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The Times (07/Mar/1935) - New British Films: An Anglo-Australian production

(c) The Times (07/Mar/1935)

The untitled Hitchcock/Sir Philips Giibs project was named by other sources as London Symphony


NEW BRITISH FILMS

AN ANGLO-AUSTRALIAN PRODUCTION

Plans for the production of over a dozen films during the next year or so are announced by the Associated Talking Pictures, Limited. In June Mr. Alfred Hitchcock, whose film The Man Who Knew Too Much was awarded the gold medal of the Institute of Amateur Cinematographers as the best British production of 1934, will direct a film based by Mr. H. M. Harwood on an original story written by Sir Philip Gibbs in collaboration with his son. The leading part will be played by Mr. Clive Brook, who later in the year will appear in another film which will deal with the history of a family of British settlers against the changing background of Australia. This film will be made in cooperation with an Australian producing organization.

Mr. Basil Dean, the managing director of the company, also announces the forthcoming production of an original screen story by Miss Margaret Kennedy, based on the life of Mozart and his wife. This will have German as well as English dialogue, and will be made in collaboration with the Vindobona Film Company of Vienna. Mr. Basil Dean will be responsible for the English version, and Herr Willy Forst will, it is hoped, direct the German version. The two companies have received the official support of the Austrian Government, and artists of the Vienna State Opera and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra will take part in the film. In the English version Mozart and his wife will be played by Mr. Stephen Haggard and Miss Victoria Hopper. The two companies will also cooperate in the production of a film adaptation of Lady Eleanor Smith's novel "Ballerina."

Of the three films to be made by Miss Gracie Fields, two will be based on original stories by Mr. J. B. Priestley. Mr. Leslie Henson has also agreed to make three pictures for the company. In these he will create a screen character based upon Strube's "Little Man." An attempt will be made throughout the films to give a running commentary upon affairs of particular interest to the British Empire. Mr. George Formby will also appear in three productions, the second of which will be an adaptation of Twelve Chairs, the first comedy, it is said, in which the Soviet Government permitted outspoken comment upon Russian life and character. The scenario is being prepared by Mr. Ian Hay. There will also be a version of "Midshipman Easy," with Mr. Hughie Green in the cast; an original screen play by Miss Margaret Kennedy based on the stage play Come with Me, and towards the middle of 1936 there will probably be a colour film version of Flecker's Hassan and an adaptation of the novel "Barlasch of the Guard," which will be revised by Mr. J. B. Priestley as a satirical commentary upon the romantic war spirit of the Napoleonic era.