Exhibitors Herald (1927)

38 EXHIBITORS HERALD April 2, 1927 Camera Angle Interesting Only If Dramatic, Says Murnau GeTinan Director, ho W ill Return from Europe to Make Fox Productions, Says There Are No Border Lines in Art (Special to the Herald) New YORK, March 29. — An “interesting camera angle” by itself does not mean a thing, or at best adverse criticism, but the phrase, “dramatic camera angle” conveys high praise, F. W. Murnau, German director, declared at a luncheon in the Ritz Carlton hotel last "Wednesday. n\/TURNAU sailed for Germany two days later to complete his contract with lUFA by making one picture. Then he will leturn to America :to direct for Fox Films, which has obtained his services for five years jollowing completion of his “Sunxise.” This pro.duction is the most .ambitious ever undertaken by the Fox organization and is said to have cost twice as much to produce as “‘What Price Glory.” Hermann Sudermann provided the theme for “Sunrise.” Introduced by Vivian j\I. Moses, the director thanked the industry and public for the reception which had been given his “‘The Last Laugh,” which he called “an ambassador I had sent ahead.” Murnau, who knows the art and possibilities of the camera possibly better than most directors, to judge by the success of ■“The Last Laugh,” launched into a discussion of the phrase, “interesting camera angles.” Most Abused Term in Pictures “You cannot open a newspaper or a magazine dealing with the screen without reading about it,” he said, “you cannot start a conversation about the movies among your frietids without hearing it again and again. Interesting camera angles. It seems to be the most used — I think also the most abused term in pictures — talking, reading and producing. “Such a thing as an interesting camera angle should not exist. By itself an interesting camera angle does not mean a thing. If it does not help to intensify the dramatic action of the scene it is not only useless, it is dangerous ; because instead of helping the dramatic action, it detracts from it. “But what should the camera angle be if not interesting? It should be dramatic, that is to say, a camera angle that helps to intensify the dramatic action of the scene. If you use the phrase, ‘interesting camera angle,’ it implies an adverse criticism, while the phrase, ‘dramatic camera angle,’ conveys high praise. “This subject certainly brings to your mind the foreign director, for it is in connection with him that it is usually mentioned. When we talk of art we cannot talk of countries. An artist really cannot be classified by nationality. He is international and the thing which he creates is international. “Some publications dedicated to sensationalism in pictures have referred to the ‘foreign invasion’ in the film ■world. How can there be a foreign invasion in art? You would not differentiate between Kreisler and Spaulding because one is a European and the other an American. Both are great violinists. There are no border lines in art. “We, in Germany, would be proud to have a motion picture industry so large as to attract the greatest directors this side of the Atlantic Ocean to show their art in competition with our own. In art, like in every other form of creation, the best work is obtained through competition.” Murnau closed with a thanks to the American press for the splendid treatment given him and extended an invitation to all to “come and see us some time.” (Production stills from “Sunrise” on next week’s Broadway page.) Big Time Opposition Said to Be Cause of Rift in Badger Firm ( special to the Herald) MILWAUKEE, WIS., March 29.— The Badger Theatres Corporation, which was organized a little over a year and a half ago with the backing of the principal suburban exhibitors in Milwaukee, will disband within two weeks. It is reported that opposition of the leading distributors to the methods of the combine resulted in the decision. All the members bought heavily from Jack Grauman’s Celebrated Exchange, an independent exchange, and some of the Badger members, it is reported, were stockholders in the exchange. Yanks See Slide Kelly;* Find Selves in It and Wire Congratulations (Special to tne Herald) NEW YORK, Alarch 29.— Many enthusiastic telegrams were received at MetroGoldwyn-Mayer’s home office after a showing in Florida theatre, St. Petersburg, Fla., of “Slide, Kelly, Slide,” for the Boston Braves and New York Yankees. The latter had taken part in the filming. Pennsylvania Bill Aims to Stop Arbitration (Special to the Herald) HARRISBURG, PA., March 29.— Representative Marcus of Pittsburgh has introduced a bill into the legislature which provides for a penalty of $250 and imprisonment for coercive selling of motion pictures. The bill is also aimed to destroy the arbitration clause in the uniform contract. Representative Marcus’ bill, if passed, would make arbitration inoperative in the state. Sponsors of Children* s Matinees Fete Milliken ( special to the Herald) ALBANY, N. Y., March 29.— Former Governor G. E. Milliken appeared at a luncheon given by the Junior Movie committee. *^Convoy’* Breaks Strand Record at Hartford Opening ( special to the Herald) HARTFORD, CONN., March 29.— Robert T. Kane’s “Convoy,” Navy picture for First National release, broke all records at the Strand when it opened here after an exploitation campaign which included parades, skywriting, night air stunts and fireworks. First National officials who attended the opening included Ned Depinet, Ned Marin, A. W. Smith, Jr., Stanley Hatch and W. H. Callawa}'. A crack band from the Navy base at New London headed the parade at the world premiere. A big crowd waited in the rain for the second show after hundreds had been turned away at the first performance. Temple Bailey Signs with F.B.O. 5 Years; I nee on New Contract (Special to the Herald J NEW YORK, March 29. — Temple Bailey, who has written thirteen novels, has signed an F. B. O. contract giving the latter rights to every novel she writes in the next five years. The first to be filmed will be “Wallflowers,” which has been running in Good Housekeeping. Director Ralph Ince also has signed a five-year contract with F. B. O. Foreign Language Unit of M-G-M’s Publicity Closes Year of Service ( special to the Herald ) NEW YORK, March 29.— M-G-M’S foreign language publicity service has helped bring 14,000,000 people in the United States and Canada into direct contact with exhibitors in its first year of operation, says the home office. Tieups have been made with hundreds of foreign language publications and Radio Clubs instituted on 30 stations. Fire Destroys Home of Swanstrum at 1:00 A.M, (Special to the Herald) ASHTON, IDAHO, March 29.— At one a. m., during one of the coldest nights of the year last week, the home of Fred Swanstrum, exhibitor at Ashton, Idaho, was completely destroyed by fire, according to Vete Stewart, sales representative out of the local Associated First National exchange. Stewart aided in striving to extinguish the fire and also in saving some of the personal property. Eucharistic Congress Film Shown in Toronto (Special to the Herald) TORONTO, March 29.— The 18th International Eucharistic Congress film was shown at Massey Music Hall during the week of March 21 under the patronage of His Grace Archbishop McNeil of Toronto. Frankel Renews Lease (Special to the Herald) CINCINNATI, March 29.— A threeyear renewal of the lease on the Gifts theatre recently has been effected by I. Frankel with Thomas Emery & Sons at a greatly increased figure.