The Bioscope (Jul-Sep 1931)

22 THE BIOSCOPE September 9, 1931 New Exhibition Contract Framed Will Rentals Be Forced Down To 25 Per Cent ? (By The Bioscope New York Correspondent.) The standard exhibition contract drawn up in 1 930 by Allied States Association and the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America, in conjunction with distributor members of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, has now been approved in principle by the distributor group after lying dormant for many months. The agreement was drawn up by the 5-5-5 committee in Atlantic City thirteen months ago. The contract will be made available for exhibitors who want it in future film buys, but the use of it, as against individual forms employed by exhibitors, is optional with the exhibitor. It now appears that widespread use of the contract will become a fact when selling for the 1932-33 season gets under way in April of next year. The general impression prevails at the moment that the present selling season is rather too far gone for any extended use for the new contract, the first real opportunity to test its efficacy in a national way being expected next year. The approval of the agreement climaxed a series of discussions and meetings which extended over the summer. Sidney R. Kent, chairman of the distributors’ group of the 5-5-5 committee, presided over the approving meeting in New York. No further meetings are Preliminary announcements are made of the opening of the newly-constructed Alhambra, near the Place de la Republic, for September 28th. This house is a British enterprise, being in the Gaumont-British Picture Corporation group of halls. The programme will be half music-hall and half cinema ; the first part of the programme consisting of newsreel and stage turns, and the second half a feature film. Dance ballets will be staged on a lavish scale, and music will play a very important part in the programmes. The Alhambra will be run as an entirely independent hall, specialising for the inhabitants of the large district in the centre of which it stands. Gaumont equipment and British Acoustic reproducers have been installed. The installation and decorations of the hall are extremely modern, and there are immense promenades and foyers. The Alhambra will hold about three thousand. German Films Made in France Out of 176 German-speaking films presented in Germany during the 1930-31 season, 124 were made in Germany, 19 in France, 16 in the United States, 7 in Great Britain, 5 in Czechoslovakia, 3 in Austria and 2 in Italy. Franco-German collaboration is on the increase. Amongst the French concerns which have participated in FrancoGerman collaboration are Pathe-Natan, Gaumont-Aubert, Vandal and Delac, and Jean de Merly. Clair’s New Artistes " Liberty for Us ! ” is the final title of expected to be necessary, except in the event that they are desired by either of the national exhibitor bodies. If it becomes necessary, however, the distributors’ representatives will meet again, in what they hope will be a final discussion of the matter. Supporting Exhibitors’ Protest Both the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America and Allied States Association supported the National Protest meeting, held at the Hotel Astor, New York, on September 1st. The proposed conference — as stated already in The Bioscope — was sponsored by the exhibitor unit of Eastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey and Delaware, as a protest against the sales policies of MetroGoldwyn-Mayer. The protest was concerned chiefly with M.-G.-M.’s demands for percentages of 25, 30 and 35 per cent. Exhibitors argued that if the company was successful in enforcing its demands this year, other companies would be likely to follow with similar tactics later. Exhibitors insist that 25 per cent, plus nominal score charge is the maximum they are able to pay as independents. It is significant that they concede the superior quality of the M.-G.-M. product, but they assert present conditions do not justify increased rentals. Rene Clair’s new production, now in full swing at the Tobis Studios, Epinay. This film, though in French, is to be " universally understandable,” according to the Clair formula. He will use a few spoken titles and a minimum amount of dialogue. Artistes fresh to Clair’s direction have been chosen. They are Henri Marchand, Raymond Corby, Rolla France, Paul Olivier, Jacques Shelly and Andre Michaud. The film has an industrial setting, and a harmony of mechanics and melodies has been composed by Georges Auric. The adaptation of the music to the film is being done during production, the composer working in unison with the director and the sound recorders. Tremendous interest is being taken in the production, which will probably be tried-out at the Gaumont Palace. ‘ Partir,” Maurice Tourneur s Latest Pathe-Natan has given a " presentation de luxe,” at the Colonial Exhibition, of " Partir,” produced by Maurice Tourneur from a scenario based upon Roland Dorgeles’ novel. Most of the action takes place on a passenger boat, going from Marseilles across the Mediterranean to Port Said, Colombo, Saigon and Singapore. Opening slowly, the story takes a sudden turn, and holds the spectators in suspense until the end, which is tragic but perfectly logic. " Partir ” is one of the best films of the present French season, and is drawing crowded houses at a pre-release run at the Ermitage Cinema, Champs-Elysees. Mihaly in London With I 6 mm. Recording System Denes von Mihaly, inventor and chief of Mihaly Tonefilm Syndicate, now on a visit to London, brings with him many surprises which are going to interest the trade throughout. Among other things he has brought over his perfected system for photographing, recording and reproducing sound with the employment of 16 mm. stock. The equipment comprises a small camera capable of photographing the picture and sound simultaneously, and a sound head suitable for use in conjunction with a home projector, using the average wireless set as amplifier and loudspeaker. Immense scope is in store for this small outfit, and details regarding its exploitation will shortly be announced. Mihaly now announce their new AM Main set, which is offered at from £'& per week. An important change in the policy of the company is the inclusion in the price of wiring and installation costs. Thus the exhibitor has no extras to worry about. Soviet Russia After Cinemas ? Bid for Interest in Emelka (By Our Berlin Correspondent, Fritz Mann) I hear that the Emelka interests held by the French Kohan group have been offered to the Russian Soviet. They are said to be taking great interest in the theatres owned by the Emelka concern, the second cinema circuit in Germany after the Ufa. News-Reels Cinema in Berlin Following the examples of Paris, New York and London, Berlin is to have a News-Reel Cinema. The theatre will be opened tomorrow (Thursday) near the Zoo, and will play Fox News-Reel exclusively. Hegewald — Complete Breakdown After clearing initial difficulties, some compromise between Hegewald and its creditors seems possible. It is understood that the creditors have lost their money. The difficult situation confronting Terra has become so precarious that a legal settlement will be necessary. The insolvence of the Terra will also react on foreign firms working with it. Ufa's ' Monte Carlo Madness ” The new Ufa picture, " Bombs On Monte Carlo,” an English version of which has been also produced under the title of “ Monte Carlo Madness,” met with a sensational success at its Berlin premiere. The picture, a kind of romantic operette, is notably the success of Hans Albers, the prominent Berlin actor, who made a great impression on Charlie Chaplin during the latter’s recent stay in Berlin. It was said that Chaplin has secured him for a picture to be shot under Chaplin’s direction in Hollywood. Ufa 5 Per Cent. Dividend It is likely that the Ufa will pay a dividend of 5 per cent, for the current year. The board meeting will take place September 17th ; the general meeting at the beginning of October. Gaumont 50-50 Theatre Plans Reopening Paris Alhambra (From Our French Correspondent, Georges Clarriere)