Motion Picture News (Apr - Jun 1928)

June 30 , 19 28 2177 Publicity Representatives Engaged by United Artists New appointments in the ranks of exploit eers of United Artists occurred last week with the engagement of Louis William Smith to act as eastern publicity representative for Mary Pickford and S. Barrett McCormick to act in the same capacity for Douglas Fairbanks. Louis Lusty, who handled exploitation on the New York run of "Kamona," has been engaged as assistant to Emil Jensen, sales manager for Art Cinema Corporation, one of the United Artists production units. Arthur Zellner, for several years eastern representative for Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks, has been transferred to the west coast as director in chief of their advertising and publicity departments. Reginald Denny Writes Story for Buck Jones Reginald Denny has written a story for Buck Jones, a friend of the cowboy star. Jones, who established the Buck Jones Corporation this year, has leased studio space at Universal City and established production offices there. The interior sets for his first independent productions, "The Big Hop," have been completed and the cameras began to click a week ago. The Reginald Denny story will be second on the list of the Jones vehicles. It has no title as yet. Denny's picture, "That's My Daddy," was adapted from a story by himself. Goldwyn Shooting 2 Films Simultaneously Filming two pictures simultaneously, Samuel G-oldwyn last week began work on his picturization of Joseph Conrad's ''The Rescue," before "The Awakening," Vilma Banky's first individual starring vehicle is completed. "The Rescue" is starring Ronald Colman for the first time independently. Anne Warrington has been signed to make her first appearance on the screen in the role of the Mother Superior in "The Rescue." Educational Finishes First 6 Comedies AN early start on its 1928-29 program has been gained by the Educational studios, which have completed the first six comedies of the new year. These are four two-reelres and two one-reelers. Charlie Lamont has completed the first Ideal comedy, starring Jerry Drew. Stephen Roberts is finishing his second Mermaid comedy, with Monty Collins in the leading role. Lupino Lane is at work on his first starring production, a pirate comedy. In the two completed one-reel comedies. Monty Collins is featured in one and Henry Murdock in the other. The first of the two-reel productions have already been pre-viewed on the coast. Stars in these finished pictures include "Big Boy," Al St. John and Wallace Lupino. This latter comedy, a Tuexod, is Lupino's first solo featured role in two-reelers. Kennedy Denies FBO Will Concentrate on Cheaper Grade of Pictures JOSEPH P. KENNEDY, president of F B O. emphatically denied tinweek tin recently published report that FBO would concentrate on the production of a cheaper grade of picture during \'>'2'<',-'>. "We have written more first run husiness to date than ever liefore in the history of FBO and this is a striking tribute to the merit of our in w productions. Our six Special Attractions, the Tom Mix srrie and the 24 Gold Bonds will all be pictures of the highest grade made for first run theatres. Sanity and practical showmanship are the watchwords of our studio and we are sparing no expense to give exhibitors the finest product ever made bv F B ()."" said Mr. Kennedy. N. Y. State Censorship Upheld by Court Unanimous Decision of Appellate Division Sustains Ban Against Picture, "The Naked Truth" the court in the following NEW YORK STATE censorship of motion pictures was upheld by a unanimous decision of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, third department, on Friday, June 22, sustaining the ban against the exhibition of the picture "The Naked Truth." The decision is the first that has been handed down by a New York state court on the subject of censorship and ends the first litigation brought to challenge the jurisdiction of the motion picture division of the New York State Department of Education. Four times reviewed and four times forbidden to be exhibited on the ground that it was indecent and obscene, "The Naked Truth," purported to show the effects of vice upon both men and women. Two socalled clinical reels accompanied the picture, one to be shown only to male audiences and the other intended solely for female audiences. The Welfare Film Corporation, which produced the film, contended that the picture pointed out a moral and was also educational. It was cited that the picture had been licensed in Virginia, Maryland and Ohio, and had been shown throughout New Jersey and Chicago. The opinion of the court was written by Justice Edward C. Whitmyre, who summed up the 'film controversy and gave the de cision of language : "This action was a certiorari to review the determination of the state motion picture division in refusing to issue a license for the exhibition of the motion picture entitled "The Naked Truth." The picture traces the lives of three young men from boyhood to manhood and is intended to portray the danger and results of association with lewd women. It shows a male and female in the nude and among other things the progress of different diseases and effects.' "The petitioner claimed that it is educational and the defendants answer that it is obscene and indecent. Several applications and examination for license have been made and it was condemned for the reasons stated. "The educational law of New York state provide that the director of motion pictures shall cause every motion picture film to be examined and issue licenses therefor, unless it, or a portion of the same, is obscene, indecent, immoral, sacriligious, or of such a character that its exhibition would tend to corrupt morals or incite crime. It is not alleged that the examining officials acted in bad faith. The determination of the motion picture director is confirmed." Sells First Division Stock Controlling Stock Owned by Jesse J. Gold burg Bought by Robert S. Furst; Distribution to Be Reorganized he has completed the job. Upon finishing the reorganization. Mr. Wells will return to the Coast to resume production. JKSSK .1. (iOIiDBl HG, having sold his 50 per cent interest in the company to Robert S. Furst, vice-president and treasurer, a change in the ownership of First. Division Distributors, Inc., became effective June 25, with the resignation of .Mr. Ctoldhurg as president and director of the company, Mr. Furst succeeding him. Raymond Wells, vice-president and production manager, arrived in Xew York during the week and announced that his company will continue in business. He will reorganize the distribution of the First Division program, and will remain in the east until Mr. Furst, who now owns the controlling interest, is a retired steel man of the middle west. He had been interested in production with Mr. Wells before obtaining an interest in First Division last January. Mr. Goldburg is enroute to California. He declares he has no immediate plans for the future, but has intimated that his activities will be confined to the production end of the industry.