We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.
Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.
42 CELLULOID
first novelty of the talking film has worn off, audiences have gradually decreased and still continue to decrease. With the shortage of story-material on the one side and the higher level of " sophistication " on the other, the output from America has necessarily decreased in quantity. Yet there are still the same number of cinemas, if not more, to supply with programmes. In the meantime, the cost of production has soared higher in the pursuit of spectacular appeal, while the opportunities for large profit have been restricted on account of the limitations of speech. The truth is that the production of every film to-day is a speculation; whereas in the silent days of universal appeal it was generally a certainty. Moreover, in this financial war of controlling interests, many of the old showmen who have been connected with the business for years are being shouldered out. I shall not be surprised if within a few years scarcely any of the old-time producers are left in the film trade.
Most American film companies are at the moment on an unstable footing. Yet in their accustomed way, big schedules are announced for 1931-32 productions. At the time of writing, vigorous economic reorganization is being recommended in Hollywood despite the fact that overhead expenses (by reason of precedent) and production costs cannot be lowered. It is ironical that in spite of the indifferent quality of the British output, our companies in England are more financially secure than those of America.