The Film Daily (1927)

THE v Monday, January 3, 1927 1927 Greatest Year in Industry's Annals Executives Predict Rosy Film Prospects (Continued from Page 1) selves still further, and this applies to foreign producers and distributing concerns as well as to domestic ones. * * * ROBERT LIEBER President, First Nat'I Pictures, Inc. That the new year will mark a progression in all branches of the motion picture industry almost goes without saying. There has been and continues to be a steady advancement ir the type of pictures produced, in the calibre of the theaters and in the art of presentation. * * * RICHARD A. ROWLAND General Manager, First Nat'I Pictures, Inc. The producer is going to be up against ? tougher proposition next year and the year after than he has ever been in the history of motion pictures because this is developing rapidly into a theater business. In other words, the theater is the end that controls the whip hand and the increasing negative costs and amalgamations and consolidations of theater circuits which means the nationalization of theater circuits are apt to result in the reduction of film rentals so that with the increased production costs, plus the decrease of revenue, the producer is going to have his hands full. * * * HARRY M. WARNER President, Warner Bros. Pictures Business this coming year is going to be exceptionally good. We are going to see so many changes made that the map of the picture business will he somewhat changed. * * * ELMER R. PEARSON Vice-Pres., Cen'l M'g'r, Pathe Exchange Anything other than orderly and progressive prosperity for business and amusements for 1927 would seem a ridiculous forecast. The progressive increase of the business has been at a rate that would seem impossible of maintaining, but thus we have thought each year for the last fifteen years, yet the progression keeps on keeping on and the end is »0't now in sight. * * * F. C. MUNROE President, Prod. Dist. Corp. In view of the enormous strides that have been made in picture production in the past few years, in view of the almost unbelievable improvements that have been made in every branch of the industry, I do not see how any one can fail to be an enthusiastic optimist. * * * EARLE W. HAMMONS President, Educat'l Pictures Corp. If the year 1926 has been the greatest year in motion picture history — and in many ways it certainly has been — I believe the coming year is going to be even greater. Progress in all branches of the industry should be marked. * * * WTNFIELD R. SHEEHAN Vice-President. Fox Film Corp. The public is waiting expectantly for vital, unusual and true-to-life motion p ctures in the New Year. The demand in entertainment at the motion picture theaters is turning away from the "soft pedal" romance and the patrons want virile, red-blooded treatment of life. * * * JOHN J. McGUIRK President, Stanley Co. of _ America I have never been more optimistic than 1 am in regard to 1927. Every indication is for a hanner year, surpassing anything ever experienced The country is in splendid financial condition and the people have never been more prosperous. * * * A. H. GIANNINI President, Botverv, East River Nat'I Bank T desire to seriously call the attention of the industry to stock issues. It should be insisted that all stock issues be based upon intrinsic merit. Where the industry has crown so large and where the profits have been so immense, there is a danger that some watered stock may be authorized and sold to the public. The industry owes it to itself to protect its own reputation as well as the investing public. JESSE L. LASKY \st Vice-Pres., Famous Players-Lasky Corp. Although great progress has been made in both distribution and exhibition during 1926. and more will be made in 1927, I am naturally more interested in production. Never before have the studios been geared up to make the type of productions that are now planned or actually in work. * ' * * CECIL B. DE MILLE Noted Producer Releasing Through P.D.C. During 1927 the picture made by prescription or formula will pass never to come again. The ptiblic has come to place novelty and originality above all other factors. People shop for their pictures as never before and word that a picture is dull, obvious or uninspired spreads rapidly. The demand upon directors, stars and writers for striking and novel twists of situation and action is an exacting one but it must be met. * * * SIDNEY R. KENT Gen'l Mgr., Famous Players-Lasky Corp. By this time it certainly should be apparent to all the world that this industry is on a solid foundation of sound business dealing, natural growth and intelligent investment. Anybody who has studied the developments in this business during the last few years cannot fail to look forward with optimism. * * * JAMES R. GRAINGER Cen'l Sales Mgr., Fox Film Corp. I believe that during the year 1927 we will find a closer working arrangement between producers and exhibitors, as both are realizing more and more each day that perfect harmony and cooperation is the soundest basic principle for profit and success. * * * JOHN C. FLINN Vice-President, Prod. Dist. Corp. The most impressive development and the most encouraging sign in the motion picture industry today is, in my mind, the marvelous growth in the number of modern and beautiful picture theaters in all parts of the United States, and in fact, in all parts of the world. The replacement of the smaller houses hv these veritable palaces of amusement and the enormous increase in seating capacity are caused of course by the increase in the number of patrons, and there could be no better augury for the future success of the business. * * * LOUIS B. MAYER 3rd Vice-Pres. Metro-Coldwyn-Mayer Corp. Motion pictures are no longer part of a "game." This has become an industry in every sense of the word. Competition has reached a point where a producer can no longer be content to make pictures of average quality. The organization that is out front and that can beat the competitor to the punch with new ideas, new methods of operation and improved quality will be on top. * * * SAMUEL GOLDWYN Producer for United Artists Corp. Industrially we can congratulate ourselves upon the gratifying program being carried out in theater building, and upon the spirit of happy understanding that exists between the exhibitor, distributor and producer. * * * GEORGE A. BLAIR Sales Mgr., M. P. Film Department, Eastman Kodak Co. Taking the conditions of 1926 as a hasis from which to forecast, tbe outlook is most encouraging and evidences every indication of a continuation of prosperity throughout the coming year. * * * HAROLD B. FRANKLIN Vice-President. Publix Theaters Corp. The year of 1927 will tend toward further stabilization in the theater industry. A healthy exnansinn was recorded during the past year in manv localities in keeping with tbe activitv of the industry, but there is evidence of an overseating problem at some points. * * * CHARLES H. CHRISTIE Christie Film Corp. The coming year should be the greatest demonstration ever of the widespread play 5 Years Ago Today WILL HAYS said he would soon decide whether or not he would accept the presidency of the proposed producer-distributor organization. Luckily for the industry— he did. ing of the best pictures. The last year showed us that more than ever before the good pictures were playing not only in the highclass city houses but in the smallest hamlets and towns. * * * JOSEPH BRANDT President, Columbia Pictures Corp. I look for a great number of new theaters and particularly activity in the building of big houses in the suburban sections of all big cities. I also look forward to the building of big houses in some of the smaller towns to take the place of the old style motion picture theaters. * * * FRANK R. WILSON President, M. P. Capital Corp. My hope is that 1927 will contribute to a mental readjustment along the following lines: To bring producers and directors to a fuller realization that in any creative art, the expenditure of money is not the measure of the greatness of the product. * * * M. C. LEVEE West Coast Gen'l Executive Manager, First National Pictures, Inc. I can see a development of the lighter forms of mot on picture entertainment, the comedy element raised to a higher degree of perfection, the comedy drama verging upon the lighter side. There will be heavy dramas, to be sure, even costume or semi-costume plays, but they will not preponderate. * * * HUNT STROMBERG Supervising Director, M-G-M The great competition that will face every producing factor during the coming year will demand every resource at his command to come out in the first ranks. It will require a thoroughly trained and able organization working in harmony and with sympathetic understanding and tolerance of co-workers to attain the best results, and nothing but the best results will do. * * * SAM SAX President, Lumas Film Corp. Phenomenal strides in technique have and will continue to be made in all branches of the industry, and the resources of other and allied branches of science will be applied in a measure hitherto undreamed of. The motion picture C'game') will be a thing of the past and the motion picture business will be just that in 1927. * * * JAMES R. QUIRK Publisher, Photoplay Magazine For tbe past few years the industry has been building on such a sound hasis, as is evidenced by the willingness of hard headed businessmen to put real money into great motion picture houses, not only in America but all over tbe world, that by the end of 1927 the phrase 'The business is in its infancy will go to the limbo of forgotten phrases. * * * HARRY RAPF Supervising Director, M-G-M Tbe forthcoming year will see the director playing a more important part in the production of a picture than ever before. Aside from tbe actual direction of the picture, the director will have more to do with the actual creation of the plot and the development of the production in its every phase. * * * ALFRED WF.ISS President. Red Seal Pictures Corp. With tbe nation in the most prosperous condition that has ever prevailed, we start 1927 with every condition warranting the new year to eclipse all of those motion picture years that have gone before. * * * JOHN C. EISELE Treasurer, Fox Film Corp. Further expansion can be looked for in 1927, with a decided trend towards better pictures, larger theatres, and more attention given to the educational value of films. Looking ahead into 1927, the outstanding developments to be expected include greater use of the color pictures; a simplification of the talking motion picture so that it will be available to even the smaller theaters throughout the country ; and perhaps the introduction of a stereoscopic process to give pictures depth as well as breadth and height. Foreign Outlook Here is what some foreign experts think about the markets abroad for 1927. Warning note is struck by Arthur M. Loew, of Metro-GoldwynMayer who presents a serious thought, well worthy of mature consideration by the industry. EMIL E. SHAUER General Manager, Foreign Division, Famous Players-Lasky Corp. Prospects for a splendid foreign film business during the year 1927 are such as to give great encouragement to those in the industry who have been giving serious thought to the problems and the needs of this phase of the motion picture trade. An encouraging feature of the outlook for 1927 is the apparent determination of the industry's leaders here to work for closer cooperation with those from abroad. * * * ARTHUR M. LOEW General Export Manager. M-G-M Unless America maintains its superiority in motion picture productions, it's lost. Unless its present lead in quality over foreign production is held, foreign production will catch up and surpass the American. For the future, product alone will determine success. Whose product? Anybody's, any country's product so long as it is the best. • * * ARTHUR W. KELLY Vice-President-Treasurer, United Artists Corp. American distributors eventually will release a number of foreign productions in this country as a reciprocal measure, says Arthur W. Kelly, vice-president and treasurer of United Artists, n a survey of the foreign situation. He prophecies an improvement in the American box-office value of European pictures by the exploiting of new personalities. He declares that American distributors should strqive to give foreign countries quicker release dates, synchronizing them as nearly as possible with the release dates in the United States. * * * CLAYTON P. SHEEHAN Mgr. Foreign Department. Fox Film Corp. Although the strengthening of the motion picture entente cordiale between other nations and the United States has been progressing for some time the speed of this progression during 1926 and the sudden broadening of the movement have given it an impetus and magnitude which bids fair to make the new year an outstanding period of achievement. * * * DAVID J. MOUNTAN President. Richmount Pictures, Inc. The outlook for 1927 is a cheerful one and I look forward to a highly successful season for the film business in general, both independent and national. * 4 * EDWARD L. KLEIN President, Edward L. Klein, Corp. The new year abroad can be summed up in a very few words — it will mark improved business conditions everywhere: those countries^ which are embroiled in internal wars, political upheavals, fluctuating currencies and other disturbing elements, deterrent to American exporters, will undoubtedly become more and more settled.