The Film Daily (1924)

Record Details:

Something wrong or inaccurate about this page? Let us Know!

Thanks for helping us continually improve the quality of the Lantern search engine for all of our users! We have millions of scanned pages, so user reports are incredibly helpful for us to identify places where we can improve and update the metadata.

Please describe the issue below, and click "Submit" to send your comments to our team! If you'd prefer, you can also send us an email to mhdl@commarts.wisc.edu with your comments.




We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.

Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.

^yif£ :^« BRAOtSTREET o/' FILMDOM Authority Vol. XXIX No. 42 Tuesday, August 19, 1924 Price 5 Cents COMMENT By DANNY Seeing the light. Abroad. Getting together. And if the Reparations Committee work means anything look for this : an opening up throughout Europe, x^nc keep an eye on Germany particularly. Because Germany seems more on edge than any foreign dountry. And ready to go. At a moment's notice. There seems to be oodles of money ready for production. In Germany. Some say lhe banks are back of this. Others that there is a greater impetus. Than just bank money. In England they say that the Germany financiers realize the value of pictures. As propaganda. They point to the American propaganda. As evidenced in American pictures. As proof. And these commentators say that Germany will — through films — spread the gospel of German propaganda. Until Germany again reaches an important place. In the trading posts of the world. They are pouring money into proiuction. While abroad^ saw "The Ring of the Xiebelung" made in Ger lany. One of the finest productions !ver turned out. By anybody. Any here. Sets that bewilder the eye. A. series of optic deliKhts. Magnifi:enrc in superlatives. Must have cost fortune. For sets alone. Story somewhat tragic. But at that a maglificent undertaking. Probably needs special showmanship to interest the >ublic at large. Perhaps will not do 'or picture houses. But a great piece >f property. Watch Germany! What a season of pictures! Too many fine, big ones for this early in the season. But it seems that this is always to be. But what a start it ivill give the business. For the Fall! And how the distributors ivill have to hustle. To maintain that average. Later. Say after the first of the yenr. See Bill Johnson's distribution plan las been set. And the prize will be warded soon. Yes, yes. Now let's lee if the winning idea. Is worth a housand berries. And after it appears watch all the llistribution sharks. Tell its weak[less. You can hear them now. Mumpling their speeches. Decision Indefinite Famous Still Entering Defense in Government Suit — No Time Limit Set For Hearing ^Special to THE FILM DAILY) Washington — Recent press dispatches emanating from W'ashington to the effect that a decision in its case against the Famous Players-Lasky et al., may be expected within the next sixty days, are somewhat discounted in official and semi-official sources. It is difficult to determine just how long it will be before the case comes to a final conclusion, either by a dismissal of the complaint or an order upon the respondents to desist from matters complained of, but, it is pointed out, the taking of testimony is not yet completed, and when this part of the work is finished, the examiner working on the case must prepare his report and present the facts as he finds tliem to the Commission. After the examiner's report reaches the commission an opportunity will be given for the filing of exceptions thereto by the respondents, and both the latter and the examiner on behalf of the Commission may file briefs. If dismissal does not occur in the meantime, opportunity for oral argument for and against the complaint will be aiTorded, and then it is up to the Commission for final action. Badger Directing "Zander" (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Hollywood— Clarence Badger started work yesterday at the Goldwyn Studio on "Zander." Negotiations Off T. O. C. C. Refuses to Meet Operator Demands — Strike Looms Up Sept. 1 The T. O. C. C. has ceased negotiating with Operators' Union No. 306. Present contracts expire Aug. 31 and a strike for Sept. 1 seems certain. The operators have been demanding a thirty per cent increase over the gross 1923-1924 rental on each theater booth and have also demanded that all T. O. C. C. members use union men. Exhibitors feel that the terms are mireasonablc and so have terminated the joint meetings. There is little concern expressed over the strike and its possibilities. T. O. C. C. officials declare they have a registered list of 4,000 operators upon which to draw. It is understood many now employed do not belong to No. 306. Lasky Signs Olcott Back With Famous for Year With Two Years' Option — Director Coming East It is understood that Sidney Olcott will return to Famous for a year with a contract containing options on his services for two additional years. The director who has just completed "Sacrifice" for Joseph M. Schenck will be in town from the Coast the end of the week, according to present plans. He has managed to secure a release from W. R. Hearst and, as noted elsewhere, Clarence Badger has been secured for "Zander the Great" which was started yesterday in Hollywood. It is understood that the deal between Olcott and Schenck for further productions failed to materialize because a reported plan of Schenck's for a new releasing organization did not develop. It is said Schenck wanted to have a series of four Olcott Prod, as one of the early groups for the unit. Barthelmess Signs Contract Dick Barthelmess has signed a contract for two years beginning Sept. 1, with the original stockholders of Inspiration, which includes the picture he is working on at present, 'Classmates". Back to London Soon. Watterson R. Rothackcr, who is due to arrive from Europe on the Aquitania Friday, will return to London Oct. 4, accompanied by William S. Gill, to remain three weeks on a special business trip. Ind'p'ts to Meet The booking combine situation discussed last week by leading state right producers and distributors will become a matter for discussion by the I. M. P. P. D. A. at a meeting that may be held either today or tomorrow. I. E. Chadwick, president of the organization returned late Sunday night from the Coast where he arranged future production plans. Atlantic City Convention (.S fecial to THE FILM DAILY) Atlantic City— The M. P. T. O. of Eastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey and Delaware started a three day meeting vesterdav at the St. Charles. M. .!. O'Toole. national M. P. T. O. president delivered an address on the value of exhibitor organization. H. J. Schad. of Reading, Pa., will preside over the business sessions Block bookings will be discussed. Exporters Hopeful Newer Releases, Possibly New Theaters and General Stabilization Abroad Seen From Dawes Plan A greater confidence in European markets, and a gradual process of stabilization in dealings abroad are looked for by American exporters as a result of the acceptance of the Dawes plan. The opinion seems to be that with an end to a policy of watchful waiting in order to ascertain what trend economic conditions on the Continent might take, exporters here can speed up their releases on the other side and make their foreign turn-overs quicker. Exporters hope that the practical application of the plan will mean that the great mass of people in the countries directly afTccted will have more money to reckon with and that some of these funds will find their way into theaters. Another angle concerns the possibility of releasing money for new theaters. Once this is done, observers of the market are unanimous in their opinion that business will improve decidedly. It is thought developments will occur slowiy and that there can be no violent or radical change. Eventually there wilt come, however, a stabilization and confidence in business abroad. It is agreed that the Dawes plan can only presage an impetus to foreign trade. Foreign Merger On Russian Financier At Work on Long Talked-Of European Plan— Tieup With Stinnes (Special to THE FILM DAILY) London — The much-talked-of European production alliance is finally assuming shape, according to an article in "Kine. Weekly." W. Wengeroff. described as Russian financier who has been active in pictures in conjunction with the late Hugo Stinnes, is the prime mover. WengcrofT is financing eight different producing units. He declares that it would be useless for Europe to produce pictures of second-rate quality, since their sale is small even in the country of origin. He thinks the negative cost should between $150,000 and $200,000 and that, in order to get a return on the investment and a fair profit, the pictures must secure an international distribution. Abel Gancc who is making a cycle of Napelconis films offers the first example of what Wengeroff plans to do. The Gance pictures are being (Continued on Page 2)