Variety (Dec 1929)

Wednesday, December 18, 1929 FOREIGN FILM NEWS VARIETY Nathanson Names 2 Canadian Sites; Pi"f ?T!f'*''f ^ _ . f .. „ , I Holiday Bilk for IstTim« Start of Circuit Above Border First two housed In a chain by which N. I* Nathanson, former head of the Famous Players-Canadian Gorp hopes to stage a comeback In the Dominion will be B.OOO-seat de luxers In Toronto and Montreal. Sites have been obtained and buUd- In? will get under way ais soon as possible, it Is stated. ■ [ .■ ^ House In Montreal will be located on St. Catherine street, while the de Itixer In Toronto will be built on a plot of ground obtained at the comer of Tonge and PIncus streets. Slt^s and houses Will represent an jriVfestment of at least ^5,000,000, ac- cdVaing to Mr. Nathanson, and pos- Blbiy more with tentative plans In mind to nifeke the Montreal house part of an office building, height of which has not yet been deterinlned. Nathanson Is negotiating for sitiea In other Canadian cities, but pend- ing neater closing: on any deals, de- clines to divulge location. liohg a theatre operator and Bhowmah, Nathanson Is widely known In the. Dominion, has many Valuable contacts an.d' In his own . right Is reputed. tO ' be one of the Vealthlest men above the U. S. bor- der. Beyond admitting that he Is de- veloping a plan to re-enter the the- atre operating field in" Canada, the former Famous-Canadian chief Is mum on the moves he is making, declining to dlsOuss among other things theVreport that the hand of William Fox is seen in present ac- tivities or that Sir- Robert Holt,' forfner director in Famoiis-Gana-, diah, also has-a part. Nathanson left New Tork Satur- dya night for Canada. He Is due to return to Broadway today Wednes-- day). - Ancient History Nathanson resigned from Famous Pjlayerp-Canadian, which hie ha;d H^^ded for years, when Adolph Zu-' kor Intervened In a proposed sale o^^^. P>Can. stock at $75 a share tg.jIPrltlsh Gaumont of iJngland. Zu- kor retained control of P. P.'s voting trust, though Zukor's company. Par- amount, had disposed of any Inter- eat it held In F-P o£ Canada for $6,- 000,000 some time previously. Zukor, blocking the B-G- buy, re- vealed a belief that Fox held stock control of British Gaumont, with • Zukor's opinion the proposed pur- chase of the. Canadian chain by English interests was in reality an Inlet for Fox as the controller of leading Canadian theatres. This , latter reasoning developed into a fact with the recent Fox readjust- ment. Among the current Fox com- mitments is one of 17 millions of dollars in notes for British-Gaumont stock. Crushing the $75 a share Eng- lish proposal for F. P.-Can. brought about much commotion a m o n g the Canadian stockholders of the chain, F-P's stock dropped oir the Canadian exchanges and Nathanson resigned, and some of its Canadian directors of influence followed suit. Later, it' was said Nathanson Would orga-nlze a competitive Cana- dian circuit of his own, backed by Pox and others. REPORT SCHENCK AHER SHUBERT LONDON GROUP London, Pec. 17. Joseph Schenck, aboard the "Bremen," London-Abound, is report- ed. Tiegotiatlng for the Shubert In- terest In five London theatres—His Majesty's, Apollo, Shaftsbury, Gaie- ty and Adelphl. Schenck's purpose is understood to be to obtain a London show win- dow for United ; Artists' . talker product Further understanding, is that Gaunt, Shubert associate in the string, is favorable to such a trans- fer. ■■ ' Although there is no idea that Schenck would turn all of the five houses into talking picture estab- lishments, most of the theatres are splendidly located for any theatre purpose and would be niarketable propositions on ; lease arrangement. The active interest of the Shu- London, Dec. 17. For the first time pictures will dominate, holiday attractions In the West End. Film openings scheduled comprise a record list as to num- bers. "Welcome Danger" comes into the Carlton, "Splinters" la due at the Capitol, "Co-Optimists" and "The Hate Ship" will be at the new Met- ropole for the opening of this house. "Greenwood Tree" is listed for the I Stbll, "Atlantic" bows In at the Al- hambra and the Pavilion will screen "Cohdeinned." ALL-AUSTRALIA Interchange 0. K.'d in Europe, To Enlarge American Markets "LUMMOr DUBBED BY U. A. FOR PUBUXl Copenhagen, Dec. 17. Paramount, Metro-Goldwyn, First National and Warner Bros, have given their official approval to In- terchangeability of product for aU Sctindinavlan territory. Native ex- hlbltprsi are buying the low-i)riced Danish equipment of Petersen arid First actual showing of any Ger- man-dubbed talker will be "Lum- mox," U. A., all-talking feature, _ , ^ ^ . ...^ adapted from the Fannie Hurst Paulsen, two Danish inventors.^who story arid scheduled to open this ^^nd operate week in Prague, Gzecho-Slovakla. i Spundfilm Corp, The picture is the first "dubbed" ,. x.. ^ ^ . into German or any other language change moyo and the spread of by United Artists. It Is to be sold ] equipment will greatly increase the In CzeCho-Slovakia, Swltzeriand, tlie Northern it Is conceded that the inter- 0. T.- Schenck investment. Sydney,. Dec. 17. After years of fighting for con- trol of the amusement fi^ld in Aus- . . . , _ ^ ^ , . . , tralia. Union Theatres ancl Hoyt's berts in London enterprises began to ^avft reached a working agreement cool three years ago with the failure covering a term of years. Arrange- here of "The Student Prince" at His nient does not Involve actual amal- Majesty's. Nobody ventures a guess gamatlon, but Is so framed that ab- as to what Schenck would do with gence of competitive building pro- five London houses, since U. A. nor- grams will stop, mally has only about eight releases Scheme likewise permits great for this market a year. Suggestion 1 economies in the operation of the is advanced, that the idea may b© a | two chains which number 180 the- atres between them. The importa,nt angle Is that it gives the allied concerns complete control of the screen situation In the Island Continent, and ^ a book- ing pool Is probably in the making which -win represent further sav- ings. ^ Paris, Diec. 17. I The two circuits have Joint work- Louise Brocjks' talker, "The Ing capital of $20,000,000. They Beauty Contest" for the French waged a fight for mastery of Aus- Sofar Co., made at Its Jolnvllle tralia for years, each trying to go studios, was duped by a French- the other one better in the scale speaking femme. Miss Brooks' of Its theatre building program. French being limited and dlalected. Magnificent atmospheric theatres in she merely meriiorlzed the French the, American style have been built phrases, moved her lips accordingly in many cities, and the ghost-voice recorded. The talker boom proved a tremen Miss Brooks, _just arrived in dous help to the circuits. But now America, returns here in-the spring with Industrial troubles and busl- Lab Girl Burned 17. Sydney, Dec, Edna Langford, employed as „ film examiner, was burned to death In a fire which destroyed a projec- tion booth in the Filmcraft Labora tories, here. . . ■She couldn't escape from the booth when film being run caught fire. South Africa Weighs Central Censor Idea ^ Capetown, Dec. 17. A. bill has been drafted and is being considered by the South Afrl can government designed to make ovor the screen censor policy of the land. Measure calls for a single censor board with authority over all South Ain(;a iri relation to pictures^ books, Iilaya- and all kinas~"'of entertain- ments. This would replace the var- ious boards now functioning in each province. ANTIPODES SWiXTERS Sydney, Dec. 17. _ An unprecedented wave of heat has brought temporary trade dis aster to the theatres in Australia. LOUISE BROOKS' DOUBLE French Girl Did Dialog for Ameri- can Girl in "Beauty Contest" for French and German talkers. Gance's 3-Way TaHter ness depression up, the two circuits feel that It would be madness to continue their expensive business rivalry. Willlamson-Talt heavily Interest ed in Hoyt's, naturally drawn into the situation, while the Pullers re- main friendly to both sides Union Theatres declares It Is Paris, Dec. 17. Abel Gance's "La Fin du Monde," his first talker, will be in three Ian- I ready to send Millard Johnson to guages, French, German and Eng- England to buy recording apparatus llsh. Camille Flammarlon supplied and puts out the statement It will the story. • embark on a producing progi*am in Walter Ruttmann, Tobls-Klang- talking pictures of native players film director, will do the German and atmosphere which, so the an version. | nouncement Intimates, It will offer in the international markets, ^**^'raies Sans Meaning | AUSTRAUAN WSTRIK' TALKER REE BUST Vienna, Dec. 17, Roumanla's only talking picture theatre, Trinbn, In Bucharest, Is running . "The Singing Fool," using English titles and English dialog, and is drawing enormous crowds. So great was the box office rush Sydiney, Dec. IT. M. P. Distributors' Association started out with a grand Idea here. Scheme was to appoint a commit that the film has gone on a sched-jtee to inspect all sound equipment ule of 9 in the morning until mid- and pass on individual Installations night. " \ ^'^ they approved, o. k. If not. The public doesn't understand a plan was to have the equipment re- word of English for the most part, jected. but they break into tears at the it worked as far as the committee Jolson songs and the sentimental Uvas concerned, but the minute they scenes. condemned .an Installation the wire Attraction has become a craze as, manufacturers of the system refused a tearfest. Even the royal family take it seriously, has visited the house and has fallen Result a bust hard for the talker vogue. So much I so that the Palais de Culture (Mu- ' seum of Arts), at Temesvar, has been wired , and turned into a film house. Austria and parts of-France, Italy and other countries where Western electric is not kept out, as it is In Geririany, by patent Injunction suits. Results from "Lummox" will de- market for Amerlca;n product Sweden Is especially active in buy-. ing equipment. Experience with sound so far In Copenhagen Indicates a preference Ifor English product or British cide u!'A"Tt"ls saldron Whether] epeech in talkers, at least. Fans other all talkers will be dubbed Into here reacted more favorably to Brit- - 'Ish International's "Under the Greenwood Tree' from Thomas German and also into Spanish. In- side sources claini it is more than likely that pictures suiting the for eign countries wanted will be dubbed into actual German' and Hardy's novel, than to "Broadway,^' American. . Marguerite Allen and John Batten, Spanish equivalents of the English leads of the English subject were dialog. U. A. feeling the dubbing favorably ^recehred, while 'Broad- process satisfactory and the only way," at the Palace, was greeted, solution 6f the foreign language with demonstrations. T^^^ problem now apparent. "Broadway," "Stop this frlghtftil If doing Spanish dubbing of its music; I can't stand listening to it talkers, U. A. will use the Castillan was received with unseemly laugh- Spanish; claiming this Spanish Is t®"^' Editing and reproductlon^^of understood In most all of the for- the film were both bad for this showing. Copenhagen fans liked the chorus girl and night life of "Broadway's" New Tork sequences, but couldn't follow the story, probably du6 to the mistreatment of story for the Scan- dinavian print. eign countries where! Spjinish or a| hybrid Spanish is spoken. "Bulldog Drummond" is a likeli- hood as the second U. A. to be | dubbed. U. A. is crediting the for- eign voices speaking for the Holly- wood actors seen in the picture, thus pjoving to the foreign public reached 1 that there is no intent to fool the patrons. DAWES' MOVIE PARTY Pictures Instead of Speeches at Press Luncheon of U. S. Envoy Paris, Dec. 10.' Interchangeabllity will undergo a test here shortly when Fox "Movie- tone Follies" gives way at the Mou- lin Rouge to a French talking pic- ture ca;iled "La Nult est a nous" ("'the Evening Is Ours"), produced by Devanloo In Germany, using th© Tobis Klangfilm apparatus. Pierre;. Foucret, Impresario of the. Moulin, was finally compelled to give Way to hostile demonstrations, against the American "Follies," which he Is withdrawing and re- placing with native product as a diplomatic gesture. Moulin Rouge is wired with Western Electric and Gaumont'f French devices. - , /» • IV I I * nous" was pro- Alictnan r.Anfin0P1lt DfilaV hi^ced in French and German yer- AUbiridU UlUllUgCUl I'CWy Igj^^g and its advance reports are favorable. It was viewed by, IPftta- Washlngton, Dec. 17. I niount people and was regarded for Austria Is holding up the contem- the Paris Paramount It would ]bave plated change In Its contingent of gone In there if Foucret had not 20 to 1 until March 31, cables George | entered the bidding. Canty, trade commissioner, to the Department of Commerce. Delay Is credited to advent of sound pictures with Austrian goV' ernment giving the delay to see what efCect the sound pictures have on present conditions. London, Dec. 17. Gert. Dawes, Ambassador from the U. S. to Great Britain, gave an in- formal reception Dec. 14 to the American newspaper correspondents In London. There were moving pictures in- stead of speeches and non-alcoholic beverages were served. Arthur-LoHier-ituckley Given Gaumont Chain Task Native Opening Par Exch. Los Angeles, Dec. 17. Harry Arthur, W. H, Lolller and. -w^*-! . eim « • I Charles Buckley, hurrying acrosa For films in Shanghai the country, bound for England, will stop tomorrow (Wednesda,y) in Kansas City to receive Instructions Hollywood, Dec. 17, ICingston Taft Tan, recent grad- uate of the Publlx Theatres' Man ager School, Is now In Hollywood conferring with Paramourit studio executives before sailing for Shang hal where he will open the firpt Paramount exchange in China. Heretofore all distribution of Paramount pictures for China was handled from Japan. Tan Is a native Chinese. He came to this country two years ago to. study banking, but switched to show business.. Run Records at Prague Prague, Dec. 17. "white Shadows In the South, Seas" (M-G) has hung up Szecho- Slovakla's long-run film record by going into a 12th week at the Cap Itol, 'Four Devils" (Fox) Isn't far be. hind, in its ninth week at the Lu^ gaged by Audible Pictures, iridic to I cerna. , . .^.^ have the name lead in "Lotus Both pictures are playing with Lady J*—-—--——-—- .=..^=^.Uound. Fern Andra's Indie Hollywood, DeCi 17. Fern Andra, Ufa star, back in Hollywood a month, has been en- Phil Rosen directing. , 42-Year Cinema Lease Z'TEESPASSEE," SYDNEY ^onaon, Dec. ,17. Sydney, Dec. 17. The new Adelphi cinema at •The Trespasser," Gloria Swan- Slough, seating 2,000, Is announced son talker, started off with a bang for opening Feb, 1, at a midnight gala premiere In the It has been taken by Carrera.'s St James theatre, Sydney. circuit under leaise for a term of It replaces "Show Boat." J*2 years. Metro's 1st French Hollywood, Dec. 17. "The Bishop Murder Caise," re cently completed by M-G In Eng llsh, win be that studio's first French talker. Jacques Feyder, translating the dialog, will direct and ;will use a complete new caist for the foreign version. from Harold B. Franklin on the re- organlziing. and stabilizing of the 409 British (Gaumont) theatres owned by Fox. Trio of theatre specialists, all members of Franklin's Coast or- ganization, sail from New York thia Saturday, to be gone seven weeks. Arthur will concentrate on Ariierl- canlzlng these foreign theatres aato interiors, lobbies and the organiza- tion of a permanent operating per- sonnel. Lolller will look Into the financial status of the houses, which cost Fox ,$17,400,000, while Buckley, an attorney, goes along to have everything according to the whereases. Rommel Composing Hollywood, Dec. 17, Max Rommel, general musical di- rector of Unlversal'a theatres In Germany, Is at Its studio In Univer- sal City as a composer. .^OADj-SROmRG^ANlSK.^ Hollywood, Dec. 17. First roadshowing of a Spani.sh talker in this country will be with "Havana Nights." Carol Sax and William Alexander will tour with the picture through the Spanish I way to New York aboard the "Mau- speaklng colonies of California, retanla." Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. It's the last leg of their Journey If it clicks, ithey will continue over since, cojnplcting location footage the border. * on "Trader Horn." ON PINAL LEG London, Dec. 17. Jesse Ma:tthews, Bertie Meyer and Van Dyke of M-G-M ,aro on their