The Film Daily (1924)

THE Thursday, October 2, 1924 m -pn^ DAILY Orient Never Better (Continued from Page 1) ■re declares the Orient was never a better condition than it is right nv to take full advantage of what merica is offering in the way of ctures. In proof of this he points it that in India and the Philippines s company is disposing of ninety ■r cent of their pictures, while in lina and Japan they are marketg practically every picture released America. In the Dutch East Ines. Strait Settlements and the Pedaled Malay States, First National now contracting for between venty-five and eighty per cent of product. The latter has fallen ■ considerably, which Clarke feels is e to a very harsh and often un i-^onable censorship now existing this territory. Further to China, Clarke feels that • Chinese renter is beginning to see worth of big productions. Kina has experienced little develment as far as the building of theTs is concerned, but is doing much he way of production of Chinese ires. There is an effort being e to produce on a large scale owto the success which has attendmany of their recent endeavors. ke believes that, while this will have a large effect on American rt, it will do a lot to increase popularity of films in China. n Japan, Clarke found the erection 'heaters at its height. This is the ral condition looked for in the ' ■ of the recent earthquake. The lings are constructed of wood ' are of a temporary nature as the nese Reconstruction Board will issue permits for permanent linn's for the next two years, owio the fact that they are replanthe cities of Yokohama and 10. These will be in many rets western cities when rebuilt, on their completion, the existing fers will be forced to make way nermanent buildings. icre are a number of American panics now distributing their productions in Japan and there inly two possible buyers of these ires. Independent exhibitors are ing from the American organi ns and it is only a question of when those concerns which are buying their films will be rentpictures. In other words, des Clarke. Japan will change from lyers' market to a renters' marThe renting of films will be rolled by the distributors and the hiting of pictures will be con' d by the exhibitors exhibiting it. There is no question that the Etn revenue of American pictures he boosted in these foreign ports, Ke asserts. iicstioned on American films 1 the standpoint of being internatl in appeal, Clarke said: "It ap^ as though America is beginning oalize the seriousness of this '"ular measure, and it is good she T feel that producers are mainly lame. A large number of pro ons have been made with a tolisregard for foreign consumption ntly, to say nothing of the very use of American slang and the c,' of pictures which is beyond the comprehension of English speaking peoples outside of America and quite naturally is obnoxious to them. "One great set-back which American distributing concerns in other countries have to contend with is the nonsense unfortunately published with regard to the millions of dollars spent on the making of pictures, and the grossly exaggerated box offfice receipts. The foreign buyer or exhibitor does not realize that these millions are largely fantastic and generally the ravings of some over enthusiastic producer who imagines he has the greatest box-office bet of the year. Therefore, he expects to receive the picture as a gift on the theory that the producer has already been well recompensed for his original investment through American box-office returns. Much has been stated and written with regard to the detrimental effect that these so-called movie millions have on the American public's regard for the picture industry, and it must also be realized by those whose concern it is that, when the same type of propaganda reaches the foreign exhibitor or renter, which it often does, they feel that the price which they are asked to pay is largely out of proportion to the real boxoffice value of the picture when they finally run it in their territory. "The confidence and good will of the foreign buyers and renters should mean as much or more to American organization than his money for, as a rule, they are a good deal harder to secure." Youngsters Rob Eleven Reels (Sfecial to THE FILM DAILY) Cleveland — Eleven reels of film were stolen from Paul Gusdanovic's Norwood theater recently. Police found them in a neighborhood barn, where juvenile thieves had hidden them. L. B. Hicks Now In Cleveland (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Cleveland — L. B. Hicks, of New York, has joined Progress Pictures, covering the Akron-CantonYoungstown territory. German Conditions Slowly Returning to Normal But Will Take Several Years to Come Back— May Alter "Contingent" (.Special to THE FILM DAILY) Berlin — One of the most important men in the industry, familiar with American working conditions, says: "I do not think, in fact. I am almost positive — that in the near future there will be no boom in Germany but that slowly conditions in this country will go back to normalcy, and that eventually this territory will be a more important market to American pictures than the United Kingdom. But this will take at least two or three years before it comes about. "German production, which has been at an almost complete standstill has begun again, but on a very small basis when compared with the mass of films which were produced during 1921-22. "The 'contingent' which handicaps greatly every representative of American productions, is still in force, but a resoluion was adopted a few days ago by the exhibitors of Germany recommending to the German authorities to amend the 'contingent' regulations as follows: That instead of 15 per cent of the German production 50 per cent of the same should be admitted for foreign productions, and that all pictures under 500 meters (approximately 1600 feet in length) — which subsequently would include two reelers — should be admitted free of any 'contingent.' Since the distributors as well as the exhibitors are in favor of this, there is every possibility that the German Government will change the 'contingent' regulations along these lines. "One of the greatest handicaps which hinder the German industry from reaching perfection, is the oldfashioned distribution methods, and especially the way in which even firstclass theaters are conducted. In this last respect, Germany is at least 10 years behind the time. Even in firstclass theaters, they still have intervals between each act, and at the begining of each performance show slide advertising which naturally cheapens the whole performance.' .^' Ipve h^i itran^e thJn^i, mne?. It rnWe a dreen voont hie< /WvaAe the toe/^heSt yo/ace 6 \n to^n m iwrch of V'Z JaA^y love; a/?d it wakeA uf> the s/eef>Wi\.,^ JSlp^" o\A doAoeS v^^ ^^.^^ ^^"^ and made ^^m 1>C^ a ... (Jang of gonm^n It's all in '"' '*• ^ THe ftforUNii Orioles A HAL "RoACyv N0V€LTV f^At^RE CoWVEO/ Pafhepicture Grainger Back James R. Grainger is back from a 12 days' sales trip through the Middle West. Universal Buys "Dark Rosaleen" Universal has purchased Max Brand's new story, "Dark Rosaleen," for Hoot Gibson. Leonard to Address A. M. P. A. Benny Leonard wdl address the A. M. P. A. at their weekly luncheon today. "3 Keys" Follows "Empty Hearts" Hollywood — Ben Verschleiser will make "The Three Keys," by Frederic Ormonde, as his second for Banner. His first was "Empty Hands." Dr. Hugo Reisenfeld has booked Benny Leonard's "Flying Fists" series into the Rivoli and Rialto. SPEAKING OF SALES KENT SAUNDERS GRAINGER ABRAMS MOONEY BERMAN LICHTMAN ESCHMANN PEARSON ROCK MEYER WHAT WOULDN'T YOU GIVE IF YOU HAD A PICTURE LIKE ''THOSE WHO DARE'^ with a box-office cast that includes JOHN BOWERS, EDWARD BURNS, MARGARET DE LA MOTTE, CESARE GRAVINA, SHELDON LEWIS, MARTHA MARSHALL, JOE DOWLING to sell through your organization? <oy MR. STATE RIGHTER if you want to forge to the front, rash in and rejoice in the BIG MONEY of this great industry WRITE — WIRE — PHONE GEORGE SAMUELS DISTRIBUTING CORP. 1393 Broadway New York City Telephone— Chickering 6000 Extension B