Moving Picture News (Jan-Dec 1911)

THE MOVIXG PICTURE NEWS 29 LUX FILMS THE CROWN OF PERFECTION RELEASED FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1911 Bill Taken for a GKost COMEDY . . . Length, 426 Feet A laughable comedy in which Bill fools his friends bj' proving to be the ghost. The Diversions of a Nursemaid COMEDY . . . Length, 493 Feet A film brimful of laughable situations R. PRIEUR, 10 East 15th Street, NEW YORK CITY TELEPHONE 3427 STUTVESANT Sold only through Motion Picture Distributing and Sales Co. ONLY EASTMAN RAW STOCK USED. OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT London Office of the News, 8 Sherwood St., W. I hear that the series of films recently secured bj Mr. Dufresne. one of the cleverest of the clever band of "Kinemacolor" photographers, during an extended foreign tour, beats anything that the process has so far produced. More I am not at present permitted to say. but it is sure that holders of "Kinemacolor" licenses will soon receive a batch of film which should prove great business pullers, and which will deepen the favor with which the natural color pictures are already regarded by the public. It is hardl3 necessary to add that "Kinemacolor" has made all the necessary arrangements for filming the Durbar. Here is a subject offering possibilities in the way of color which ^Ir. Urban will rareh find equalled: one which the ordinary film can only reproduce in a very inadequate way, but which should make a new '"Kinemacolor" record and pack the "Scala" in a more pronounced manner than ever. By the wa^-, Mr. Bruce London is now manager for Mr. Urban at this theater and finds receipts still more than a little gratifying. Mr. Mackenzie, the veteran of Mr. Urban's camera staff, indeed one of the old guard of the trade, who was taking and showing his own pictures all over Scotland while most of us were gasping at the novelty of the just introduced form of entertainment — is at present putting in one of his rare stays in London. Mr. ^lackenzie has probably done more globe trotting than any other kinematograph man in this countrj-. Canada. India. China, the Balkan States, are only a few of the places at which his trusty camera has been operated, and it is only at rare intervals that one finds him at headquarters. He has braved revolutionaries in the Balkans, superstitious natives in China — he once had to abandon his camera to save his skin — and fever in India and is as wiry and cool as ever and prepared to proceed at a moment's notice to any spot on the earth's surface where a picture is to be obtained. * * * * Mr. A. E. Manwaring has taken the place of ]\Ir. Scott as manager of the Western Import & Film Co. Mr. Scott, as already reported, having gone with "Flying A's'' to Wardour street. Mr. Manwaring will be known to manj^ members of the American trade from his travels there in the interests of the Warwick Trading Companj', with whom he was associated until he migrated to Rupert Court at the beginning of the present week. ^Ir. Manwaring had previously had charge of the film department for the Palais de Luxe Cinema in Windmill street, and earlier still was a member of 'Mr. R. W. Paul's stafT. He has also had considerable theatrical experience. I regret to hear of the recent indisposition of Mr. W. F. Jury, who, however, was at his desk again on Tuesday after a few days' absence. One of these members of the trade who gets good work out of a staff by himself working harder than any, Mr. Jury is at St. Martin's Lane early in the morning until verj late at night and takes few holidaj's, and he has been busier than ever since his new premises were opened. Just lately. Jury's Pictures, Ltd. have been scoring heavily with exclusive pictures. They have had sole rights in "Captain Midnight'' (the first Australian production and a real thriller). "\ ictim of the ^Mormons," "\'oyage to the North Pole" and many others, not the least of which is a film showing an ascent of Mount Etna during an eruption — reallj' startling picture which takes one within twelve feet of the seething crater and shows the river of lava flowing across country. This is at present running exclusivelj at the Alhambra. where it has secured remarkable press notices, and I believe it will continue there for at least three more weeks, after which it is booked all over the countrj-. The methods of film salesmanship in this countr\ have been gradually altering during the last few jears. It is curious to remember that the uniform release day is after all quite a modern development, and that not so long ago manufacturers printed off as manj' copies of a subject as their judgment led them to think would be required, taking the risk of being "left." Some \try fine bargains were at that time to be picked up in the subjects of a leading continental maker, who not unfrequently overstocked and was generally supposed to sell off at 2^"d a foot — a proceeding which naturally excited the resentment of his competitors. As I remember it. Cricks & ^lartin were one of the first to start the present system of showing in advance of release, which is to the advantage of seller and bujer alike, though the latter would be better pleased if all makers were showing subjects for the same release daJ^ At present j'ou can see on the same daj an English film scheduled for next week, a Continental subject for a fortnight to a month later, and an American picture which maj not be marketed for six or more weeks. No wonder we sometimes have to think whether we are in December or October. * * * * Apart from the institution of "displaj ahead of release" methods have changed a lot. The film trade in its early days was one of the most conservative in the world in regard to advertising. If you got a Ten Dollar ad. out of a manufacturer you had done prettj well. Now the "Kinematograph Weekly," which started with twelve pages, carries something like 30 to 70 ad. pages alone per week — a fact which is eloquent alike of the amazing growth of the trade and of the much more liberal view taken by manufacturers of the value of advertising. There are still firms only half converted, but it is a significant fact that the most extensive advertisers are the firms who have come forward most rapidly. Selig. for instance, advertises as widely as he does well, and I don't think Mr. Montague regards the money as wasted. Anj-way "Selig's" have gained immensely in prestige since the new offices were opened, and a strong advertising and publicitj' campaign launched. Film advertising, too, is being more and more divided and the showman is getting a saj as to the films which compose his program, ilany see all the releases and choose for