Motion Picture News (Jul - Sep 1930)

July 12, 1930 Motion Picture News 17 Aim to Place New Standard Contract In Operation in Three to Four Weeks The Tip Off Reviewing scouts for Motion Picture News meandered into California bylanes this week and unearthed the dope on the following: "Whoopee," "The Little Accident," "Grumpy," "Oh! Sailor, Behave!" "Shooting Straight," "The Singer of Seville" and "For the Defense." Also covered in this issue beginning on page 84: "Last of the Duanes," "Man from Wyoming," "Inside the Lines," "Young Desire," "Hot Curves," "Love Among the Millionaires," "The Lone Rider," "Those Who Dance," "Lost Gods," "Song of the Caballeros." Samuel's Private 'Whoopee' Review Is Not So Private Hollywood — Sam Goldwyn, Florenz Ziegfeld and Eddie Cantor finally finished "Whoopee," Goldwyn's initial venture into the filmusical comedv field. The picture cost in the neighborhood of $1,500,000— enough money to make any producer, especially an independent, rather anxious. Eddie Cantor decided to delay a vacation trip to Hawaii until he caught the picture in front of a preview audience. Finally the picture was readied for a tryout — with the utmost secrecy attached to the time and place. In order to throw preview reviews, fan magazine representatives and not-wanted studio employees off the trail, someone in the Goldwyn organization let it be generally known that the picture was spotted for previewing in San Bernardino. At noon, Goldwyn, Ziegfeld, Cantor and a select group took a special car to San Diego for the "Whoopee" preview, which was staged at the Fox Theatre in that city. Sam Goldwyn received the shock of his life, however, when the lights went up just before the showing of the preview — and he discovered a reviewer of Motion Picture News sitting two rows in front of him ! Shhh! Harold Bares the Secret of Glassless Specs Los Angeles— Parts of the $1,000,000 trial suit, now being heard against Harold Lloyd for alleged pilfering the plot and gags of "The Freshman" from a Witwer yarn, brought as many laughs in Federal Court chambers as any of Harold's funniest comedies. Harold admitted that his horn-rimmed glasses are just his "trademark," much as Charlie Chaplin's funny feet were the latter's "brand." He told the court that his glasses were glassless — and when he did the illusions of Harold's legion of fans were probably shattered. With Clauses Agreed Upon, Hess, Walker and Myers Will Draw Final Form With distributors. Allied States Ass'n., and the M. P. T. O. A., in accord on the proposed new standard form of license agreement, plans for the ratification of the agreement by exhibitors are being speeded in an effort to get the contract into circulation in three to four weeks. The new agreement, as exclusively stated by Motion Picture News, is to be retroactive to cover all contracts on 1930-31 product. Every exhibitor of the nation will be asked to use the new form of contract. Under the plan, the salesmen will make individual exhibitors acquainted with the terms of the new form of agreement, which is divided into a master form and short form. If the exhibitor elects to buy product under the new contract, he will automatically signify his acceptance and ratification of the agreement. Otherwise, he will be offered an individual company contract in each instance. These are the contracts now in use, and which have a wide variety of clauses. Advantages to be Cited In connection with the proposed contract, the advantages to the exhibitor using it will be cited. These include a voluntary arbitration system, a five per cent cancellation for theatres paying an average rental of $250 or less and protection on advertising of pictures by a subsequent run before or during a prior run, unless the subsequent run follows within 15 days. The various distributor contracts now in use have no cancellation charges, call for the exaction of deposits and contain a number of other features which are not embodied in the proposed standard agreement, which represents a number of concessions by distributors. The sales managers of all national distributors met at the Union League Club Thursday to learn from S. R. Kent what had transpired at the Atlantic City conferences. Gabriel L. Hess, for the Hays association ; Frank Walker, for the affiliated exhibitor, and Abram F. Myers, for Allied, will jointly whip the clauses into their final phraseology, after which the contract will be printed and placed in the hands of exhibitors and salesmen. How They View Results Myers asserts the main objectives of Allied were obtained with the exception of two points. One was the refusal of distributors to make any concessions on theatre expansion ; the other, to take a stand on score charges. Ninety-eight per cent of exhibitors of the nation must support the proposed new standard license agreement if it is to be successful, in the opinion of Kent, sponsor and chairman of the contract meetings, who is calling upon all branches of the industry to support the proposed agreement. The flood of messages received within a few hours after the meetings closed at Atlantic City, shows "the great satisfaction which (Continued on page 24) An Ambitious Scribe One of New York's better known newshounds, who frequently covers picture stuff for his sheet, was asked by the chief to dig up the dirt on a yarn which had just broken. The chap was on his vacation, although the old town remained the center of his holiday excursions, and he gladly consented to halt festivities long enough to run down the assignment. To carry out that old Spanish custom, however, he brought an oversized typewriter downtown in his car and, after getting the dope, pulled into a side street to write it rather than enter the office during vacation time. Allied May Gun For W. B. and F. N. 9 On Score Charges Unwillingness of Warners and First National to entertain proposal for elimination of score charges is to be brought to the attention of all members of the Allied States Ass'n., Motion Pictures News exclusively learns. The entire personnel of the organization is to be circularized to acquaint members with the status of the situation. Allied waged a fight for the elimination of. score charges in the 5-5-5 conferences which ended last week. Its efforts to obliterate score charges were blocked by distributors, who contended the charges were a matter of individual company policy. In taking this stand, the distributor members of the contract committee were actuated largely by the attitude of Warners. Most distributors have been cutting down on score charges, it was pointed out, with many feeling that the situation will soon adjust itself. However, the declared determination of Warners and First National to continue to exact the score charge is said to be muddling the situation. Talmadge Divorce Yarn Persists, Though Denied Hollywood — Stories filtering through from Paris insist that Norma Talmadge will institute divorce proceedings against Joseph M. Schenck. To counter this is a denial by Schenck that he and his wife are contemplating any such action. "We are crazy about each other," he is quoted as saying. Chaplin* s "City Lights" To Shine in October Hollywood — Charlie Chaplin is nearing the finishing scenes on his current picture, "City Lights," and expects to have it ready for release not later than October.