Motion Picture Herald (Apr-Jun 1931)

April 4, 1931 MOTION PICTURE HERALD 13 TIFFANY-EDUCATIONAL HURDLE THE OBSTACLES WHICH BLOCKED A DEAL TWO THOUGHTS ON ONE IDEA Ox Tuesday, March 31, in his annual report to the directors of the ^lotion Picture Producers" and Distributors' Association of America, Inc., Will H. Hays, president, said : "The hand-ivriting now plainly on the wall is that Am-erica is largely tlirougli ■z<.'it}i the post-war preoccupation zfith morbidity and crime in literature and drama. The orgy of self -rei elation which marked such a large portion of modern authorship is passing. We have a new, younger generation, now rising from the jazz age, that promises to support clean, high-purposed entertainment." On the same day Samuel Goldwyn, in an interview with Florabel Muir which was published in the New York Daily Nezvs, declared as follows ; "A year ago the movie producers told their people, 'This season we'll catch them with torch titles.' Tliey gave them instructions to go the limit with imtructions that suggested parlor, bedroom and bath. . . . They thought they were getting sex fed to 'em raw, and it was really all sticky and gummy zvith sugarcoating. "So this year," Florabel Muir quotes Mr. Goldwyn as saying, "the zvatcliZi'ord is, 'go the limit and let tlic censors catch the hindcrinost' ." HERE are two startlingly contrasting expressions submitted for public consumption by two prominent personalities in the motion picture industry. There may be some question as to whether Mr. Hays is entirely correct in his viewpoint, although there are increasingly numerous indications that the trend to which he refers is actually developing. How far it will progress, of course, remains a matter for the future to determine. We approach consideration of "Sir. Goldwyn's contrary statement very reluctantly. That it is plainly and obviously false is something that every wellinformed person in the industry knows. It is shocking that Mr. Goldwyn should entertain such a viewpoint and it is several times more shocking that he should permit himself to give expression to it, even though he believed it to be true. Mr. Goldivyn may enjoy his mention in the newspapers hut when it is obtained at such great cost as this — to himself and to the industry — it n'ould seem that he might zi'ell ask himself if it is worth the price. — M. p. Battle for Raw Stock Dominance Continues at All Coast Studios Heard on the Street The rumor purveyors along New York's film row would have you believe that Publix is about to take over complete operation of the entire Loew circuit. Minor Details Holding Up Warner Deal with West Coast Fox's West Coast circuit will soon operate the Warner houses on the Coast, the long-pending deal being held up only by signatures. Actual operation of Warner Pacific theatres by West Coast will become ef¥ective immediately after the legal transfer. Academy Technicians Place Stamp Of Approval On Eastman, Dupont Supersensitive Hollywood (QP) — The technicians' branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has now unanimously endorsed the new supersensitive type of panchromatic negative film recently introduced by both the major manufacturers, and now in use by six of the larger producing concerns here. The use of the new film is spreading through the industry rapidly. At this week's meeting of the technicians. Keith Weeks, executive manager of Movietone City, interposed effective opposition to any discussion of the relative merits of the (Continued on page 46) Long Expected Merger Is About to Materialize E. W. Mammons and L. A. Young Are Readying Formal Announcement Of Tiffany's Sellout Breaking many records for prolonged negotiations, the long expected absorption of Tiffany by Educational inteersts has become a fact. Yesterday, formal announcement of tiie deal was being prepared by L. A. Young, Tiffany president. Grant L. Cook, his operating chief, and E. W. Hammons, Educational president, the latter representing the buyers. Although a merger of physical distributing properties is one of the prime objectives of the combine, comparatively few of the sales personnel of either organization will be affected. It is planned to abandon one set of exchanges, which is expected to result in a saving of at least $2,000,000 yearly. The majority of both sales forces will be needed to dispose of shorts, as distributed by Educational, and the new lineup of features to be marketed under the Tiffany banner. One of the more unknown factors of the deal revolves around the berth to be occupied by Cook, who, insiders say, will be seen with the merged unit for a while. Whether or not he will eventually retire from pictures, to again take up the duties whic hhe previously occupied in connection with general financing and the wire making company of Young, is a matter for speculation. It was Young who brought Cook into the picture field at the time of Young's purchase of Tiffany. Hammons and Cook depart within a few days for Hollywood to look over the studio situation. Differences between Hammons and Young are supposed to have held up completion of the Educational-Tift'any merger. Young, who spent at least $7',000,000 to develop Tiffany, sought to regain at least part of his investment through a deal with Educational. Hammons fought against this, it is understood, agreeing to take over the company and return a substantial sum to Young — if and when Tiffany made money. Bankers, however, are understood to have been responsible for a tieup in the deal. Educational is understood to have sought several millions to finance the merger. But, say insiders, bankers who are well acquainted with the operation of the film industry, did not agree on the placement of heavy money on a merged unit which insisted upon three sources of production (Tift'any studio, Educational-Metropolitan studio and the plant used by Sennett and Educational coproducer.) Judea to Make 72 Reels Judea Films will make 72 reels as the 1931-32 schedule, in six units. Each unit will comprise a feature, two two-reelers, a one-reel religious short and a novelty film.