Moving Picture World (Jan-Feb 1927)

January 8, 1927 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 97 Fred Niblo Sips Director Contract With Jos. Schenck Agreement Specifies One a Year for M-G-M Fred Niblo has signed a long term contract with Joseph M. Schenck to make United Artists pictures. The announcement was made from Hollywood, Calif., by Mr. Schenck, as chairman of the Board of Directors of United Artists Corporation. Mr. Niblo’s agreement stipulates that he shall return to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to produce one feature picture each year for three years. His pictures for United Artists will be called “Fred Niblo Productions, presented by Joseph M. S'chenck.” Selecting Material Mr. Schenck, in making the announcement by wire to United Artists’ home offices in New York, said the pick of screen material is now being sought for Mr. Niblo's first United Artists Feature. By the agreement Fred Niblo joins the company of Mary Pickford, Norma Talmadge, Gloria Swanson, Constance Talmadge, Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks, D. W. Griffith, John Barrymore, Buster Keaton, Samuel Goldwyn, Morris Gest and Joseph M. Schenck, independent producers of films releasing through United Artists. “Becky” to be Filmed The screen rights of “Becky,” a newspaper serial story by Rayner Seelig, have been purchased by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It will be filmed as a Cosmopolitan production. John P. McCarthy, long associated with D. W. Griffith, has been assigned to direct. Marion Blackton will write the scenario. Three Charge Piracy Harry Mishkind, head of the Associated Film Brokers, Baltimore, is accused of pirating film in a suit filed there by the Lumas Film Corp., Rayart Pictures and Principal Pictures. C & C Take Over Gems Cranfield & Clarke has taken over the Gems of the Screen series which until recently were distributing through Red Seal Pictures Corporation. Cranfield & Clarke has signed a contract with the Pinellas Pictures Corporation to exclusively handle a series of colored pictures. File Last Brief Famous Players has filed what is believed to he Its last brief in the Federal Trade Commission case, in answer to charges of unfair business practice. It alleges that block booking does not violate any laws, but Is simply wholesale or combination selling. Baseball Champs With two activities at present under way (bowling and basketball) the Motion Picture Athletic Association recently celebrated its first season by presenting trophies to the winning teams of summer events. The trophy shown was won by Fox in baseball and is being received by A1 Freedman, chairman of the Fox A. C. Athletic Committee, from L. S. Diamond, representing the M. P. A. A. “Bill” Yearsley Resigns C. L. (Bill) Yearsley has resigned as American representative of British National Pictures, effective April 1. The company’s office will be moved to 218 East 41st street. New York City, where Max Schlesinger is located. J. D. Williams has opened an office at 130 West 42nd street. Sales Job for Schwerin A1 Lichtman, United Artists’ general manager of distribution for the United States and Canada, has appointed Charles Schwerin special sales representative for United Artists, Mr. Schwerin operating from the home office. “Joe” Plunkett Better “Joe’’ Plunkett, managing director of the New York MarkStrand, is improved after suffering for several days with a hard cold. Kleine Sails to Establish Circuit of French Theatres Authority on Foreign Markets Has Bank Backing For Enterprise, Says Wall Street By Sumner Smith GEORGE KLEINE, who probably knows as much about the foreign market as any American, sailed this week for France without announcing his mission. Wall Street sources, however, stated emphatically that he has big Wall Street backing and is being sent overseas to start a great chain of motion picture theatres in France. It is said that his backing is independent of any of the leading distributing companies. One source mentioned Sol Lesser in connection with Kleine’s mission, but reliable authorities are certain that Lesser will confine his activities to the United States. Mr. Klein’s task does not seem to be a simple one, particularly s0 far as Paris is concerned. Pathe Consortium and Fournier are the two great circuits in the French capital and they have what many consider a stranglehold on the situation. Aiding them in their grip on Paris are the building laws, which make It extremely difficult for new theatres to go up, certainly in choice locations. It is considered very doubtful if Kleine can purchase any houses from either Pathe or Fournier. Mr. Kleine originally was an optical dealer. He was the first to bring over five-reelers from Europe, such as ‘‘Quo Vadis.” At the formation of the Patents Company he was given the franchise for Urban and Gaumont. He was the “K” in the original Kalem Company, but dropped out of the company to handle the foreign pictures. He also has a thorough technical knowledge of the equipment end of the business. Columbia Merges with Gotham in Washington In the Washington, D. C., territory this week, Gotham Pictures Exchange, Inc., was merged with the Washington exchange of Columbia Pictures, Inc. The Gotham office will be closed and the physical distribution, booking and selling of the Gotham and Lumas product will be handled from the Columbia office. W. G. Dutton of Columbia will be in charge of both sales and distribution for both Gotham and Columbia in the District of Columbia and the States of Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. Gotham and Columbia pictures will be sold separately, but booked and handled from the one office. Loew Ends Year Big The Wall Street Journal presents interesting figures regarding Loew’s, Inc., for the last week of the old year. It says that the company will realize about $1,000,000 net income on it. Of this $25,000 came from the Capitol Theatre. $12,000 from the State, $20,000 from the Metropolitan and $12,000 from the Astor. Other Loew theatres did exceptionally well. Death of New York Censorship Almost Certainty Before July Governor Alfred E. Smith, in his annual message to the New York State Legislature, delivered on January 5, again came out emphatically against motion picture censorship and termed it a ‘‘senseless censorship entirely without rhyme or reason.” ‘‘No useful purpose is served by the continuance of his function and it constitutes an unnecessary drain upon the revenues of the state, even though they be compensated by taxation upon the business itself,” he said. “If there is any reason for such a tax, it might well be continued for the benefit of public revenue, but to dissipate it in a senseless censorship, seems to be entirely without rhyme or reason.” A bill will be introduced within two or three weeks calling for the wiping out of censorship on July 1, next. It will be given the support of both Democrats and Republicans. The latter, who have been in favor of censorship for several years, with the exception of a few persons who broke away, no longer look upon the commission as carrying any political patronage. The bill should have an easy passage during the session. Even today, with the opening of the session, it was freely predicted that the bill would pass before February 15. Tough Proposition Any writer, therefore, who questions the ability of any man to gain a foothold in the French exhibiting field must take into consideration Mr. Kleine’s vast experience and undoubted knack for overcoming obstacles. But reputable authorities on the foreign market feel that Mr. Kleine has a hard row to hoe. Paramount also has been taking exceptional interest in the French field. Several Paramount and Publix men, some of them graduates of the Managers’ Training School, have quietly gone overseas within the last few weeks. The Publix theatre department in Paris is an active unit and will be heard from later. Thus new battle lines are being established in France. This time finance will wage a bloodless war. Paris Dims Stars Paris seems to be unlucky for American film stars. Edna Purviance was injured recently when a sleigh overturned on location and the horses bolted. She was not dangerously hurt. Corinne Griffith, who arrived from London with her husband, Walter Morosco, Is ill.