Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

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26 M olio n P i i I 11 r c N e w i October 4 , 1 9 3 0 The Insiders' Outlook ONE of the favorite sports of the film business is due for an unceremonious bump one of these days, judging by the frowns with which bankers have greeted check-ups on the amount of time certain hit; shots do not spend in the office. Too many, some bankers feel, are absent from their desks for unwarranted periods. The national malady of last fall, known as following the ticker, put a crimp into many deals. Some of the executives were so busy playing the market that they couldn't find time to sell or show film. And the old bankroll told a glaring story. The craze has subsided somewhat, but in the opinion of some financial moguls there is too much of the several hours for lunch, golf and take-a-day off tendency for the business' good. And they are prepared to put their foot down on the various practices complained of. The Wall Street crash took a lot of energy that should have been put into the picture business, and it may be depended upon that safeguards will be sought to prevent a recurrence. Beau Geste It was a nice gesture that S. L. i Roxy) Rothafel made to his old-time friend. Carl Laemmle, just before Roxy sailed for Europe. Roxy. it is said, is not returning to the big Broadway theatre which he sponsored. Roxy had bought "A Lady Surrenders," but bookings made it impossible for him to date it before November. Universal wanted to get the picture out in general release as soon as possible, for it's one of the first salvos in the company"s promised big gun program for the year. Paramount wanted the picture, so Roxy consented to a substitution. Incidentally, it's the first Universal picture to play the Paramount, New York, in four years. Those Hens Know Home You probably know him, big executive that he used to lie. who this week sat in the outer office of a second string distributing company, hoping that a $16-aweek office boy would carry his message to Garcia, the big sales boss inside. ' )nly a few short weeks back this job seeker was sitting on top o' the world with a big company. Xow he can be seen almost daily running from door to door, literally begging for a place to hang his hat. When he was in the dough he tried to be ritzv and to establish a rep for being hard-boiled — and the chickens have come home to roost. Back to Its Last Universal has started the season off auspiciously with "All Quiet on the Western Front" and "A Lady Surrenders." The pictures are the result of the You Tell Us— What production executive now in the East is very much upset over conditions at his company's studios. What big shot tries to make pictures from a golf course, causing plenty of friction because he wants to run things without putting in more than an hour or two a day at the studio. What prominent Chicago theatre man had to dig deep for the customs agents when he got hooked at the border returning from Canada recently. What person, whom it places in a compromising position, bought the distribution rights to "Her Unborn Child" from Dave Dubin recently. What companies sti'.l are reported having plenty of headaches over financial affairs. And what others have been warned by bankers to proceed with the utmost caution on any proposed expansions. company's changed policy and a credit and tribute to Carl Laemmle, Jr. It's more than coincidence that the company is hitting its stride on the heels of its decision to withdraw gradually from the business of exhibition. Perhaps the dividing of energies during its theatre acquisition spree accounts for some of the red ink the company has been using. Xow with the firm determined to concentrate on the business of picture making, the results should be gratifying. Chiseling About a dozen years ago a leading producer made a hit picture. Someone had a good memory on the story, for when an independent company a couple "I years ago made one of its outstanding pictures certain episodes were so similar that a plagiarism suit was threatened. Before suit could be instituted, however, the independent company purchased all film and talker rights to the original story for a few thousand dollars. The attorney in the matter did not realize the value of the story, which was one of a group on which he was commissioned to realize quick turnover at the best possible price. With talkers clicking, the independent studio finds itself with a valuable property, easily worth ten times the amount paid for it to prevent the plagiarism suit. Stymied The publicity director of downtown theatres complained to a studio chief that the studio publicity man wasn't cooperating with him. Both were called in at the same time. The studio chief demanded specific charges. Downtown publicity man made three. To the first two the chief said: "It is contrary to our policy to go into such nonsense and we don't care what other studios do." The third charge was that the photographs of the studio were not as good as another studios, to which the studio chief replied: "I personally have seen all of the stills that leave the studio and I take off my hat to them. If our photographs are not as good as the other studios, why is it your boss selected our studio to have his own personal photographs taken here?" Swinging the Axe These are tough times for the minor employes of film concerns. Every company is giving them the gate — for the sole purpose of clipping off a few dollars here and there to meet a serious situation caused by bonehead decisions on the part of the higher-ups. The stenographers and clerks are responsible for the junk turned out in Hollywood or the failure of the swelled heads in the sales departments — judging from the manner in which their heads are chopped off as soon as the receipts fall below normal. Meanwhile, the bigheads keep on parking their feet on their desks, dreaming of wine, women, song, golf or football. And the guys who run the works forget the fact that if it were not for the privates in the ranks they would not !>'• entitled to the job of general. THE I N S I D E K S. Published weekly bv Motion Picture News, Inc. Founded in September, 1^13. Publication, Editorial and General Offices: 729 Seventh Avenue, New York City. William A. Johnston. President and Publisher; E. J. Hudson, Vice-President; Maurice Kann, Editor; Charles F. Hynes. Managing Editor; James P. Cunningham, News Editor. Raymond E. Gallagher. Advertising) Manager; Los Angeles Office: Hotel Roosevelt. Hollywood; William Crouch, Western Representative. Chicago Office: 910 So. Michigan Avenue, ^Harry E. Holquist, Central West Representative. Subscription Prices: $3.00 per year in United States, Mexico and all U. S. Possessions. Canada. $5.00. Foreign. $10.00. Copyright. 1930, by Motion Picture News. Inc.. United States and Great Britain. Title registered in United States Patent Offxce and foreign. Entered as second class matter at the Post Office, Nnv York, April 22, 1926. under Act of March 3, 1879.