Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1921 - Mar 1922)

January 14, 1922 EXHIBITORS HERALD 63 Carl Laemmle Asks Theatre JVlen_ ^LTo Bid on MillioniDollar Picture New Distribution Plan for Booking " Foolish Wives" Inaugurated by Universal — Country Divided Into Eight Territories Two Episodes Ready In Serial by Warner 1,500 Animals in Big Jungle Picture Being Rushed at Coast Studios The first two episodes of Warner Brothers' serial production, "Shadows of the Jungle." being produced at the West Coast studios of the Warner organization under the direction of Sam and Jack Warner, have been completed and are ready for the state rights market. Use 1,500 Animals "Shadows of the Jungle," costarring Grace Darmond and Phil McCullough, is said to be one of the biggest serial productions ever attempted. The locale of the production is laid in the wilds of Africa. Over 1,500 animals belonging to Al G. Barnes, circus man, are being used in the serial, in addition to hundreds of extras and the trainers and assistants of the Barnes circus. The Warner studios have been converted into a veritable jungle and day and night shifts are being used as rapidly as the numerous sets are ready to be filmed. Keep Two Companies Busy Two complete companies are working under the direction of Frank Grandin and his assistant, L. W. Chaudet. The cast includes Jack Richardson, Derelys Perdue, Robert Agnew, Mabel Stark and Captain J. R. Riccarde. The continuity for the serial was written by Frances Guihan. Fred Stone in R-C Play To Be Published Jan. 29 R-C Pictures announces that it will publish "Billy Jim," a play featuring Fred Stone, on January 29. The film is a Western story written by Jackson Gregory, about events that befall a love-sick cowboy. Assisting Stone in the cast are Millicct Fisher. George Hernandex, William Bletcher, Marian Skinner and Frank Thorne. It is an Andrew J. Callaghan production directed bv Frank Borzage. Carl Laemmle, president of Universal Film Manufacturing Company, has aberrated from the usual plan of booking and has requested exhibitors of the country to bid on the company's "million dollar" production, "Foolish Wives." To expedite distribution of the picture and to place exhibitors playing the production in direct contact with the company's officials, a sales force operating directly from the home office at 1600 Broadway, New York, has been created. Eight Men Direct Sales Eight men have been assigned the work of selling "Foolish Wives," which was made by Erich von Stroheim, and each will be in charge of a territory or zone. They will work under the supervision of H. M. Berman, director of exchanges. In requesting theatre men to bid on this feature, President Laemmle, in a message to exhibitors, says that "Universal's million dollar picture is so totally beyond the class of any production ever before attempted that it must be handled in a revolutionary manner. Will Sell at Loss "Universal can never get its money back on this stupendous super-production," he continues. "It has already cost so much that by the time we have exploited it and have made the prints we will have to take in two and one-half million to break even. "I could take in more money than this by road-showing 'Foolish Wives.' But there are two powerful arguments against such a method. First, road-showing is a slow process. Second, I consider it unfair to you exhibitors. I want moving picture theatres to have first crack at the biggest achievement in the history of the industry. I say I want this. But I can't afford to sacrifice a million dollar picture to accomplish it. Urges Cooperation "Therefore, I can't go through with it unless you meet me more than half way. "Will you smash all precedent and tell me the very limit you can stand in order to have the honor of being the first to present the first million dollar production in your city? Will you demonstrate that my policy of giving moving picture theatres first chance is the right policy?" Universal is in receipt of communications from exhibitors expressing a desire to show "Foolish Wives" at "any cost." Famous Novel and Play To Be Adapted for Next Marion Davies Feature "When Knighthood Was in Flower" will be the name of the next picture starring Marion Davies for Cosmopolitan Productions. The screen version will be adapted from the historic novel and play of the same name. Work on the production will begin shortly at the Jackson avenue studios. Joseph Urban has completed sketches and "Mans for the sets which will duplicate the courts of England and France during the period with which the story deals. Robert G. Vignola will direct. "The Bride's Play," another Cosmopolitan creation being distributed by Paramount, will have its initial New York showing at the Rialto theatre on January 8. In this picture Miss Davies is supported by Wyndham Standing, Carlton Miller, Jack O'Brien. Frank Shannon, Eleanor Middleton and others. Exports of Foreign Nations Following are three tables on exports of motion pictures from France, Italy and the United Kingdom which were eliminated from the official government report published last week because of space limitations. Table 6 French Exports of Motion Picture Films. (1). Unit: Metric Quintal (100 Kilos) 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 Great Britain 737 1,052 315 400 245 301 Switzerland 185 274 206 63 69 32 Spain 135 166 121 143 67 70 Italy 277 228 167 267 121 66 United States 495 1,281 342 553 2,337 833 Brazil 61 84 ... 14 Argentine 66 99 84 10 Germany 736 474 Belgium 168 72 Austria 60 66 Fr. Colonies 14 36 82 12 1 Other Countries 631 261 364 123 156 (2)65 Total 3,480 3,888 1,668 1,837 3,091 1,392 (1) Includes both exposed and unexposed. (2) Includes 4.300 kilos shipped to Sweden. Source: Foreign Commerce and Navigation of the United States. Table 9 Italian Exports of Motion Picture Film, in Kilos Importing Country 1914 1919 Austria-Hungary 12,400 France 16,400 17,200 Germany 6,200 Russia 2,200 United Kingdom 27,400 1,700 Brazil 12,100 1,400 Argentina 8,300 2,500 United States 3,300 500 Source: Foreign Commerce and Navigation of the United States. Table 11 United Kingdom: Domestic Exports of Motion Picture Film. (Linear Feet) 1917 1918 1919 1920 Netherlands 185,000 ■ 41,000 1,772,000 France 1,012,000 4,451,000 19,451,000 Italy 7,000 2,838,000 United States 3,017,000 2,509,000 1,081,000 Brazil 363,000 65,000 208,000 Argentina 377,000 243,000 416,000 Other Foreign 903,000 362,000 3,927,000 British Possessions 608.000 538,000 1,083,000 , Total 6,474,000 8,209,000 30,776,000 *24,812,000 Total only available for 1920. Source: Trade of the United Kingdom.