Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World (Oct-Dec 1928)

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20 EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD October 27, 1928 EXHIBITORS HERALD aj^ MOVING PICTURE WORLD Martin J. Quigley, Publisher «S>o Editor Incorporating Exhibitors Herald, founded in 1915; Moving Picture World, founded in 1907; Holography, founded in 1909; and The Film Index, founded in 1909 Published Every Wednesday by Quigley Pubiishing Company Publication Office: 407 So Dearborn St., CHICAGO, U. S. A. Martin J (Juigley, President Edwib S Clifford, Secretary George Clifford, Asst. Treasurer Member Audit Bureau of Circulation* Copyright, 1928, by (Juigley Publishing Company All editorial and Business correspondence should be addressed to the Chicago office Other Publications: The Chicagoan and Polo, class (ournals; and the following motion picture trade publications published as supplements to Exhibitors Herald <nd Moving Picture World: Better Theatrxs, every fourth week, and The Buyers Index, published semi-annually Whole Vol. 93, No. 4 (Vol. 35, No. 7) October 27, 1928 Interchangeability INTERCHANGEARILITY, practically and legally, of the various sound devices and systems, is rapidly becoming one of the outstanding questions before the trade. The immediate future of the sound picture, to a very great extent, depends upon a happy solution of this question. Advice? are received from various points throughout the country that many experiments in this connection are being carried on. It is beginning to appear that from a practical standpoint a wide range of cbangeability is available. It now remains to be seen when legal barriers may come to be insisted upon. From the standpoint of the general welfare of the trade, and from the standpoint of the earliest possible development of the sound picture to its fullest extent, there seems to be no question of the great desirability of maintaining the greatest and widest interchangeability among the various devices and systems. It appears that if no legal barriers are introduced nonsynchronous systems may immediately be placed in a great number of theatres which otherwise may bave to await their turn on the installation of synchronous equipment. It is true, the non-synchronous systems are only a h;df-way measure but even when so evaluated they still would mean a great deal to theatres which are without Bjni'hronous equipment and are facing the loud demand of the public for sound pictures. While the practical difficulties are obvious, it is still a matter of great regret that the chief factors in production and distribution, at the dawn of the sound picture, did not unite ami work out cooperatively some system of sound reproduction in the theatres which would be the standard of the business. Such a plan would have obviated great difficulties, would have saved much expense and would certainly work for the speedier development of the sound picture. Hut such a condition was not destined to be achieved. In its place we have a state of affairs under which there are several system? and several kinds of installations, and several improvised arrangements which may be relied upon at least temporarily. Obviously, all of this amounts to a most perplexing problem for the theatre man. If it should develop that through the selection of some particular system he is to be shut away from the use of all product except that exclusively designed for his particular system — then his problem will become constantly more difficult. On the other hand, if something in the way of a common interchangeability is to be practical and permissible, then the road just ahead will not appear quite so rocky and forbidding. * * * ^*SS**^ Von Stroheim WITH another picture of Mr. Erich von Stroheim now on the screens the word again goes about that Mr. Von Sircheim is a great director. He may be a great artist, when left to his own particular ways of working, with unlimited time and unlimited finance — but a careful study of his record since he produced "The Pinnacle" for Universal reveals something lacking on the point earning the award of being a great director. If Mr. Von Stroheim should live to a sufficiently ripe old age, retaining his full mental and physical vigor, and if the supply of producers and the supply of finance should continue sufficiently abundant, it would seem that eventually he would be able to leave behind him a considerable number of extraordinary pictures. Rut under exactly similar conditions there are doubtlessly a 1 irge number of assistant directors in Hollywood who could do the same thing. We heard it expressed recently by a man in the trade, who is as competent as anyone else to speak about Von Stroheim and his work, that it would be most extraordinary indeed if any man of the average intelligence and ability would not get at least some fine results if he spent as much time and money as Von Stroheim. The severe financial exactions involved in producing motion pictures demand of a director a conscientious effort to keep expenditures in time and in money — which in this case are practically the same thing — within reasonable limits. Von Stroheim is notoriously painstaking in his work. Whether he is working on an individual closeup or a great mob scene he is inclined to retake scenes almo3t innumerably. In the case of a painter, sculptor or musician, working on his own time and consuming materials of only insignificant cost, there is no objection to this procedure. Rut in the case of a director of motion pictures there are other considerations to be appreciated. * # m THE Toronto convention of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America was a business conference of a decidedly promising kind. Th^re was little time wasted, no friction generated and no excursions into futile argument and controversy. Instead, the delegates attending were accord 'd an opportunity to listen to an uncommonly fine set of addresses, by persons of authority and experience in their various fields, each one of whom had a message that means something to the exhibitor who is seeking better to equip himself for the difficult job of theatre management under existing conditions. The election to the board of directors of the association of Mr. Colvin W. Brown, Mr. Harold B. Franklin and Mr. Harry M. Crandall is a development of note. Mr. Brown, executive vice president of Pathe. has a broad and sound grasp of the problems of the industry, including those of tli • exhibitor as well as those of the distributor. Mr. Franklin and Mr. Crandall, two of America's leading showmen, obviously have mu°h to contribute to the association. The counsel of these three men will be invaluable to the association. —MARTIN J. QUIGLEY.