The New York Clipper (May 1917)

32 NEWS THE NEW YORK CLIPPER May 16, 1917 REVIEWS STATE RIGHTS INJURED BY HIGH JUICES WARREN RAPS "BOOSTERS" STATE RIGHTS RE LEAS ES FORUM Super pictures, exploited with a barrel of money in New York runs, are nails in the coffin of state rights, according to Edward Warren, of the Edward Warren productions. Mr. Warren's remarks formed a warn- ing to state rights buyers against paying fabulous prices for big films. He men- tioned several instances of super features released recently that "stung" buyers across the country and put permanent scars upon the whole motion picture in- dustry. "State rights buyers should beware of the film that is staged for a long show- ing in New York and then offered with high-powered advertising and salesman, ship for quadruple the ordinary price to territorial distributors," he said. "A man recently paid over $75,000 for the New York rights to a picture introduced on those lines, and it seems very likely now that he will not get back the money he paid. The buyer of such a picture at such a price, is beguiled into the belief he can get his picture across by fixing big show prices for the box offices where it is shown. "This is a mistake. The buyer should be cautious about depending on SO cent or $1 admissions to pay him for an ex- travagant investment. "If producers persist in forcing super productions at super prices on the market, they are going to kill the state rights game. If buyers are not warned against the hazard this practice puts on them, very likely certain producers will con- tinue it, and a graveyard full of dead hopes and ruined fortunes will mark the finish of such operations." Mr. Warren declared, however, that very likely the buyers would "tumble" to the danger of big ventures, and that extrava- gant state rights prices probably would be chloroformed. He expressed the con- viction that the best feature pictures could be made within reasonable cost limits, and sold to buyers for reasonable prices, insuring generous profits to both producer and buyer. H. Z. Levine, sales manager for Mr. Warren, supplemented the tatter's asser- tions with the statement that the state rights game was still a vast, undeveloped field. "The surface of this business has hard- ly been scratched," he said. "There is room for countless new buyers in the game and there's big money for all, if they will buy conservatively." O'HARA FILM SHOWN The Arizone Film Corp., of the Tower building. Chicago, is enjoying big success with the initial run of "Should She Obey?" at the La Salle Theatre, Chi- cago. Barrett O'Hara, head of the film company, was formerly Lieutenant Gov- ernor of Illinois. He undertook film pro- duction to convey sociological messages to the country. The films are being released to state rights buyers. BUYS HANOVER FILM The Pioneer Feature Film Corp. has purchased, through Nathan Hirsch, its president, the Greater New York and New York State rights to "How Uncle Sam Prepares" from the Hanover Film Co. Mr. Hirsch intends to market many prints of the film on an elaborate scale. The film is notable in that none of its scenes are lifted from any other war film. UNIVERSAL BEATS BELL Filmdom received a considerable sur- prise Sunday night when "The Hand That Rocks the' Cradle," a frank discussion of birth control, picturized by the Universal Film Co., was permitted to appear at the Broadway Theatre. License Commissioner Bell issued a ban against the picture Sat- urday, but the Universal lawyers were able to procure a quick injunction against enactment of the order. Mr. Bell ia reported to have withdrawn bis objection after seeing the picture at its opening. The success of this film in "getting by" is in marked contrast to the complete suppression of "Birth Control," a film featuring Margaret Sanger, pro- duced by the B. S. Moss Co. The films are similar in tone. "The Hand that Rocks the Cradle" will be reviewed next week. "TRIP THRU CHINA" SHOWN Supreme Feature Films, Inc., brought a treat to New York last week in the guise of "A Trip Thru China," a ten-reel motion picture presenting everything of interest in the Flowery Kingdom. The picture was shown to an invited audience last Sunday. It will have a regular run, beginning next Sunday, at the Eltinge Theatre, under the anspices of the Committee of Chinamen. MR. AND MRS. LEWIS TAKE REST Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Lewis have gone to Atlantic City to rest after the strain of producing "The Bar Sinister," the nine- reel feature which recently made such a notable impression in its initial snowing. Mr. Lewis is seriously debating whether he will begin work this summer on the multiple reel picture "The Golden Woman." NEW THANHOUSER SPECIAL Edwin Thanbouser announces the com- pletion of a new seven-reel special produc- tion. The picture is entitled "The Heiress." It required three months to make it. The cast includes Florence La Badie, J. H. Gilmonr. Gertrude Dallas. Wayne Arey, Richard R. Neil, Arthur Bower and Claude Cooper. FILM SHOWS UP BROADWAY Advance notices describe "The Devil's Playground," which is to be released by Fraternity Films through Abrams & Werner, as a remarkable expose of the dangers of Broadway. It treats of the demoralization the dance halls work upon young people. MISS LESLIE HELPS UNCLE SAM The Thanhonser Co. believes its forthcom- ing picture, "An Amateur Orphan," featur- ing Gladys Leslie, is going to aid Uncle Sam's "back to the farm" movement. The film is taken on the prettiest farm dis- coverable in New York State, and is illum- inated by some of Miss Leslie's prettiest smiles. "BAR SINISTER" OPENS SOON "The Bar Sinister," the big Edgar Lewis production, win be screened at the Broad- way Theatre, beginning May 27, for an indefinite run. Frank G. Hall, who con- trols the world rights, is conducting a big distribution campaign for the picture. MISS WILCOX PLEASED Ella Wheeler Wilcox has issued n state- ment expressing her intense delight «-ver the arrangement by which Warner Broth- ers have undertaken to film all her poems. The producers declare these poems lend themselves to remarkable film dramas. IVAN FILM HAS RUN The Ivan Fflm Co. super production. "One Law for Both." began this wrek a" highly successful run at the Lyric The- atn» NEW BOOSTERS HELP SHOWMEN TRY_F1LMS CHANCE IN STATE RIGHTS With the assertion in various terms that the state rights market is not yet half explored, that its surface is hardly scratched and that the market is in a splendid condition, several more pro- ducers joined, during the last few days, the fraternity of boosters who invite showmen outside the game to investigate the territorial rights division of the in- dustry. M. H. Hoffman, president of M. H. Hoff- man, Inc., 729 Seventh avenue, which is releasing 'The Sin Woman" and "Who Knows?" brought to New York a glowing story of the opportunities apparent throughout the country in his recent trip to and from the coast. "The state rights field is a tremendous one," said Mr. Hoffman. "The condition of the market could hardly be better. There is plenty of room in it for all the live, well trained and enterprising show- men who care to enter." Mr. Hoffman is preparing an analytical report of the state rights field in all its phases as a result of the investigation he made during his trip. B. P. Flneman, sales manager of the Ivan Films Corp., of 126 West Forty- sixth street, releasing "One Law for Both," also offered strong indorsement df the idea that legitimate showmen could find bright opportunities in the state rights field. "Up to five or six years ago the legiti- mate showmen were looking down with contempt on the film industry," said Mr. Flneman. "Since then, innumerable men from the legitimate theatrical field have deserted the latter to embark in films and have made many times more money than they ever did before. "A showman is naturally fitted to handle the marketing of films, by reason of his knowledge of how to conduct an amusement enterprise. He would find himself altogether at home in purchasing the marketing rights for a picture in his territory. He would know, for instance, what kind of films would go well in his territory, because he knows what kind of legitimate shows are acceptable there. "The showman knows by experience whether a "heavy vamp' production is what his clientele want, or whether they want light, frivolous material. The thea- tre-going public in each territory will manifest the same taste in motion picture matters as it does in legitimate theatrical affairs." Harry A. Sherman, of Sherman-Elliott, in a prepared statement to the motion picture press, expressed very much the same opinion. "The state rights system is here to stay," said Mr. Sherman. "Open booking is the sign post pointing to the ultimate goal. If the open market system should become the universal method, all short subjects will be marketed independently. T think that the two or three-reel drama is a dead_ issue, for a long time to come." BUYS "SUBMARINE EYE" Herman J. Garfield has bought the r ight s to "The Submarine Eye" from the Williamson Brothers for the states pf Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. He intends to send five companies out with the film. GETS "THE CRISIS" FOR ILLINOIS Jones, Linick & Sehsefer have bought the Illinois rights to "The Crisis" from Sherman-Elliot. WIDE RANGE SEEN IN FEATURE FILMS FOR STATE RIGHTERS The names and addresses of feature film producers and titles of their current and pending releases that are especially suit- able for state rights exploitation, are: Corona Cinema Co., Los Angeles, Cal.— "The Curse of Eve." Arrow Film Corp., Times Building, New York (Sty—"The Deemster." De Luxe Spoilers Co., 729 Seventh Ave- nue, "The (De Luxe) Spoilers." Today Feature Film Corp, 1584 Broad- way, New York City—"Today." Sol L. Lesser, Longacre Building, New York City—"The Ne'er-Do-WeB." Benjamin Chapin Studios, Ridgefield Park, N. J.—"The Lincoln Cycle." Eugenic Film Co, 220 West Forty- second Street, New York City—"Birth." Williamson Bros., Longacre Building, New York. City—"The Submarine Eye." Frohman Amusement Corp, Times Building, New York City—"God's Man." E. I. S. Motion Picture Corp, 203 West Fortieth Street, New York City—"Trooper Gold Medal Pbotoplayers, 729 Seventh Avenue, New York City—"The Web of Life." Ones Film Co, 130 West Forty-fifth Street, New York City—"The Fated Hour." Flora Finch Comedy Films Corp, 729 Seventh Avenue, New York City—"War Prides." Balboa Amusement Producing Co, 1600 Broadway, New York City—"The Twisted Thread." Ultra Picture Corp, 729 Seventh Ave- nue, New York City—"The Woman Who Dared." Frank G. Hall Productions, Inc, Long- acre Building, New York City—"The Bar Sinister." Variety Films, 126 West Forty-sixth Street, New York City—"The Price of Her SouL" Ivan Film Productions, 130 West Forty- sixth Street, New York City—"One Law for Both." Intei-ocean Film Corp, 220 West Fortv- second Street, New York City—"The Manxman." Edward Warren Productions, 1482 Broadway, New York City—"The Warfare of the Flesh." Cinema War News Syndicate, Longacre Building, New York City—"American War News Serial." Sheriott Picture Corp, 218 West Fortv- second Street, New York City—"The Black Stork." Hanover Film Co, Columbia Theatre Building, New York City—"How Uncle Sam Prepares." Graphic Features, 220 West Forty-sec- ond Street, New York Citv—"The Woman and the Beast," Grand Feature Film Company, 220 West Forty-second Street, New York City— "Rex Beach Himself." Enlightenment Photoplays Corp, 220 West Forty-second Street, New York City —"Enlighten Thy Daughter." Universal Film Co, 1600 Broadway, New York City—"God's Law," and "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea." Max Cohen Co, 729 Seventh Avenue, New York City—"The Fury of Civiliza- tion," "America Is Ready." HiUer & WiUr, Inc,' Longacre Build- ing, New York City—"The Battle of Gettysburg," "The Wrath of the Gods." M. H. Hoffman Co, 729 Seventh Ave- nue, New York City—"The Sin Woman," "Who Knows?" and "The Seven Cardinal Virtues." A. Kay Co, 729 Seventh Avenue, New York City—"Terry Feature Burlesque," "Terry Human Interest Reel," "Golden Spoon Mary." Popular Pictures Corp, 218 West Forty- second Street, New York City—"A Woman Wills," "The Princess of India" "The Burglar and" the Lady," "The Little Or- phan" and "Ignorance."