Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

October 11, 193 0 M o lion P ic tur i Color to Stage Comeback Next Season; Improvements to Better Films' Quality ColOV Continuance of a stiff battie over color patents may _„ reach these shores from London, where leading American rr (IV companies and British processes have been waxing hot and \hpnd? heavy over patent priority. Resumption of the court hear ing abroad is due within a month, with practically every important color company in both countries participating. Issuance of IT. S. patent number 1,773,201 to Maurice Elvev, and corresponding with British patent number 322,801. is held to be the tip-off on a shift of hostilities to America. Paramount Cuts Down Footage to Increase Action Hollywood — In a move to obtain greater action in its talkers, Paramount has inaugurated a plan of shooting the least possible footage, then previewing the picture and after that shooting any additional scenes needed. The company has recognized the fault common to talkers — too much dialogue and too little action — and the new plan is an effort to correct this fault. The economy factor also is an important one in the plan. This week two pictures were previewed. One was pronounced oke, while the other had to go back for repairs. The first was "Morocco," featuring Gary Cooper and Marlene Dietrich. The picture to go back for repairs was "Sea Legs," the Jack Oakie navy yarn. Victor Heerman first directed the talker and Eddie Sutherland made a number of retakes. However, more sequences and story changes are planned before the talker will be released. RKO Removes Stumbling Block to Denver House Denver — Negotiations for acquisition of property at 15th and Wellington have been concluded by RKO, and the chain will proceed with original plans to replace the present Orpheum with a $1,000,000 house seating 3,000. Roxy Units To Be Used In Other Fox Theatres Mike Marco already has begun policy changes at the Roxy and for the presentation of "The Big Trail," the stage show will be reduced to a minimum and various members of the stage personnel routed to de luxe houses of the Fox circuit. Allen Glenn Named B. I. P. Publicity Chief Allen Glenn, veteran advertising and publicity man and showman, has joined British International Pictures as director of publicity at the George M. Cohan. New York. Bar "Angels" on Refusal to Omit Drinking Scenes Toronto — Unwisely advised to buck the Ontario censors when ordered to make cuts in "Hell's Angels," local officials responsible for the picture adopted a policy of all or nothing. As a result they get nothing. The air film is out altogether for this part of Canada, despite two trips to the Parliament buildings and elaborate pleadings. The sponsors are going to make one more trial later to get it passed. British airmen who saw Hughes' picture in the United States had written to government officials here protesting against mess scenes showing Royal Air Force officers drinking. These were ordered cut. Refusal to do so resulted in a ban. The picture had a tentative 5-week booking at the Shubert legit house, Royal Alexandra. London Show Window Obtained by United London — United Artists has leased the Buchanan as a London show window for its product. It will open in a few weeks with Chaplin's "City Lights." Gene Marcus Planning To Enter Production Gene Marcus, of Philadelphia, head of Masterphone. has gone to the Coast where he plans to enter film production. A series of all-talkers starring Buffalo Bill, Jr., is planned. John Wayne in Town John Wayne. Fox's new "find" who appears in "Big Trail," arrived in New York vesterday for a brief stay. Nize Peepuls "They say three persons outa five got acting ability," chirped Gertie Glutz. "Yeah, and th' other two go into the movies," retorted her nitwit side-kick. 'Whoopee" Demonstrates the Value of Color and Presages Its Return Color films, which took it on the chin owing to the manner in which they were dumped on the market last season, are due for a comeback in 1930-31, in the opinion of a number of executives. Steady improvement in coloring, plus a realization that color must be used with quality pictures if it is to be successful, will be contributing factors, it is expected. Last year the gag was an effort to save flops by injecting color into them. The result was the public became wary of films advertised as having color in them. The color orgy had its start with "The Gold Diggers of Broadway," which is said to have grossed $5,000,000. The picture didn't need color to get over, but the fact that the public flocked to it started a mad rush by producers for color, to which was wrongfully ascribed the picture's success. Warners Had Monopoly At the time, Warners had sewed up all the eight cameras of Technicolor, scheduling 40 color pictures for the year. However, Paramount, M-G-M, RKO, Tiffany and Columbia also made a bid for color, so that Technicolor was forced to increase its capacity 800% within a few months, raising its total of cameras to 50. The resultant splurges with color came with such rapidity and color was used so promiscuously that public reaction soon followed. Producers soon revised their plans and, realizing their mistake in proceeding too swiftly, appealed to Technicolor. Its contracts are non-cancellable and carry a deposit of $25,000, but a temporary cancellation was permitted, Technicolor agreeing that the development was proceeding too fast. The postponement has permitted a number of improvements. Company officials now are pointing to "Whoopee" as an example of what can be done through intelligent use of color and cite it to back up their belief that new improvements presage a real comeback for color this year. Meanwhile, Howard Hughes is preparing an expansion for Multicolor, which he expects to use in a number of films next year. Rushing Work on Multicolor Plant Hollywood — Multicolor, Inc., is rushing work on its new $500,000 plant in order to be ready for operation by Nov. 15. Multicolor is said to have enough commercial film and short subject orders in color to keep it rushed for oyer six months. Technicolor has laid off over 200 men in the past few months and the plant is running with a skeleton crew at present. Producers would rather hold orders for color contracts over until business is better than spend extra for color prints at this time.