The Film Daily (1928)

Sound Film Fight Continues ^^NEWSPAPER Warm at St. Louis ALL THE NEWS ALL THE TIME OL. XLV No. 40 Thursday, August 16, 1928 Price 5 Cents ''The Terror" [T was a large evening. Last night at the Warner theater, several incidents worthy of ;ngthy chronicle took place, hief plaudits properly go to The Terror," the first mystery tory to be produced in comlete sound. For the lucky houses wired )r sound, it's a la-la. The picire is loaded down with so lany money-making possibilies that it's just too bad for the Teater operator who doesn't get . This is why : "The Terror" 'ill capitalize on its appeal as a ovelty. That alone would be Lifficient to declare it in. But dd to that an A-1 mystery yarn, niformly excellent performnces, and fine production vales and you get a bearcat of a rawing card. hike a Play The dialogue is, in the main, effecve although it does sHther off into jthingness here and there. Roy Del 'uth directed and did a very good )b, particularly in view of the many id knotty problems which must ave been countered in the form sound. And the cast from head I toes did such splendid work that e gladly and vigorously doff our litorial chapeau in recognition, ovely May McAvoy gives her cest performance in some time; le's always an asset. Louise FaMida, Alec Francis, John Miljan, olmes Herbert, Otto Hoffman, rank Austin, Joseph Girard — fine 'ery one. And for Edward Everett orton we reserve particular menon. He deserves it. An excellent 'rformer and an ace among polite )medians. "The Terror" easily becomes the ■St of talking pictures so far made. is very much like a stage play in 5 development and, despite that its ngth makes it waver here and there, le off moments certainly are not ifficient to detract from the fact lat the production, in the main, Is the bill with loads to spare. A Beau Geste It was an interesting and exciting '.y for Warners in other respects, o. The Winter Garden, New York )me of so many Al Jolson stage ccesses, was annexed. "The Singg Fool," Al's next Vitaphone spell opetjs the house. A nice gesture. K A N N N.Y.WINTER GARDEN FOR t Vitaphone roadshows will play the Winter Garden, N. Y., under a long erm lease closed by H. M. Warner. The house will be taken over early n September when Al Jolson's second picture, "The Singing Fool" opens for a run. The Winter Garden was the scene of many Jolson com dy triumphs. "Noah's Ark" will be the second Vitaphone picture to play the house. MUSICIANS PROFESS NO FEAR OVER SOUND FILMS Despite rapid trend of theaters throughout the country toward sound pictures, with resultant cutting of orchestras, the American Federation of Musicians professes do see no permanent overshadowing of orchestral music, and any which takes place will be short-lived. This is the deduction made by Joseph N. Weber, federation head, following a national survey of conditions, brought about by advent of sound films. However, despite this view, Weber has instructed his members working (Continued on Page 7) OHIO CENSORS CHANGE STAND ON SOUND FILMS BRITISH 1ST NAT! GOES TO MAXWELL OF B. I. PROD. By ERNEST W. FREDMAN Editor "The Daily Film Renter" London (By Wireless) — Controlling interest in First National-Pathe has been secured by John Ma.xwell for British International Pictures. The deal will not affect distribution of First National product through the English company. Chain of Suburban Houses Being Planned at Dallas Dallas — Development of a chain of suburban theaters, in ownership of which members of the community are to be invited to participate, is planned here by A. M. Eminhiser, who has two theaters at Oklanoma City and is preparing to build three more there. Beaverbrook Interests Go to B.I.P. in Britsh Deal John Ma.xwell, managing director of British International who is in (.Continued on Page 8) JANNINGS STAYSON WITH T; IVest Coait Bureau, THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Emil Jannings has signed a new contract with Paramount. The agreement eliminates persistent talk that the German star would return to Berlin to produce following expiration of his contract. He is now working in "Sins of the Father" which Ludwig Berger is directing. Sound will be used. "The Patriot," latest Jannings" pictures iias its world premiere at the Rialto, New York tomorrow night at nine o'clock. Ernst Lubitsch directed. Musicians Postpone Increase Demand and Offer Wage Cuts First Film to Determine Reinhardt Future Course Berlin (By Cable) — Max Reinhardt will produce films regularly in Germany if his initial picture wliich he is to direct for United Artists is successful. Lillian Gish is to star. Conferences are being held here between Reinhardt, Joseph M. Schenck, Morris Gest and Miss Gish. Reinhardt will produce the picture in Hollywood in December. St. Louis — While continuing their fight against sound pictures, local musicians have postponed adoption of a new salary schedule and have volunteered to permit some neighborhood houses to employ musicians at $13 a week less than heretofore. The fight on mechanical music, so called, is waxing warm, despite musicians' attitude on the wage problem. Governor Sam Baker of Missouri (.Continued on Page 8) Waive Claim to Pass on Dialogue When Hoover Film Comes Up Columbus, O. — Ohio censors, who have the backing of a ruling by the attorney general of the state in their contention that they have the right to censor dialogue in sound pictures, declined to exercise that right in case of the Fox Movietone picture of Herbert Hoover's speech accepting the Republican nomination for the presidency. The film was passed yesterday. Fo.x had refused to submit the sound to censorship, contending the board had no right to censor sound. The board refused to get into any discussion on the subject, and waived examination of the sound, because of the nature of the subject, passing it without hearing. MADISON OVERSEATED WITH 6 TO 1 RATIO Madison, Wis. — This city has more theater seats per population than any other city of its size in the Middle West, according to local theater managers. Records show that the houses have a combined seating capacity of 10,025. With an estimated population of 57,000, Madison has a theater seat for every six people. Because of the strong competition Madison is regarded as a good theater town. Atlanta Censors Ban "Uncle Tom's Cabin" Atlanta — "Lhicle Tom's Cabin" has been banned by the local board of censors on the ground that its showing would tend to stir up sectional hatred and race prejudice. Universal is expected to abide by the ruling. Colony Reopening as "U" Sound Combination House The Colony, New York, will be reopened Labor Day by Universal with a combination policy of pictures, vaudeville and Vitaphone subjects.