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8 THE FILM RENTER & MOVING PICTURE NEWS.
FAMOUS PLAYERS STOPPING PRODUCTION IN © GERMANY.
November 25, 1922.
Al. Kaufmann Admits Heavy Loss but says his Company Have Still Contracts to Carry Out.
ONSLDERABLE inystery has been overshadowing A Proposal re Lubitsch. the destinies of the Famous-Players Company in Another chance to get a return for the sums invested Germany, known as the European Film Alliance, | in Germany would be, according to Mr. Kaufmann, to send and many rumours have been rife during the past few Lubitseh. the producer of °° Passion’? and ** Deception.’ weeks conceming whether this company were to renew to the Wnited States and let hin preduce two films there.
production or were closing down altogether. It has been an open secret for some time now that the European Film Alliance have not been doing much in the way of film production at their great Berlin studios, and the sending of Pula Negri to America was the subject of much comment at the time in German kinematograph cireles. During the past few wecks matters, however, seem to have come to a head, and our Berlin correspondent now definitely stutes that Famous-Players have closed down their produetion.
Expectations not Fulfilled.
There dces, however, seem to be still some mystery about the mutter, as Mr. Albert FE. Kaufmann, the manager for FamousPlayers, in charge of the Kuropean Film Alliance studios, hus denied that his company are stopping altogether, but admits that it lias not proved a very great
conmnercial success. Mr. Kaufmann, in a stutement in the Lichtbildbuline ’’ some weeks ago, said:
Famous-Players had invested considerable capital in’ the E.F.A. The expectations with regard to the German-made films were, however, not fulfilled.
‘
The majority of German
FIRST GERMAN PLAY IN LONDON
“ Passion,” the first German super, is scheduled to be shown on Monday November 27, at the NewScala. Mr. L. Blattner, the famous Manchester showman, is presenting the picture. A full report of this production and its reception will appear in
: mext week’s issue : :
The rich meus cof American studios would be put at the disposal of Mr. Lubitseh, as well as oa first-rate cast, The deading men of — the HLA. hope to obtain better results with these Americanmade Lubitsch pictures than with those hitherto produced in the old country.
Kouffinan denies, however. that the E.FLA. will be wound up. The company still has a number of contracts running. Fven if Lubitsch should make up his mind to go to America, preduction by other directors will go on.
A Blow to the German Industry.
Since the publication of this statement by Mr. Kaufmann even more definite news is to land, and = this is to the effect that the European Film Allimnee have entirely closed their producing activities. At the present moment the studios are being rented ty an inde.
pendent concern, and it is practically certain that these studios will be so rented in future, and that the European will net be a factor in German film preducticn at all. There are many stories afloat concerning the reason why it has become necessary for the Huropean Film Alliance
films have not had the expected success in America, Famous. to close down, and the Geman film industry appears
Players are themselves greatly interested in getting back the to be somewhat agitated over the statement of Mr. money invested in the Berlin branch, The first step in this | Kaufmann that German films have not proved a success directions was sending Pola Negri to America, where she will in’ America.
work with American actors under the direction of an American producer. Great publicity has been made on the At any rate, whatever be the reason, if is significant other side for Pola Negri, and it is quite uatural that the that a concern which had the backing of Mr. Adolph American concern tries to further profit by these expenses. Zukor should have found it necessary to close down its A picture with Pola Negri and the other great Paramount — producing activities in Germany, and it will undoubtedly stars will no doubt have a great success in America, be a severe blow to the filui industry in that country.
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