The Film Renter and Moving Picture News (May-Jun 1923)

es ” May -5, '1923 THE FILM RENTER -& MOVING ‘PICTURE NEWS. THE FOX HUNTING. PAGEANT. . Authoritative Statement by Butcher's Film Service. N view of the prominence which has been given in the lay Press to the film entitled '' A Fox Hunting Pageant,’’ and to the suggestions of a dispute between Viscount Lascelles and the producer of the picture, Mr. John Betts, it is the privilege of Tar Frnm Renrer to make this week an authoritative statement which disposes of the many exaggerations and mis statements which have distorted the truth of the matter. One of the most stupid of these was contained in the headline coined by a member of the staff of one of the big London papers in which Viscount Lascelles was referred to as a ‘‘ film star." As most people know, the Viscount is Master of the Bramham Moor Hunt, and this hunt was the one selected for the making of the film, concerning which, by the way, Butcher’s have received many congratulations. Naturally, Viscount Lascelles is seen on the film as the master of any hunt would be scen, but the suggestion of posing, which the words ‘‘ film star"’ might imply, is as far from the truth as it is possible to get. Indeed, those who have seen any film of a public funetion in which the Viscount appears will have been struck by the absolute absenee of any posture or attitudé which might cause attention to be drawn to him. ° Messrs. Butcher's Film Service wish it to be known among the trade and public that the objections which Viscount Lascelles made concerning the picture were made after a private viewing of the unedited film, and that alterations were made to accom. modate the film to his lordship’s wishes. Butcher's Film Service write as follows : : ‘Owing to certain objections raised by Viscount Lascelles to the film entitled ‘A Fox-Hunting Pageant,’ taken with the Bramham Moor Hunt, the Home Office invited Mr. F. W. Baker, director of Butcher’s Film Service, Limited, and the secretary of the British Board of Film Censors, to discuss, the matter with them, Subsequently,-a private view . of the picture as trade shown was given, at which , Major Lascelles was present on behalf of Viscount Lascelles. As & result of suggestions made by Major Lascelles certain close-. ups, in. the film haye been either eliminated or decreased in ; length as far as this was practicable, and not to interfere with the story in any way. “The objections were raised after Viscount Lascelles: had™ privately seen the film at ‘Goldsborough Hall, but before’ it had been duly edited and‘ irade shown by Butcher's Film Service, Limited. a : “Whilst Viscount Lascelles naturally appears many times throughout the film as Master of. the Hunt, he has not posed in any way whatever, and the film is, in every respect,.a . faithful picture of fox-hunting taken by J ohn Betts under, the obvious difficulties of filming such a picture, but ‘with wonderful results. 2 “here has never been any suggestion made to Butcher's that the film should not be exhibited, and it will-be released to the public immediately.”” yer The above statement should dispose of any misapprehensions which may have arisen as a result of over-stressing the matter in the lay Press, and should convince exhibitors that the differences of opinion have been amicably arranged. ‘ A LESSON IN FILM PRESENTATION. Yorkshire Exhibitors Interested In Walturdaw Demonstration. HERE enn be little doubt that exploitation and presentation of fils must and will be the development of the future for the exhibitor, and the firm of Walturdaw’s lave been quick to realise it und cater for it. The firm have had w special commissioner (Mr. Grant, their engineer) over in the States to study the question, particularly the all-important matter of lighting effects, ond some of the ideas picked up from New York exhibitors were demonstrated to a representative eathering of Yorkshire exhibitors at the Scala Theatre, Leeds, Jast Friday, when Mr, Charles Metcalfe, the Yorkshire manager of Walturdaw’s, along with Mr. Grant, the chief engineer, and Mr. Donne, branch supervisor, screened ‘* Poor Men’s Wives." Tu front of the sereen in the darkened hall, before the picture was shown, a cut-out of New York, its sky-scrapers, its lights and its glamour was illuminated from behind by special electric lights, and there was a. short prologue. The film was in plain black and white, but with the aid of a special arrangement—a sort of frame—of coloured electric lights round the screen, the picture was tinted a very delicate shade of red, blue, green or yellow at will, at the turn of an electric switch. The change can be made so that it is hardly perceptible, so delicately can the lights be blended or dissolved—ruby for dawn, yellow for the full blaze of noon-day sun, golden for a sunset, and so on. ; i Other effects were introduced, including bells, sirens, hooters, and their many other contrivances brought up from London that were not called into use for this film. The show was very interesting and greatly intrigued the exhibitors who were present. The cost of the electric equipment is well within the reach of inost exhibitors.