Variety (Dec 1928)

6 VARIETY FOREIGN HLM NEWS Wednesday, December 5, 1928 Brit» By Frank Tilley London, Nov. 22. Universal has been : in the lime- light thi^ousrh putting in the first all- sound program outside Ix»ndbn, It was a four-hour show at Its own Manchester house, New Oxford, with ; "Melody of Love" arid "Uncle Tom," * the former dialog arid the latter synchronized, orchestration. Also Ben Bernie's orchestra and the Mu- sic Shop Movietone shorts; Warners had a pre-view of "The Singing Fool" at the Piccadilly, and got the sobbies. hoke, but hit •em like tear ga3>' "The Terror," . after ab.Out.. the . greatest all-round razz any film ever got here, followed this \veek by "Hometownera." A further sound development here is a tie-up being arranged with th'i British Broadcasting Co; and the R. C. A. to put a series of disks and some personal perfonfnances on the air in connection with a series Of full-length opera spng-filrns to be made iri conjunction with the Ger- man TohbUd- has gone into picture theatre group- ing and building. t ^ n . Associated British Cinemas, Brit- ish International offshoot, with a capital of $5i000,000. has sold $2jO, 000 of the new stock to the present shareholders of B. L, which _^:com- FRANCO FILMS BUYS 15 MORE THEATRES Saw has^Lso taken up $500,000 of k, . |w 2S—AlsO Lafg- the theatre stock for cash. ^_ _ ^ | ^^"'^ _ est Studio in France— FBO-Pathe Conriectioh The other money comes from an increase in the capital of Isidore Schleslnger's theatre company* United Picture Theatres, jaised from $1,500,000 to $2,625,000 by the issue of 225,000 shares of $5 each ranking a:s preferred participating ordinary. These were offered for public issue and subscribed Pre-View Rush QUOTA PICTURE NOT WORKINGJIllT RIGHT London, Nov, 20. The quota picture things, through which some of the English boys who floated companies on the strength of distribution contracts with American . organizations, isn't panning out to: the satisfaction of either parties. ■ .i-u Would-be producers among the picture makers find themselves the object Of stern criticism for lack of entertainment qualities in addition to other shortcoririlngs due to lack of experience. . As a result a squawk is circu- that when the product is Franco Films, which recent^ „ cture is meeting by only with the purchased 11 Aim theatres from, More Theatre Money Another company of I. W. Schles- lnger's United Picture Theatres Is Increasing its capital from: $1,500,000 to. $2,652,000. by issuing 225,000 par- ticipating preferred ordinary of $5 par value;' .Increase, it to 'finance building of theatres and to. rebuild some the company already owns. The number of., houses a,t jiresent ow.ncd Is 16, mostly neigh-borhood theatres In London. Called Cinema PrOi)rietbrs, Ltd;, another issue is pending which will ask the public for $1,650,000 to buy six houses no^v forming the Salberg circuit. On the board will be Leon Salberg as .managing director. ..-o.. Gaumont, is now closing a deal to With the end Of the stoppage buy the Metropdle ^ti-ing.of 15 caSby fhe^^sSorten.ing of release houses, creating a f li^mch" period under the Films Act, a stam- Utres within a few weeks, of launch- pede to hold trade shows (pre- h^g ^g. extensive campaign. Franco views) is beginning. A number of g^j^^gg through Paul Kastor, its as- distributors . have these already ^ general manager, that it is scheduled for three months ahead ^'^^^"J-^_uuy any first class all over the country. Wardour on the market , Films, distributor for B:-I.. has 140 house how standing and to build a such shows fixed for the next three number of its own. Organization months in London and nine prov-| ig being welded together along Incial centers. • picture is getting by only with the edge of favoritism from the stand- point of sentinient, or is thrown iri on th(? bargain counter providing the other product is ^jold on the standard valuation as before The consensus of opinion is that unless thei product improves, there wiir be no reriewal of ■ contracts and the Amerlca,n distributors will take other means of getting their quota of pictures made. . HEAVY DROP 1 ;ALES ABROAD ONAHLFIUHS Estimated Not Over $40,* OOOyObO Foreign Gross Next Year 1 American lines, Franco has just completed the JJ^^^ ForeigD ffladc Present , indications are that American picture distriisutors will not gross over $40,000,000 on their foreigri sales for the cominjfj >'''ar. • The forOrgn "market has yi'mo'i'aa" high as $90,000,000 annually in film rentals. The coriibination of foreign gov- ernment barriers against American pictures, thei increase in conti- nental production with its ensuing limitation of play dates availicjle — for American pictures, added to the a:dvent of the talking pictures as the major item on local producr . is believed, accountable for Tiffany"^tSu''pr^:;hS In this I ^^^^^^-^^'^f^l^^'S^ country in conjunction with the in- at Nice. For the first V^^-r they terests controlling Its British re- will make six features, and prob lease house, British Exhibitors Films g^bly somie French talkers. FBO- Co. Pathe wiU handle this product in A hew compariy has beeri reg- K_ .p^^cO taking 30 Ameri- istered as Tiffany Productions, Ltd., •f'";^"?*'^ every four of their with Charles F. Bernhard as man- can nims^ i 4.^^ tt ct Sing director, with exchanges to own FBO-Pathe accepts for U. S open at. Birmingham, Manchester., distribution. British Gaumont, for Glasgow, Cardiff. Liverpool, Leeds England, and Llchtspi6l,. for Ger- and Slieflield. The organization will niany, will exchange product with handle all the. Tiffany : American 5^ - a six-for-one basis,. ?ea?"hlre^' --He four feat.ures a ^ .^mpany. Is backed I back . he^^^ Which lets Tiffany In and gives.Uy Bank Intermediare and DeCap- Iraphers taxea tion, the outlook as seen at present by I film men in touch with the foreign Film for Amateur Use Washington, Dec. 4. A move Is seeri against the im- portation of developed foreign made raw fllrti . by American tourists ; ^...w^.... - through a r.equest from an Amerl- also be snialler. In proportion to can maker of raw stock, reputed | ^-^e total sales, than ever before a big factor in the foreign loss of income. ■■ ' Of the gross reritals available ac- cordlrig to the number of theatres and play dates open, the net rev- enue to:American producers will to be Easthian's. It is that all raw. stock made abroad and brought photog- Phototone's Show British Phototone, operating a I "gj^Q^^^^ 100,000,000 Personal disk system On Brunswick records Robert Hurel, formerly (Mrs. Reginald I^ennam), daugnter, ^^^^.^^ ^ number of three - reel rectOr of Franco. '"1^'^trongltharm; manager ofj-b^cts. geoi^e Sm^ of the new company call S»^;c^ St-hiT wm \^^£:^Z^-^-W ^r the Stoll picture theatre on Kings way, reverts to. the head office book irig department' iand is replaced by W. O. Chapman and F. G. Macrae, who become Joint managers, E. O. Leadlay is publicizing Cam pro Co., which markets at 16-mm home camera and projector com- bined for $'50. Gauriiont-Brltish Is set with its school for organists. Cosriio Hamilton has registered another production company. Au- thors Film Syndicate, Ltd., in con junction with: Nicholas Bosanquet. Capital, $500. When the Fox Movietone of Swaf fer was shown at the Empire open Ing, some one discovered a swing door back of the stalls squeaked when it was opened. So every few lip-movements by Swaffer cnme a loud and hearty razz from, the back. Up In the circle they seemed to think it was being done by .the audi- ence below,, and Hannen got more laughs than any other Item in the bill. . ^ Albert ClaVering has registered, a new Company as R. E- Cinemas, Ltd., capital $375,000. Brother Ar thur is associated. May be to build that new house next door to the Home Omce and the Horse Guards. Another new Gaumont company has been registered as a public (i. e., with power to soil stock) company. Called Davis Theatre <Hammer- smith), Ltd. . Capital, $1,000,000. Dl- fectpra, Isidore" Ostrer, A.'" C. "ftUd R; C, Bromhead, Mark Ostrer,. Al- fred, Basil and Israel Davis, all as- sociated with various Gaurnont- British enterprises, Percy Marmont in lead for the old Wil.son Barrett molo, "The Silver King," directed by T. Hayes Hunter for the Wilcox company, British & Dominions Films Empire Handicaps M-G-M's New Empire did not have, a very auspicious first week ' Business, though good generally in town, has been thin, certainly not ■ due to the house itself, easily the finest in London. It seems due to the program, neither strong enough nor sufflciently varied. Too much dialog stuff, a lot of which is very poor; too much music, both orches- tral arid organ, in one spot at a time, and a feature not strong enough to play solo. Film goers here are used to a two feature program. Seldom a one- . feature is very strong. And_tne New Empire's one feature, ' Tre lawney of the Wells," is not strong P C, T. are not taking any chances when they open. the'Tivpll thi.s 2Gth n*''i',«V''^A^JI^i,nL flA for an international type of pic- company, with Count Anthony de ^"^ *^ t^^ov «rp after foreiffn dls- Bosdari (now engaged to Tallulah ture. as they^ are after "rei^ ai Bankhead) also on the board. The trlbutlon. To guard against tne | ^^^^^.j^g Americans to two are also on the board of French faults of former Fi-cnch pictures ture carineras with them. If pur- chasjlng the raw stock over here, of native manufacture, there is no duty when returning it, raw or de- veloped. Stock bought abroad, then returned, either developed or not, is subject to duty. The idea appears to be to oblige This is due partly to the productipni : abroad being undertaken by. Amer- . ican producers, or production in which American producers are in- terested financially so that Ameri- can pictrires may be imported since pictures of this type are found un-^ profitable for distribution here in most Instances and do not gross negative cost in Europe. With distribution and' printing, expenses at all times reducing the net. iri foreign dealings the added cost of production abroad, com* Phototone In the same capacities. Non-Inflammatory Film Not Essential Until '32 not acceptable abroad, particularly, in America, all scenarios, will be analyzed by persons thoroughly familiar with the American mar- ket and American people.. themselves with a sufficient supply of home-made product for their cameras before leaving this side. It'3 another mark of the growing interest in amateur movirig picture taking and making. Paris, Dec. 4. Minister of- the Interior has noti- fied the president Of the Film Board of Trade that compulsory use of non-inflammatory film has been postponed until January, 1932. This makes it easy for the pic- ture companies to adjust their plans to the regulation. They are putting iri a Bfltiah Inter- national film, "Not Quite a Lady, one of the bes^^ pieces of entortani- ment-manufacture .the British stu- dios have made this year, as, scnond feature to United Artists* "The Woman Pursued." Theatre Money This week $4,875,000 more money English Houses Prefer 1 Canon Chase's Own Party Native Wire Systems pictures distributed at practically the same overhead, lea.ves a smaller profit. It is estimated that the total net profits from continental distribu- tion will not reach $10,000,000 for the ^ or 15 distributors interested in the foreign market, as compared With net profits of over $35,000,000 in former years. "Wings," $26,000, Paris Paris, Dec. 4. ."Wings," playing at the Para- mount here, broke all house records last week when grossing 651,000 francs, about $26,000. This Is a phenomenal gross for Paria. It is interpreted by Manager Ull- man, of the theatre, as not only an endorsement pt tlie..^,P dence that the French people, net quick to become film fans, are be- ing sold- on the live shows a day grind policy. Roumania and Spain Both Dodge Quotas . Paris, Dec. 4. There Is. no film quota In Rou- mania, The new Maniu (Peasant Pa,rty) government has abolished existing film censorship and shows little diapositlon to Interfere. A threatened quota law in Spain has been averted by the clever work of governmental attaches. Wilcox Negotiating Los Angeles, Dec, 4. . Herbert Wilcox, head of the Brit- ish. a,ndJ)omln^^^ "here' riegotiating for tKO^releSse Of two pictures a year from the United States. . Wilcox has landed Charles Wake- field, one of the Swift paoklne houso hoirs, wlip has $l,000,OdO on the string for two films yearly if the release can ha obtalried. Negotiations between Wilcox and Samuel Goldwyn fell through, when Goldwyn's terms were found un satisfactory. Wilcox is now talk Ing it over with Joe Schenck. London, Dec. 4, Having wired 11 houses over here. Western Electric finds itself be- calmed with no further orders or in- quiries to date. Reason Is the company's high In Final day oT^cln'onchiSTsixth I gntish-Gaumont Deal for annual attempt to censor the | movies here lasrt week almost ended I in a battle royal. The Canon de- creed that anybody could talk for the Brookhart-Hudson. bill but no- I body against it. Delegates representing organiza- PCT Not Yet Settled London, Dec. 4. Deal by Britlsh-Gaumont to ac- Keason IS xne uouipaiijr D .lit," I ueiegaies repretseutme f^"^""^'*" I nuire Provincial Cinematograph stallation price, with several native Uions upholding Will Hays insisted theatres Is not yet set as consent wiring systems only asking from on being heard and voting on the stockholders in'the latter com- $1,200 to $2,600. Latter devices are resolutions presented. ' °^ ewi^iwiu . the ones bought. It is estimated ' - England will have around 800 the- atres wired by Feb. 1. Houses using. Western Electric in the West End are the New Gallery, Piccadilly, Regal, Plaza, Empire, Rialto and Tivoll. Two Manchester theatres have been equipped by solutions presented. ^ ^ obtained before PCT This the Canon wouldn't stand P'^"^ ' for. Finally, after cleaning out the ' Mayflower-, ballroom, he succeeded in -getting the vote he wanted. Resolutions adoptad took in the whole world. First day's session was. reported in Variety last week. Then the 1 ^r-wlfr bined with the smaller number of.; proviae . j»i+-iv,„+a/l at nrnrtir^allv ■ theatres nave oeen equiyycvi ' " +v,«i.. fltternnt^i to W. E., as have one each in Blrm.ing- Canon claimed this to be their attempts to^ ' ■ - - - —: Vixst.- -xVri^-««H -i-ri- 1 n -■ vonrrf' n eXJllDltOrS ■ D Gaurriont is understood to have offered $12.50 per share for Stand- ard Film Company stock and $10 a ■share for other PCT stock needed to give Gaumont control. If the deal matures it may revive form an independent ham and,Glasgow. rbest' ehance in- lO- years'*; praised exhibitors' booking combine _ Ithe possibilities under President-1 Midlands Bra,iich of ExniDiiors Natives Walk on British elect ' Hoover, and head at the gate. got $3.50 per Singapore, Nov. 18. ExhibitorB here are asking First National to send them no more British-made pictures. Confetti," made by British First Natiorial, lost its eritlre native audl- Assoclation. tabled a resolution in- troduced Nov. 21 asking the Gen- eral Council to .start a . booking 1 combine idea again among mem- WARNERS' LONDON STRIFE I bers of association. Miislc Firm Starts Action—Come- dian Claims Infringement Portugal's 10 to 1 Quota Washington, Dec. 4. Latest reports from George Canty on the Portugal decree limiting the import of foreign-made films places • r-%.rr r» m. m.' | l-?UDUsmng uompany nas i.a«.en tiw- i the basis at 10 to one: for each 10 Loew s Off Presentations tlon against WB for MartlnelU's imported, one local, produced---must r^.»*»Anfr Psi1nr«> Pa-:- sinking of "Pagllacci" without-that be exported In Uaumont raiace, rans L.j.^,g j^jgg.^jj^ i Decree wi London, Dec. 4. i.^cii.tuiia.1, .^..pv .vw t I W.arners is experiencing difflcul- ence. It walked out before the first ^j^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ regard to rights on reel had been run off. ... — i certain musical numbers for Vita- phone subjects. Boosey Music Publishing Company has taken ac- firm's permission, Billy Merson, comedian, has also Paris, Dec. 4. [brought action to restrain Warniers Loew's has decided to discontinue from infringing his alleged copyr the presentation policy at its Gau- L-ipht on his old song, "The Spaniard mont-Palace here. Stoppage . will who Blighted My L^fe." ^occiaf^tiiig^MtHr'^'^^^^^"'^ Tommy Dowd of New. York was egpecially imported here to stage the presentations. He has been on this side for more than a year. "FOB" IN HOLLYWOOD Los Angeles, Dec. 4. Marshall Nellari's first Holly- [wood-riiade picture for British and Dominion Film Corp. will be "Fob," from play by John Wlllard "The Wolves," London stage sue M-G's French Director Paris, Dec. ^. ■ _ _ . . . Jacques Feyder, considered 9,mong ce.ss, wlU be the second produc the ablest of French directors, has tlon. left for Hollywood under contract Both will be made as all dialog to M-G-M j productions, with silent versions. Decree will also set up censorship involving three main points: ex- ternal and Internal politics and any- thing: Immoral. : Vanda mniLS Fe atures London, Dec. 4. Vivian Vandamm starts production in January on a series of program features. Trade name of Alvan has been forriiied by a;ddlng the first syl- lable of'Vandam's names with that of his partner, Fred Alfred, well known irinporter. Empire theatre has thus far not named-"a successor to fill the post of managing director vacated by Mm- damm. .