Canadian Moving Picture Digest (May 1924-Apr 1925)

XPECTATION and caution are, 4 { think, the keynotes of the pres ent situation of the film industry in Europe; expectation of new factors which will define the organization of those engaged in it, caution regard ing the advisability cf settling new transactions before those new factors a will have declared themselves. The effect of this expecting and cautious state of mind can be seen in the small number of dealings actually put through, and in the numerous schemes that are only to come ¥ Seis : to fruition during the new season. In England—where the position of the film industry is representative of _ that enjoyed in Continental countries —production would almost be at a standstill if it were not for the activity of the Stoll Film Co. Ltd., __ which has a dozen producers at work. _ With exception of two or three firms producing spasmodically, every independent unit have stopped working, the greater number, I am afraid, permanently, but those that matter, such as Welsh Pearson & Co. Ltd., Gaumont Co. Ltd., Graham Wilcox Productions Ltd. etc., only until they see how conditions take shape and they receive from the exploitation of their last pictures the financial returns ex _ pected. With the decrease in the home production, and the demand of exhibitors for films remaining the same, if not becoming greater on account of the new theatres being built, the interest now centers around the fight that is being prepared to retain or to win the British market—as a prelude to the other markets of the world—between the American and the Continental producing houses On a superficial observation, the American companies seem unassailable from their well entrenched posi Page Seven P esent State Film Industry ay ee On The European Continent By ALFRED ROSE (Special European Representative of Digest) tion. Not only have the most important among them — United Artists Film Corp. Inc., Famous PlayersLasky Corp., Goldwyn Merto Meyer Corp., Vitagraph Inc., Universal Film Manufacuring Corp., Associated First National Pictures Inc., Fox Film Corp. — distributing organizations of their own, well supplied, well managed and well introduced among the exhibitors; but most of those remaining have also by now exchanges for selling their products to the independent renters. For instance, the R. C. Pictures Corporation looks after the interests of the Film Booking Offices Corp., Principal Pictures Inc., Educational Film Corp. of America Inc., Screen Art Ltd. handles the productions of the Arrow Film Corp., W. Steiner Productions Inc., etc. ; Christie Film Sales Ltd. some of. the Christie Film Co. Inc.; Kinsman & Ledger Ltd. sell the J. W. Winkler Productions; Claude D. Soman those of the Eskay-Harris Film Inc., ete. The American producers further own or control important “key” theatres, such as the Rialto, the Tivoli, the Capitol, the Piazza, etc—a certain number of which they have themselves built or are building — with which they ensure a good send-off to their pictures. They have gone so far as to engage the services of the directors and stars—such as Ernst Lubitsh, Dmitri Buckowetski, Victor Sjostrom, Leonce Perret, Maurice Elvey, Harold Shaw, etc., Clive Brook Evelyn Brent, Henri de la Roche, Emil Jannings, etc.—they believed to be the most dangerous assets of their European competitors, and even to start to produce more or less European pictures in their competitors’ own countries. i.e. Famous-Lasky Players Film Corp. etc. (To be continued) ‘The Better ’Ole’’ Has Rival in “Old Bill Through the Ages”’ Packs Them in at Tivoli Performance. Applause and Laughs Greet Ideal English Production. UT to seven reels “Old Bill Through The Ages” is a worthy “successor and rival of “The Better Ole.” * When an audience gets the applauding fever in a moving pic ture it is pretty positive proof that‘the picture is registering. “Old Bill,’ starts in “The Better ’Ole” ives us a glimpse of “Bill ’isself” weeps through English History, a or of Normandy, through the King John era, the Elizabethan period, Charles~1., Cromwell, The Restoration, The Mayflower and America. It is History as “Old Bill” sees it in his dream, influenced by “canned lobster.” It is in every way a more ambitious and finished production than “The Better ’Ole” and is the third picture to approach it for real English satire and humour, the other ith William, The Gere being “Alf’s Button.” Stop the Press News J. J. Conklin states that “Captain Blood” did capacity at the Capitol, Winnipeg, the week of Oct. 20th. Wonder when we are going to see this much talked of picture in Toronto? Someone said something about it playing “The Regent,” after “Monsieur Beaucaire.” F. B. O., are reported to have a wonder picture in “Life’s Greatest Game” by Emory Johnson. This company has certainly been turning out some “big ones.” William Goldman, of St. Louis has purchased the interest held by Harry Koplar in the St. Louis Amusement Company, Variety re ports. Goldman at present owns the King, Rivoli and Queen Theatres. His latest acquisition means a string of fourteen. Babe London, famous and funny fat girl, has been signed by Lloyd Hamilton for a part in his next tworeel comedy. Babe worked before with Hamilton in “Jonah Jones.” “The “Thief of Bagdad” is playing to full houses, Princess Theatre, Toronto, $1.50 top. Meeting of M. P. T. O., Tuesday, November 11th, 2.00 p.m., Room G, King Edward, nomination and election of officers, W. H. Mitchell, Branch Manager in Vancouver W. H. Mitchell has been appointed branch manager in Vancouver by First National Pictures, in place of S. J. Coffland, who resigned. Mr. Mitchell was manager of the Vancouver branch for First National in 1916 and has since been manager in Calgary and Winnipeg. At the time of his reassignment to Vancouver, he was assistant to Louis Bache, the company’s district manager for Canada, and hence has wide and successful experience in selling the firm’s productions and managing its branch affairs. A. Fielding, Managing Two Theatres Now A. Fielding of The Strand Theatre, Truro, has moved to St. John where he is managing the Unique Theatre for Mr. F. G. Spencer. Mr. Fielding also looks after the Strand dividing his. time between the two places. The Unique is being redecorate’ and is maintaining its popuarity,