A FILM about 'the greatest city in the world,' telling the story of the lives of its ordinary, every day people, is 'A \Vindow' in London,' a feature attraction at the Winter Garden. JT will reintroduce Michael Redgrave to patrons, and Michael is no slouch as a film actor, if you recall nis work as leading man to such mminarics as Elisabeth Bergner, THROUGH AN --«»ie MatAnrki \iiilikaiii thewfi, and OPEN WINDOW Margaret Lock wood. In this picture he Is associated with Sally Gray, who portrays a strong emotional role. Also in the cast is Paul Lucas, who plays the part of a conjurer in a cheap music hall. He is the pivot around which most of the story revolves. It reaches a climax in a sensational1 murder scene. Incidentally Michael Redgrave Played 'child' parts in Australia many years ago, when his father. Roj Rederave, was associated with J. C Williamson's productions. An Edgar Wallace story, 'The Return of the Frog,' will support the

TO quote Mr. Adolphe Menioii in a recent film : 'It's amazing.' To quote R.K.O. Radio is illuminating. Take 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame.' Here are some costs, all authentic, but in round figures. . For his .work before the camera Charles Laughton received approximately £15,000 free of American and British income taxes. The rest of the cast were- paid £25,000. The largest single expense in the picture was for 'extras.' The 13year record held by 'Ben Hur' was broken, with 2250 supernumeraries gettine six days' work. They received £60.000. The cathedral of Notrfi Dame took 300 carpenters and 250 modellers, casters, and plasterers eight weeks to build at a cost of £50,000. When completed and in Its little (in cans ready for the exhibitors, the film had laken £400,000 from R.K.O's. coffers. 'The Hunchback.' of course, is in the super de-luxe class, but ordinary 'bread , and butter' productions cost a whole lot^of money before they have their moments on trie screen. To offset these huge costs there are the returns from the box-offices of the world. ' ? ? . ? .'?? ? T MENTION this phase, of the motion picture industry because recently there has been something of an outcry for the production of more Australian films. Already several local films have been a financial success, but to meet competition, the Australian product must bn canal to, or belter than that of itfl competitors. So lot us look nt the costs of our own product compared with those of Hollywood. Neither producers nor distributors hardline Australian films are eager to reveal fieures. but the amounts mentioned have been obtained from a reliable source, and may be accepted as authoritative. The most successful film from a box-office point of view was 'On Our Selection.' a Cincsound production,' which returned in rentals more than £48.000. From the same studio came 'The Squatter's Dauirhtrr,' which returned £2G.O0O. The estimated cost of filming in each case was £8000 and £11,000. Which, on the face of it, is very good business. These pictures are outstanding examples of local production.

On the other side of the lodger there is, say. 'Secret, of the Skies.' made by an independent Victorian company, which 3ost several thousands, and is reported to have returned £325 to its producers. CTAR value is another factor which must be considered in local production, for obviously the Australian market would meet jnly production costs, and oversea sales would supply the profit. It might be possible to obtain the services of, say, Myrna Loy, for about E500.000. and supporting players 'with names' would send the costs soaring to double this amount. Add the salaries of technicians, scene painters, designers, and a full studio complement, and that little tin can of film would look like 'a million.' Competition In our local market is fierce enough at the moment. Australian pictures would find the coinir hard, even if they were in the 'colossal' class. Cinesound studios since its inception has nroduced more than 14 pictures. Cautiously, and little by little, it has built up the standard of its product, and I hazard a guess that it is well Dn the right side of the ledger. It. too. has experimented with the importation of 'name players.' Now It is encouraging local talent, to its very good content. So what? So nothing: at all, for film production is none of my business. I merely draw your attention to the costs of an American film, and mention the Australian product. Work it out for yourself. P.S: 'Gone With the Wind' cost £1.250,000 to make. Cinesound spent £9C00 to feature Australia's own 'Mo' in 'Strike Me Lucky.' The last time I saw Mr. Ken. G.- Hall, director of the film, and mentioned 'returns' to him he said: 'Forget it, forget it.'

Cues* who? , . . Of cnurtp, li\ Bctle Dnri* and Errol Flynn ax ihny appear in 'Elisabeth and Exm-x,' A St. Jamet Fraturp. lo-mnrrow.

Cues* who? , . . Of cnurtp, li\ Bctle Dnri* and Errol Flynn ax ihny appear in 'Elisabeth and Exm-x,' A St. Jamet Fraturp. lo-mnrrow.

Virile Michael Redgrave (belmr) returns to the screen at the Winter Garden to-morrow in 'A Window in London.' a: fine ... melodrama of big -city- life.

Virile Michael Redgrave (belmr) returns to the screen at the Winter Garden to-morrow in 'A Window in London.' a: fine ... melodrama of big -city- life.

Mi»» Grot a Garho- in dinguise as 'Ninotchka' at the Metro.

Mi»» Grot a Garho- in dinguise as 'Ninotchka' at the Metro.

Tho alluring horrtta Yoitnp should accelerate to a hi eh upepil the heartbeats of the populace in 'Elerimlh Yours' at the. Regent to-morrotr. Young M r. - A'ii'pn is her gentleman friend.

Tho alluring horrtta Yoitnp should accelerate to a hi eh upepil the heartbeats of the populace in 'Elerimlh Yours' at the. Regent to-morrotr. Young M r. - A'ii'pn is her gentleman friend.

iVeio Juvenile star, Gloria Jean, will he worth watching in 'The Under Pup' at the. Tivoli .Theatre to-morrow.

iVeio Juvenile star, Gloria Jean, will he worth watching in 'The Under Pup' at the. Tivoli .Theatre to-morrow.