The Bioscope (Jul-Sep 1931)

18 THE BIOSCOPE September 30, 1931 In Hollywood Now Wall Street Gives Hollywood Time Industry Must Put Its House in Order By John Dee Despite the fact that last spring Wall Street threw Hollywood into a somersault by jamming on the financial brakes, not a penny less is to be spent on this winter’s programme than on last. The eleven largest studios here have 374 features and a handful of " action dramas ” (which includes Westerns) to complete on their schedules for 1931-32. I have authority for stating that the total sum allocated to these pictures exceeds £20,000,000, and equals, picture for picture, the amounts spent last winter. During the summer, when Hollywood production was suddenly and almost completely paralysed by the withdrawal of Wall Street’s support, frantic efforts were made to discover ways and means of lowering production costs. Salary cuts were made, but proved a drop in the ocean, and were not forced on those who resisted them. Experiments were made with quickies by Universal and rather hurriedly abandoned. Studio gates were concertedly closed to freelance players until salaries tumbled in proportion to the general starvation. Inactive contract players were unoptioned wholesale. Still negative costs hung around sixty, eighty and one hundred thousand pounds. Production Costs To Come Down About then the frantic producers turned on Wall Street. It was not possible suddenly to cut away the demanded 25 per cent, off an industry’s routine expenditure. Picture quality was suffering and production morale was shot to pieces. Hollywood pleaded for time, and Wall Street has granted it. It is understood in the film city that the concession has been granted on the understanding that, if this winter’s films cost as much as last winter’s, they will also rank 25 per cent, better at the box-office. Meanwhile the industry is expected to put its house in order and to be ready, when next year’s productions are scheduled, to make them for from fifty to seventy-five thousand pounds per, instead of the prevailing costs of sixty to one hundred thousand. Economy of £10,000 Per Head Moves already tending in that direction include a drastic revision of story costs, which are amongst Hollywood’s heaviest items. Plays and best-selling novels are no longer being bought to anything like the old extent. The Screen Writers’ Guild has alreadybeen informed in so many words that the Producers’ Association intends to make an end of long-term contracts for scenarists (with a few notable exceptions) and that in the near future film writers will be hired on a picture-to-picture basis with a limited time in which to deliver their work. Other incipient economies include the edging out of the older and more expensive executives and the higher salaried players w-hose boxoffice value is static or doubtful ; these people are being gradually replaced with a younger element, with a resulting annual economy averaging £10,000 per head. A most significant recent move on the part of the watching Wall Street is the appointment of Doctor Giannini to a Bank of America office in Eos Angeles. The " Doc.” was the first man to sw-ing New York finance in Hollywood’s favour, has been personally responsible for the advancing of over £200,000,000 to the motion picture industry, and is calculated to be the best possible person to watch production expenditure on the spot. Hollywood has not been spared the knife, but only given time in which to attempt the operation herself. Here and There A second series of “ Strange As It Seems ” is to be made in Multicolor. The thirteen one-reelers will be released by Universal. * * * Tom Mix’s come-back under the Universal banner will be made in Bret Harte’s “ Tennessee’s Partner.” * * * Attendance at a church here has been doubled by the inclusion of films in the Sunday services. * * * Follov-ing the success of " Pardon Us,” it has been decided to make one featurelength Laurel and Hardy comedy every year, both cashing in on and building up the popularity of the shorts. * * * " Ben Hur ” is to be reissued with sound and colour. * * * LTniversal is bringing Poe’s " Murders in the Rue Morgue ” up to date. * * * Victor McLaglen is doubling in " While Paris Sleeps ” and “ Disorderly Conduct.” They say7 that when he steps off one set on to the other he talks out of a different comer of his mouth. Saturation Not Reached Despite opposition by Hill Black, proprietor of the King’s Theatre and the Playhouse, Oswestry, the Oswestry magistrates on Friday approved the plans for a new cinema to seat 1,000 persons. On behalf of J. O. & R. M. Jones, of Cefn, the applicants, it was pointed out that no one could oppose the application on the ground that he feared possible competition. That was not a ground of opposition under the Cinema Act. The chairman of the magistrates said that saturation point had not been reached in Oswestry in view of the fact that charabancs were regularly taking people to other towns. They unanimously approved the plans. A Mistake and Sequel Pleading that a mistake had been made in exhibiting an “A” film to an audience which included children under 16 years, Regent Picture House (Liverpool), Ltd., at Liverpool on Friday, were fined £5 and the manager and licensee, John George Wilkinson, £2 for aiding and abetting. Police witnesses stated that the programme was billed as a " U ” programme, but it included " Kissing Cup’s Race,” which they knew to be an " A ” picture. One officer said he felt certain the directors of the cinema did not know. Wilkinson had been dismissed by his employers as the result of what occurred. He said that when he booked the film he was then under the impression that it was a “ U ” film. Gaumont Selling Halls Major French Group Feeling the Pinch {From Our French Correspondent, Georpes Clarriere .) Gaumont-Franco-Film-Aubert is selling a number of small halls, not only about Paris but in the provinces. By reason of the exploitation pact between G.F.F.A. and Pathe-Natan, certain surprise is expressed. But the 100 franc shares of the Gaumont concern, which is at present having a verytough financial struggle, are down to 42 francs and ready money is needed to carry on over the crisis. Exploitation at the huge Gaumont Palace fluctuates. The programme is generally excellent, especially the stage spectacles, but there is a great difficulty in big French attractions, as these are generally shown for the first time at one or other of the Boulevard halls. Universal French Production It is announced in the French Press, but without confirmation, that Universal has taken up the entire responsibility for the production of the French-speaking films made in collaboration with the ConsortiumInternational Cinematographique. The first of these films, now under active production in the Eclair studios at Epinay, is provisionally entitled “ Father’s Boy,” and is based upon a scenario by Yves Mirande. Mirande succeeds Alfred Savoir in the direction of the Paramount scenario department— that is, if rumours are true. News of Universal’s French production is conflicting, because it was understood that, as in Germany, it would be done in collaboration with Tobis. The Bells ' ’ — Haik Production Simplicity and naturalness, together with remarkable technical qualities, mark “ Le Juif Polonais,” the latest Jacques Haik production, of which Harry Baur is the star, and which Jean Kemm directed. The Storys is that made famous by Sir Henry Irving as " The Bells.” Although essentially a “ one man ” picture, the action is swift, and Harry Baur, by very subtle interpretation of the character of Mathis, keeps the spectator in a state of suspense. The dialogue is reduced to a minimum, and the film, although in French, could easily be understood by a British audience. “ Le Juif Polonais ” is now drawing crowded audiences at Olympia, where it is having its prerelease run. Speaking with Jacques Haik, after the trade show, I was told that after vast preparations, the film was made in record time, but that the delicate cutting and editing, together with sound and music technique, occupied more time than the actual production. Before the film was completed, it had been sold for most European territories, and will be shown in Canada next month. Benwood Concern Registered Details are given of the formation of the Societe Anonyme Benwood, which is exploiting, in France, the Royal Amplitone Reproducer. This is a limited company, of which the chief directors are Benjamin Wood, of New York, and Cyrus W. Miller. The Benwood concern is exclusive concessionnaire in France of the apparatus manufactured by the Pulverman Corporation, New York, and of the Victor Animatograph Company, of Iowa, U.S.A. Offices and workshops for the assembling of apparatus have been established in Paris.