The Film Daily (1928)

THE DAILV Friday, Febr« m Coast Wire Service Revising Free-Lance Pact CONTRACT COMMITTEE TO Clarification of points declared to be of minor importance is to be entrusted to the contract committee which drafted the uniform contract covering services of free lance players. After an attack on the new form of agreement, the executive committee of the Academy of M. P. Arts and Sciences, voted to refer the contract back to the committee. The film division of Actor's Equity also is interesting itself in clauses of the contract under fire. Mix Injuries Expected to Postpone Vaudeville Tour Vaudeville trip of Tom Mix is expected to be postponed as a result of illness of the star, who has developed a severe cold, following the accident during filming of his last picture for Fox. The star suffered three fractured ribs, a sprained wrist and injured leg. The mishap occurred during filming of a fight sequence. Bedard Leaves Swanson Unit Pierre Bedard has resigned as production manager for Gloria Swanson. Le Baron*s Aide Louis Sarecky has been named assistant to William Le Baron, F B O production head. He will be in charge of production supervisors. Tvfo more are to be added in April. Financial Mel Brown to Leave "U" When Contract Expires Melville Brown is to leave Universal on expiration of his present contract. Sutherland Joining M-G-M? Eddie Sutherland has resigned from Paramount and may join M-G-M. Polly Moran in Davidson Comedy Polly Moran appears opposite Max Davidson in a new Hal Roach comedy which Arch Heath is directmg. Gene Morgan and Dorothy Coburn are in the cast. Heart Attack Fatal to Plummer Lincoln Plummer, actor, is dead from heart disease. Gibson Buys "Points West" Reeves Eason will direct "Points West" which Hoot Gibson has pur chased. The story is by B. M. Bowers. La Rocque Going Abroad Rod La Rocque is en route to New York on a trip to Hungary, where he will rejoin his wife, Vilma Banky. Casting for "Yellow Lily" Gustave Von Seyffertitz, Jane Winton and Charles Puffy have been cast in "The Yellow Lily," which Alexander Korda will direct for First National. M. P. CAPITAL TO VOTE ON QUiniNG FILM BUSINESS Stockholders of M. P. Capital Corp. are to be asked at the annual meeting, March 7, to ratify decision of President Frank R. Wilson to withdraw from financing of film enterprises, so far as specialization in risks of the industry are concerned. It is expected they will vote to restrict or entirely discontinue lending of money to producers, and recommend concentration in other lines. The company's position recently was outlined by Wilson, who stated that affiliations in the industry, which result in trading of playing time and controlled situations, preclude possibility of profit for independent producers. Quotations a Fractional drops was the ordq day in the market yesterday, practic film issue being affected. Paran men featured in the trading with 9,1 marketed. Janet McLeod Cast Janet McLeod has been cast for a part in the fifth of the Al Cooke pictures for FBO distribution by Larry Darmour. Puffy in "Last Cab" Charles Puffy has been cast for "The Last Cab," his own original, which W. K. Howard will direct. ONE THOUSAND PAGES OF INTEREST 1000 Pages Cloth Bound FREE TO Film Daily SUBSCRIBERS COVERS EVERYTHING GOES EVERYWHERE War Scenes at F. N. Seventeen hundred and SO film players were drafted into service at the First National studio for the war scenes of "Lilac Time," a Colleen Moore-George Fitzmaurice special production. Capra Making "Matinee Idol" Johnnie Walker is co-featured with Bessie Love in "The Matinee Idol" which Frank Capra is directing for Columbia from adaptation by Elmer Harris and continuity by Peter Milne. Paramount Stockholders Up 23 Per Cent In 1927 Twenty-three per cent increase in the number of common stockholders of Paramount was made in the year ending Dec. 15, 1927, bringing the total to 5,010. During the eight years from 1920 to 1927, both inclusive, the common stock has paid $81.25 a share in cash, valuable rights and stock dividends, or considerably more than the average selling price of the stock in 1920, which was $67.50 a share. Last year the stock paid $11.87^ a share in dividends and rights, figuring the latter at their average market price and the two per cent stock dividend at par. Net earnings in 1927 showed an increase over the previous year of more than 40 per cent and were equivalent to $12.83 a share on the comon stock. High •Am. Seat. Vtc *Ara. Seat. Pfd *Balaban & Katz *Bal. & Katz Vtc tCon. Film Ind... 19^ tCon. Film Ind.Pfd. 23'4 Eastman Kodak ..165}^ *East. Kodak Pfd *tFilm Inspection ' •First Nat'l Pfd Fox Film "A"... 79yi tFox Theaters "A". 19 ji •Intern'l Project •ttKeiths 6s 46 Loew's, Inc 62^ ttLoew's, 6s 41ww.l075^ ttLoew's,6s41x-war. 10154 M-G-M Pfd 26J4 ♦M. P. Cap. Corp Pathe Exchange . . 3H tPathe Exch. "A". 14^ ttPathe Exch. 7s37 68 Paramount F-L 115?i •Paramount Pfd ttPar.Bway.5Hs51.102 **Roxy "A" " **Roxy Units ••Roxy Common . . **Skouras Bros. . . Stan. Co. of Am. . tTrans-Lux Pictures •♦United Art. . . . •♦United Art. Pfd. 85 tUniv. Pictures . 23 •Univ. Pict. Pfd tWarner Bros 17^8 Warner Bros. "A" 27 H Low CIo .... 3! 23 lesvi i( .... li 7m 19 II J 1 I .... 10 61% 107H 10 101 10 26J4 nvt It 66>/4 \UM i: 16H 11 25M 21 •Last Prices Quoted •*Bid and All tlw tCurb Market ttBond Marki NOTE: Balaban & KaU is listf Chicago Board; Skouras on the Stock Exchange and Stanley in PI Cast Opposite Joe Brown Gertrude Ohnstead has been cast opposite Joseph E. Brown in "Notices" which Ralph Ince is directing for FBO. Norton Contract Extended Barrj' Norton has signed a long term contract with Fox. Clara Bow Improved Clara Bow is reported resting easily following an operation for appendicitis. Income of Amer. Seating in 1927, $938,359 Net Net income of American Seating Co., in 1927 totaled $938,359 after charges, depreciation and Federal taxes, compared with $1,229,383 in 1926. The company has declared quarterly dividend of 75 cents, payable April 1 to stock of record Mar. 20. Foreign Business 40 P. C. of Film Grosses, Loew Says Foreign business of the industry represents 40 per cent of the gross, Arthur Loew, first vice president of M-G-M, told delegates to the international sales meeting now in session at the Hotel Astor, New York. Foreign revenue has been increasing steadily, he said, pointing out that three years ago it represented but 12 per cent of the gross. Loew's in Demand Considerable demand is reported evidenced for stock of Loew's, with buying coming through houses which were identified with first climb of the stock several years ago. This is declared due to anticipated increase of earnings as a result of expansion. EDWARD B. SMI &C0. Members New York, PhilaJil]] and Boston Stock Exchanp Corporate Financing Philadelphia k< New York B«i