The Film Daily (1930)

THE 10 f:mm'i«Tiuiim •Maku Timely Topics A Digest of Current Opinion Attitude of the Critics Defended By One of Them THE most unfair attack upon the critics is upon the score of trying to be entertaining and personal. Just why dulhiess should be regarded as one of the requisites of dramatic reviewing it is difficult to understand. Since it is the gravest of sins in the theater, one might expect it to be thought equally heinous in play reporting. Unless the reviewer is reasonably lively, unless he provides something of a side show, no one is going to pay any attention to him, and he may be gentle and constructive all over the place and you won't be able to perceive it. As for being personal, it must be obvious that a piece of criticism can be nothing else, and that the franker it is in that respect the fairer it will be in the opportunities provided for checking up on it. Richard Watts, Jr., m New York "Herald Tribune" Remarkable Progress Made By Talkers in One Year THERE was no stage comedy in 1929 so uproariously funny as was the film "The CockEyed World." "Bulldog Drummond" and "Madame X," with voice and sound, were brilliant dramatic productions. And "Married in Hollywood," "The Broadway Melody," "Rio Rita" and "Hallelujah" represented an astonishing variety of musical productions of the first order. Nothing on Broadway surpassed them. This is worth notice, since it must be remembered that little more than a year has been devoted seriously to the application of the sound device. If the best of the snoken drama and musical comedy can be equaled in the audible pictures after one bare year of progress, what may five years bring? Qiiinn Martin in New York "World" THEIR FIRST JOBS EDDIE QUILLAN worked in vaudeville j^^ DAILV Sunday, January 12, 1930 ■I Along The Rialto with Phil M. Daly, Jr. VT D. GOLDEN of the M. P. Division of the Dept. of Com•^ * merce, popped in the first thing Friday morn, gave us the low-down on pictures abroad and now is back in Washington. * * * ♦ Dewey Bloom, representative for Gertrude Lawrence, who recently left the Mt. Sinai minus a 'tissue' and now is up in Montreal trying to recuperate. Before leaving Dewey planned a special showing of "Candlelight" for the press, scheduled thi.^Wednesday at the Empire. Of course he would pick a matinee Here's one for the exploiteers, M. Witmark & Sons effected a tie-up with Peoples Gas Co. of Chicago with "Singin' in the Bathtub." The Gas Co., in its monthly publication, spread itself with a two column cut and suggested an automatic water heater * * * * Joe Burke, Philadelphia lad, teamed with Al Dubin, is credited with the biggest array of song hits during 1929, so says Witmark. But you will admit the kid put over some nifties for the Warner Vitaphone productions Eddie Dowling had another luncheon cast his way. On Monday Ed will be guest of honor at the Advertising Men's Post No. 2 American Legion, at the Army-Navy Club, N. Y * * • * Over at the Fox office a national campaign is on for selection of titles suitable for production. Everyone connected with the organization has the opportunity to submit titles and the winner to share in on the dough. Not a bad idea, but we sure would hate to wade through some of them Bernard Pollack, sales manager for Witmark, is scheduled to leave on a tour to the Coast soon * * * * Pathe stepped out and signed Maurice Coons, short stor\writer, who now is en route to Culver City, Pathe producing grounds. Coons, under the pen name of Armitage Trail, flings stuff into many periodicals. He also has a few novels on his list of works Eleanor Baldwin Cass, fencer, who made a picture for Pathe some months ago, leaves for the Coast Saturday Dinn'tri Tionikin, Russian composer and concert pianist, leaves for the Emmgeeem Coast studios Saturday where he will begin work on the first of a series of numbers he ha> composed Clarence MacKain, formerly connected with the Columbia home office, has resigned. Don Hancock was operated on for appendicitis Friday at St. Elizabeth's Hospital and was reported doing very nicely. Who's Who in the various companies in the industry is comprehensively covered in the forthcoming 1930 FILM DAILY YEAR BOOK. JANUARY 11-12-MANY HAPPY RETURNS Best wishes and congratulations are extended by THE FLM DAILY to the following members of the industry, who on these days are celebrating their birthdays: January 11th Porter E. Evans Earl Baldwin Chester Conklin Agnes Chrintine Johnston Ernest Pascal Warner P. Richmond January 12th Lew Collins Milton Sills Nicholas Grinde Marvin Schenck Hank Linet -AND THAT'S THAT By PHIL M. DALY SINCE WE published that article about Warren Nolan's flair for literary style in his publicity for United Artists, we have been swamped with manuscripts from aspiring ; authors all over the LInited States. This kolyum certainly goes east, north, south and west, and it is all we can do to keep it from going to the devil. This morn we are in receipt of the following: 3 Rivers Ranch, Butte, Mont. Dear Editor: I am enclosing several poems of my best work which ought to please you as much as that manuscript from Mr. Nolan. I don't think it was so hot, but then you're the editor, and probably know more about it than I do. I will accept your usual rates, but of course will expect more after it is printed. I am known as the Poet Laureate of Butte and the West is proud of me. Yours truly, Hubert Englebert Block (Poet Laureate). Mr. Block sends us four poems hitherto unpublished. They are "The Birthplace of a Soul," "Murder,'" "October Evening on the Butte," and the one appearing below. After you read "Regret," you will probably want to read "Murder," or feel like it. Then if "Murder" goes good, we'll try "The Birthplace of a Soul" on you. This poet Block certainly has something. What it is we're not <iuite sure. So wade into Regret Why should I live? The world is cold; Why should I live Till I am old? 'Tis best to die In bleak despair As ivell in Butte As anywhere. (Editor's Note: Why not?) TEN YEARS AGO TO-DAY IN Famous Players reported dropping Industrial Dept. "Madame X" screen rights reported purchased by Sam Goldwyn. Maxwell Karger, Metro director general, coming to New York to produce. B. S. Moss secures control of Dyckman theater. New York.