Exhibitors Herald (1927)

28 EXHIBITORS HERALD September 24, 1927 When Martin Jensen left Hollywood in his plane carrying Leo, the M-G-M lion, little did he know that he would hit a tree in Arizona and thus end his non-stop flight to New York. At left is Martin Jensen’s leonine passenger. (Center) Jensen meets the lion. Louis B. Mayer (Right) bids Jensen good-bye and good luck. Brandt Sails to Place Columbia Films In Each Key City Plans to Enter into Reciprocal Arrangements with Foreign Producers — Says It’s Up to Independents (Special to the Herald) NEW YORK, Sept. 20. — Extension of Columbia’s distribution to every key city in England and on the Continent is the aim of President Joe Brandt, now on the way to Europe. Mr. Brandt sailed last Friday on the Olympic with an itinerary calling for stops in London, the Hague, Brussels, Paris, Barcelona, Rome, Milan, Vienna, Prague, Berlin, Copenhagen, Stockholm and Christiania. “/COLUMBIA intends to play an im V — portant part in the independent markets of the world,” Brandt said before sailing. “Wherever possible we plan to establish direct representation for Columbia Pictures, and to further that end will enter into reciprocal arrangements with foreign producers to serve as their distributors in the United States. “We are successfully operating on such an arrangement in England today, and believe in letting foreign nationals handle all the business details in their own respective countries. “I sincerely believe that much of the success for the future distribution of foreign-made pictures will eventually fall upon the shoulders of independent producers in America. “American producers who have established their own companies in Great Britain, for example, cannot — or will not — absorb the number of pictures which the quota will bring about. This means that many worthwhile British pictures will never be distributed in the United States unless American independent producers, through their sources of distribution, provide the outlet. “Our company has already taken steps with our British distributor — Mr. F. A. Enders of FBO, Ltd. — to provide a market for several pictures which he will produce in England. Other similar agrements will be entered into with European independent producers. “I feel that a definite business relationship between British producers and European producers is a vital necessity. “It should be no more difficult for foreign producers to make pictures that will please the American public than it has been for American producers to make pictures acceptable to the British and other peoples, across the sea. Human emotions are the same the world over. “It is true that the theatre circuit situation in the United States has made it increasingly difficult to place certain pictures before the American people, but this handicap can be overcome if a picture has merit. In proof of this, I point to the fact that in spite of the socalled ‘locked’ theatre situation, Columbia Pictures have succeeded in gaining entree to the best theatres in America. Mr. Brandt expects to be gone for three months or more. Kansas City Schools Will Use Pictures ( Special to the Herald ) KANSAS CITY, Sept. 20.— Motion pictures as an official part of school courses in Kansas City will make their debut on September 26, according to Rupert Peters, director of the department of visual instruction in Kansas City schools. An educational him of world-wide scope, taken under sponsorship of the Eastman Kodak Company, will be shown. The hi ms will be in 1,000-foot reels. Projection machines and screens now are on the way to Kansas City to be installed in schools. New British Company Planning Four Studios: Erection Begins Soon Instructional Film Shown to King Pauline Frederick Not “Florence Nightingale” (Special to the Herald) LONDON, Sept. 8 (By Mail).— Promises have been forthcoming this week of yet more British studio plans, and if the schemes on hand — together with the gigantic proposition mooted in July last by Ralph J. Pugh — really come to fruition it looks as though Hollywood will have to begin looking to it. A. E. Bundy, chairman of British Instructional Films (Proprietors), Ltd., hinted the company is planning its own studio. Then on top of that comes a still greater plan. British Masterpiece Films, Ltd., announces it has acquired 14 acres of ground in Osterley Park — only a short distance from London — on which it is proposed to erect a huge studio. Building, it is stated, will commence very soon, and the cost of the enterprise will be somewhere about $1,250,000. Four large studios arranged in pairs ; 46 dressing rooms, and numerous other offices will be included in the scheme. Capt. Harry Lambart is the spirit behind the movement and his plans sound good, though the trade is rather tired of hearing of grandiose schemes which seem slow in taking practical shape. This feeling is evinced here concerning the great Wembley scheme. * * * King Sees Naval Picture The King has commanded that the new British Instructional film, “The Battle of Coronel and Falkland,” regarded as two of the greatest naval epics of the war, be privately shown to him at Balmoral Castle * * * It is definitely announced that Pauline Frederick will not play the leading role in the forthcoming Gaumont production, “Florence Nightingale.” * * * Hunter Edits London Film T. Hayes Hunter has consented to edit the Harry Lauder film, “Huntingtower,” which Paramount will distribute in the U. S. A. Hayes Hunter has created a furore among all circles in the trade with his astoundingly capable method of handling the production of “One of the Best.” One actress in a crying scene told Hayes Hunter she simply could not cry again. He thereupon shook her and made her cry from sheer bad temper.