The Film Daily (1924)

THE Sunday, August 17, 1924 Organization (Continued from Page 1) jioblems affecting the industry. Such as legal regulations, restriction, censoring, and the countless little things which when leveloped make for great annoyance. Oi course, it was difficult to get the idea working. It always s. (The old National Association tried hard to work out such an imalgamation some years ago and failed dismally. So far the iay's organization has not been able to crack this cocoanut.) ;3ut Rowson belongs to the school that doesn't understand defeat, ie kept plugging away at it. And only a little while ago there sas chartered (incorporated) the Cinemetograph Trades Council nd Lord Burnham was elected president. Now Lord Burnham isn't personally interested in pictures. lot in the slightest degree. He is the owner and publisher of a reat London newspaper, "The Daily Telegraph." And an outtanding figure in his country. It took a lot of effort to secure him )r the presidency. But he was landed. And the entire trade antiipates much good to develop from the choice. The Committee . eeking the president wanted someone outside the industry. They ceded a national figure to inspire confidence. Someone who juld tell them when they were wrong, and guide them into the ght path. And yet someone at whom no finger could be pointed :cause of any possible interest in the trade. Except that of a dere to be most helpful not only to the industry, but to the public large. And Lord Burnham fills the bill. WHY NOT ONE IN AMERICA We need such an organization in America. And need it idly. If the Hays group can bring about such an organization, id it functions properly, a big advance will have been made. The ays Committee on Public Relations is a fine thing. And a big ep forward. But a committee of this body could easily represent e public in such an organization. And we should have passed point long ago where the various exhibitor bodies would not America. There is no use mincing words about it. The facts are simple. Unpleasant though the truth may be, this is the truth. Stars with box-office powers— well-known, well-liked American stars— would help a lot. If they could be procured for British productions. But who are available? A certain British distributor and agent for well-known American concerns briefly puts It this way: ^ "We have had a few first-class stars of real box-office pulling power sent over from America to work in British pictures They have been good. But most of the so-called 'stars' from America who have appeared in British pictures are not your first-class stars. We know it. But they are the only ones available. And it makes the situation difficult." It does. But what can be done about it? There isn't a real star with strong box-office pulling power available— even for American producers. Such stars are in such demand that they could work in several pictures at one time. If their contracts would allow It. And, of course, their contracts do not permit of this, ^ AS TO DISTRIBUTION Two years ago a plan was suggested to British distributors • that they unite and send their best pictures to America. Through a British distribution machine. Operating out of New York. The suggestion was offered again. Only last week. That seems to be the only way out. And even then a most rigorous watch must be maintained on the product forwarded. British titles will not do for America. Many American titles have to be changed for England. This is only natural. No „ „ American would understand what "I think she is pulling your rk with the Hays group. The Writer's Guild on the Coast and '^-g" means. It doesn't rnean— as Americans might interpret it er such organizations might be found willing, and then if some ^'^^^ the person was trying to get something for nothing from the individual referred to. But in England "pulling your leg" of national importance could be found to head the organization ut of excellent work could be accomplished. This organization should in no manner detract from what the ys group is doing. Not in the least. ..IN ENGLAND Where hope springs eternal. And where it is needed. By gallon. Because conditions here are far from right. On the hand you have complaints from English distributors. That icrican concerns are "giving away" their product. In other ids, underselling the market. And on the other hand, you note t there is so little going on in production. Among British (lucers. That — as Jeffrey Bernerd of Stoll Films says — "we tit the last of the Mohicans." In fact. At the moment. There . but two British producers actually "going on" — as they say ■e. There may be some unimportant production under way. others. But of the type of product likely to come to the States y Stoll and Gaumont are — at the moment — active. Others may rt soon. There is talk of Graham Wilcox getting under way rtly. But only these two are busy now. AN ANALYSIS It is not difficult to understand the situation. Once you have ked in. The great difficulty is — and it is somewhat obvious — t unless British pictures have certain elements of box-office wing power for America the product has no place in the Amer1 scheme of distribution. The Betty Compson picture — made Graham Cutts and released by Selznick. Is a good box-office •action. In the States. One of the reasons is Compson her._ Now a Paramount star. The other is the production. Inc. lich measures up easily. To the same type of American prodMore of such pictures will easily make room in America for tish-made pictures. The difficulty is to find them. The average type of picture made in England. For home sumption — and possibly some foreign sales — will not do for iest (Y, means— as Americans would put it — "kidding you along." Then there are certain phases of the relations of men and women which easily pass muster— and censor— in England. That could not get by any censor board in America. I saw a picture recently. A new English production in which the wife of one man is living openly with another. Before she was divorced. 'Pruc, the mother of the man lived with them. But can you imagine the Pennsylvania Board of Censors. Or for that matter any board — allowing such a situation in a film? I can't. Yet such a scene is all right over here. There are many other situations perfectly satisfactory in one country. And frowned upon by another. That is what makes for the attraction of one country against another. STOLL'S EFFORTS Stoll Films are sending three of their latest pictures to America. In the custody of Gordon Michie, one of the directors of the corporation. They include "The Colleen Bawn" which may be remembered as a fine old melodrama laid in Ireland; a comedy which \vill be retitled for America, but which is now called "His Grace Gives Notice," and probably the best of their later productions, "The Love Affair of Ailette Brunton." This was made from the famous novel by Gilbert Frankau, whose "Gerald Cranston's Lady" will be produced by Fox. "The Love Affair" is a magnificent story. It was called to the attention of several American producers within the past six months. It has a lot of fine stuff in it. And it is to be hoped that it is a good picture. REAL KINDNESS Something like 50 of the leading British film men gave me a party. At tiic Trocadero. It was delightful. Not only in what was said— but it was fine to know this: that way over across the Atlantic they know what the little old paper is trying to do — and doing it the best way we can.