The Bioscope (Jul-Sep 1931)

August 19, 1931 THE BIOSCOPE 19 TALK OF THE TRADE Will R.K.O. Start -50/50 Scramble ?— Paying Tribute— Jingoism in Warwickshire— And Then About Gangsters— H.R.H. and Guests— What Wodehouse Started Faraday House, August 19, 1931 Friday Night Is “ R.K.O.” Night Quite the most interesting West End event for the week will be the reopening of the R.K.O. Leicester Square Theatre, following recent architectural improvements designed by Alistair MacDonald, son of the Prime Minister, and redecorations suggested by Edward Carrick. Interesting to the trade, however, more because of its new policy of running a 50/50 screen and stage show. Public reactions to this change will be watched with lynx-like eyes by all other West End showmen, and perhaps not a few who operate in Greater London and the provinces. Gracie Fields’ first British picture " Sally in our Alley ” has been chosen as the opening film, and Basil Dean and Jack Hulbert are responsible for the stage production, which, I understand, will include a good slice of sensational novelty — contrived no doubt to give full vent to the possibilities of the new revolving stage. Quite clearly this Friday night sees Amami dethroned ; it becomes R.K.O. night instead. E.R.P.I. A Victim ! It is a little surprising to see that no less a concern than Electrical Research Products Inc. seems to have been a victim of the Projectionists’ Union in Chicago, about which there has been so much scandal during the past few weeks. It is said that the President of the Operators’ Union had been on E.R.P.I.’s pay-roll for several years at a substantial figure and that the treasurer of the union, who received no salary from the organisation, was also paid a certain fee for every installation of Western Electric equipment in the Chicago theatres. That E.R.P.I. should have been another unwilling victim of the bludgeon tactics of the Chicago trade union only goes to show how powerful that union must have become in recent years, and how necessary it is for some drastic cleansing to be carried out. What IS"* The Idea ? The C.E.A. has come to grips with the County Buildings Committee of the Warwickshire County Council, asking that a clause in the conditions of licences which gives power to officers of the Council to cut samples of films found upon the licensees’ premises be rescinded, since arrangements under which exhibitors contract with the renters owning such films provides that they may not mutilate them in any way. I understand that the local authority does not, however, propose to accede to the C.E.A. request^ which means, apparently, that the Council officers will still be able to remove films wholly or in part found upon the licensees’ premises. What sane object can such a clause possibly serve ? It would be absurd to suggest that the local authorities are given to collecting film clippings as many little boys collect stamps and cigarette pictures, but I frankly confess that, apart from the fact that it imposes an irksome and irritating condition, this particular clause seems to lack any of the merits which usually make an appeal to those of officious mind. Refined Gangsters In “ The Ruling Voice” Will Hays frowned upon gangsters, you will remember. But that was before they became " refaned.” He didn’t like screen characters with a wandering hand and a big hip pocket, though his dislike has not made a very marked difference to the gangster pictures which have continued to come out of the Hollywood fold. However, D. E. Griffiths, F.N.P. chief, points out that the film producer simply must look ahead. " The Ruling Voice,” he adds, will provide a demonstration of what he means. Up to now the gangster has been regarded as a “ low-brow,” but in “ The Ruling Voice ” he becomes the suave, seemingly circumspect business man. Shades of the City ! The prospects amuse me : they doubtless will give us all an appetite for the F.N.P. showing of “ The Ruling Voice ” at the Prince Edward Theatre on September 1st. Also I recollect that is my wedding anniversary, and "The Ruling Voice ” seems so uncannily appropriate . . . ! Meeting H.R.H. It is given to few people whilst sitting quietly at dinner in a small public restaurant to witness the meeting of a King and a Prince. Yet it happened a few nights ago and in this way. Jack Hanbury, general manager of the New Victoria, H. Mason, the theatre’s stage producer, and De Groot — surely the King of popular violinists — had arranged a quiet family party at a small West End restaurant. While dinner was being served the Prince of Wales with a small party of friends arrived and, immediately recognising de Groot, who had many times played for the Prince during his South African trip, requested the proprietor to ask the well-known violinist for a few of the old tunes. Later, de Groot entertained the Royal party for some time, being The Prince’s Guests Left to right : H. Mason (stage producer),' De Groot (the violinist) and Jack Hanbury (general manager of the Victoria Theatre), who last week became the guests of the Prince of Wales finally invited by the Prince to join him in his private room. Here Mr. and Mrs. Hanbury— who is herself a well-known musician — Mr. Mason and others of the cinema party were received by the Prince, whose guests they thus so suddenly and unexpectedly became. French Become Lyrical I never remember such a spontaneous outburst of praise from the French Press — which is not given to over-praising anything that is not 100 per cent, native — as that which has followed the public screening at the Elysee Gaumont Theatre, Paris, of the Eric Hakim production “ The Outsider.” Harry Lachman, who directed the picture, as well as the principal artists must be feeling very friendly towards France at the moment. In my Press cuttings I received a whole wad of quotations such as " Harry Lachman, the young American who produced and directed this movie, has scored a personal triumph.” ... " ‘ The Outsider ’ furnishes food for the thinker in sharp contrast to the average film.” ... “ The film is filled with beauty and noble thoughts.” ..." When a man has taste and at the same time has the will to compose a production of quality the result can be a picture like ' The Outsider.’ ” But the Paris New York Herald amuses me most of all. It says : " ' The Outsider ’ . . . though produced in England surpasses most efforts of that country’s movie industry in competing favourably with the best of American talkies.” That, surely, must be the very limit in FrancoAmerican praise, though I imagine, when all is said and done, the sponsors of the film will draw their greatest pleasure from the surprising results which this film has achieved at the box office. Wodehouse has Stirred Something I recently referred to P. G. Wodehouse’s revelations regarding his unhappy experiences as a screen writer in Hollywood. His disclosures have resulted in an outburst which has crystallised into a policy among the Hollywood studios to abolish writer contracts. In future, it is stated, writers will be put on a week-to-week working basis, with thirty days’ notice to be given on either side in the event of breaking relations. The first announcement of this policy had a depressing effect on the writing colony, but after thinking the proposition over they have come to the conclusion that the new situation will offer them a magnificent harvest. In the opinion of most writers they will fare better without contracts than they do now, and when the studios get back to a capacity basis there will be the finest scramble for good writers that Hollywood has yet known. Telegrams from the Air On the BerlinVienna airways, arrangements have been made whereby passengers can send telegrams from the ’plane while in flight to various places in Germany, Austria and Czecho-Slovakia. The telegrams must not be in code and are limited to a maximum of fifteen words. Aerial travellers, who can already telephone to ships in mid-ocean, will soon have greater luxury facilities than the cinema patron. Something wrong somewhere. OBSERVER