The Film Daily (1928)

MEWSPAPEK FriMDOM LIII No. 36 AHDWEEKLY FILM DIGEST Sunday, February 12, 1928 Price 25 Cents itisE nrus IS w I Be Kidded" Richey s Calling for Work Pass Measure —Denying the Brookhart mean higher rentals, and g en though it did mean govownership (which he does ■ver, admit), H. M. Richey, lanager of the Michigan exlit, calls on members who bill to refuse to "be kidded" ut and work for the bill, states "he got a big laugh" exchange manager who was get exhibitors to sign petiosing the bill. "You have ut the stick-up who signed for capital punishment in he declares. "The exhibwould sign a petition, unIready be partially owned ucer, is in the same class." brands as untrue the ex!n's claim that passage of ould result in higher renig a careful reading of the 'ontinued on page 12) SEEN BIG FIELD! HORISDEVELOPNENT Bureau of THE FILM DAILY gton — Despite the prepondf American short subject in Europe, with the annual 30ut 8,250, the market could sed considerably, states a npiled by N. D. Golden of Section of the Dept. of all of the short films shown , with the possible excep ose shown in Germany and of American origin, espe one and two reel comedies, Continued on page 12) dJury Reverses Stand idicts on 'Blue' Law re-— After declining last idict John G. Callan, presile Liberty Defense League. ^ for presentatior of a Sun, the grand jury surprised 5 by citing them for viola^ "blue" laws, following the 2sentation last Sunday. Caliber of the legislature, plans repeal the Sunday closing J. P. KENNEDY JOINING PATHE; MERGER WITH F B 0 HINTED "LOOK TO UUIIES" IS SCnCK SADIO WMC Los Angeles — Radio is making increasing inroads upon picture popularity, and producers must "look to their laurels" if they are to successfully meet radio competition, Joseph M. Schenck, United Artists president, declared on his arrival here. "We've got to do something to contest the hold that radio is taking," he said, pointing out that producers must provide the "finest in entertainment" if they are to induce people to leave their homes to attend picture shows, in view of the character of radio entertainments being provided, and which constantly arc being improved. Lake Here from Antipodes for M-G-M Sales Confab David Lake, general sales manager for M-G-M, in Australia, has arrived in New York for the sales convention which opens Wednesday. Other foreign representatives are scheduled to arrive in rapid succession. New Talking Film Paris — Another talking picture, with the sound reproduced on the film, is reported as being developed here. The device records sound, phonographically on unbreakable cheap film rolls, eliminating the expensive brittle discs now in use for phonograph records. The inventor is F. M. Johnson of the American Art Ass'n, who has been developing the device for years. QUOTA PUN APPROVED BY rRENCH COUNCIL Paris — Approval of a quota plan, reported requiring the showing of one French picture for every nine foreign films brought into the country, has been voted by the Council of State, it is understood. Although details have not been made public French producers hope the restric(Covtinued on Page 4) Offsetting Competition JOSEPH M. SCHENCK raises the radio spectre again. The industry must do something to contest the hold which radio is exercising on the American public, he declares. In the answer to his own question, he states the finest in entertainment is the solution. Of course, Schenck is correct. Once this business begins to totter on the brink of indifferent product it won't take much of a push to shove it off. Mediocrity in pictures must be avoided like cancer, else it will prove fatal. We have heard all of the arguments and explanations on record about the difficulties of production. Turning out good entertainment by the mile is not an easy task. Isn't It Overproduction? It is largely because of overproduction that pictures are not holding up. The general condition in Hollywood is one of perpetual rush. How can it be otherwise when a heavy releasing schedule is to be met? One of the principal arguments put forward by the organizations which are turning out too many pic (.Continued on Page 4) Both Companies Previously Denied Any Combine was Being Planned Joseph P. Kennedy, president of FBO, has become associated with Pathe Exchange, at the request of company executives. No details other than this official announcement are forthcoming. Whether Kennedy's connection with Pathe may be the forerunner of a merger of that company, or to effect a reorganization of that company's finances, is a subject for speculation. Kennedy has been in conference for some time with J. J. Murdock, Pathe president. Some months ago, THE FILM DAILY reported probability of a Pathe-FBO deal, but this promptly was denied by both companies. 20 FILMS NUCLEUS OF NEW RAYART SCHEDULE Twenty pictures have already been decided upon as the nucleus of the Rayart program for next season, under plan of President W. Ray Johnston, who now is en route to the Coast. When he arrives at Los Angeles, Johnston will hold a series of conferences, at which will be determined the total number for next year. Rayart, with a schedule of 30 pictures for the current season, has completed 24 of this output. Johnston will supervise production of remaining pictures^ and discuss new stories and titles. Klitsch Sends Greetings Over Berlin-N. Y. Thone One of the first radio telephone messages to come through from Berlin yesterday when the New York service was inaugurated was a message from Ludwig Klitsch, president (Continued on Page 4)