Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1924-Mar 1925)

January 3, 1925 EXHIBITORS HERALD 27 ^^Herald” Reports Told You So ‘^Rafael Sabatini, author of '^ScaramoucheJ ‘The Sea Hawk’ and ‘Captain Blood/ is logical winner of the Adolph Zukor $10,000 award for the best motion picture story of the 1923-24 season. ‘Scaramouche’ is the picture entitling him to this credit.” — EXHIBITORS HERALD, November 8 issue, page 39. Zukor Award Goes to Author Selected by Herald Readers Sabatini Wins Coveted Prize on ‘Scaramouche’ **The Thief of Bagdad** and Woman of Paris** Are Considered in Final Decision of Judges (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, December 23. — Rafael Sabatini, author of “Scaramouche,” has been named as winner of the Adolph Zukor $10,000 award for the best motion picture story of the 1923-24 season. Announcement Confirms Selection of “Herald” Readers Announcement of Rafael Sabatini as winner of the Zukor award and naming of “Scaramouche” as the picture entitling him to this honor directly confirms the HERALD selection based upon exhibitors’ reports to “What the Pichure Did For Me” and THE BOX OFFICE RECORD, announced two months ago. The Herald selection, based upon exhibitor reports, was made at the suggestion of Paramount for the purpose of assisting the distinguished body of judges which had been chosen to make the award. Winner RAFAEL SABATINI , noted author, whose “Scaramouche" won for him the coveted Zukor award of $10,000. These Showmen Supplied Basis for Selection Selection of Rafael Sabatini by the HERALD as logical zvinner of the Adolph Zukor $10,000 azvard for the best picture story of the 1923-24 season zms based solely upon exhibitors’ box office reports to “What the Picture Did For Me" upon this and all pictures issued during the designated period. “Scaramouche,” the picture entitling the author to the azvard, zi’as one of several hundred pictures covered in the September, 1924, BOX OFFICE RECORD. Names of exhibitors zvhose reports upon “Scaramouche” enabled the HERALD and its readers to knovu in advance the selection of the Zukor Committee of Azvard follozv: JOHN W. HAWKINS, Allen-Charette, Inc., New Bedford, Mass. WILLIAM H. CREAL, Suburban theatre, Omaha, Neb. G. STRASSER SONS, Emblem, Buffalo. (Continued on page 24) The judges whose final decision ratified the opinions of Herald readers were : GEORGE BARR BAKER, chairman of the First International Congress of Motion Picture Arts, at which the award was offered last year. ELLIS PARKER BUTLER, president of the Authors’ League of America, Inc., through which the award was made. EDWARD CHILDS CARPENTER, president of the American Dramatists. ALLAN DWAN, motion picture director. CHARLES DANA GIBSON, the artist. FREDERICK ROY MARTIN, general manager of the Associated Press. MARY ROBERTS RINEHART, novelist. ELMER RICE, playwright and scenario writer. ROBERT E. SHERWOOD, motion picture critic. With the announcement of their decision the judges also made public a report in which they commented on “The surprisingly large number of worthy pictures that came under their consideration.’’ Admonish Those Who Ignore The report also states: “Authors who ignore the motion picture have no real right to complain of its occasional stupidity and vulgarity; for they, by their indifference, are. doing nothing to remedy a condition, which, in view of the motion picture’s universal popularity, is of vital importance. The possibilities of the screen as a field for the expression of intelligent ideas are markedly appar ent in ‘Scaramouche.’ This shows what the motion picture can do with material, supplied to it by a creative artist. That it does not do it more often is due rather to the artists’ unsympathetic attitude than to any limitations of its own.’’ In a letter acknowledging receipt of the judges’ decision, Mr. Zukor said: “Allow me to congratulate the judges on the wisdom of their award. In deciding that ‘Scaramouche’ was the story which made the best motion picture, it seems to encourage autors to write for the screen and to stimulate them to a study and recognition of the motion picture’s technique. “Today there is no medium of expression more universal in scope than the motion picture. The picture that entertains on Broadway also is seen by crowds in Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tokio. The good motion picture has for its audience all mankind. What greater evidence can a story-teller ask? What greater inspiration? “But if the motion picture is to attain to its true heights of artistry, authors must not look upon it as a by-product. Today the motion picture stands on its own feet. It has its own technique just as the novel and the stage have their own requirements and limitations. If authors hope to write successfully for the screen they must study the screen and adopt it as their .medium. “If I may indulge in prophecy, I venture to say that the day is not at all distant when among the leading writers of the world will be numbered those who write their stories directly for the motion pic