The Film Daily (1929)

DAILY Friday, November 29, 19; Fox and Warner Preparing to Answer Govt. Anti-Trust Suits (Continued from Page 1) separating of Warner Bros, from First National and Stanley Co. of America. No date has been set for hearings on the actions, which were filed Wednesday in the U. S. District Court, New York. Both suits are civil actions and are separate. In the Warner suit, Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc., and Stanley Co. of America are made defendants. In the action against Fox, Fox Film Corp., Fox Theaters Corp., and William Fox are defendants. The Warner suit alleges that through the control of Stanley and the purchase of 71,893 shares of First National stock in the open market, Warner Bros, now completely dominate First National. Further allegation is made that Warner Bros, have transferred all business and assets of First National to the recently-formed First National of Maryland, a creation of its own. In this way, says the complaint, First National has been eliminated as a competitor of Warner Bros. Allegation is made that the defendants in this action control a quarter of the picture business. In the action against Fox the Government seeks to set aside the acquisition by Fox interests of Loews, Inc., which in turn owns M-G-M, Inc., owners of M-G-M Pictures Corp., and M-G-M Distributing Corp. The complaint says that on Feb. 25, last Fox interests came into control of 435,000 shares of Loew's common stock and alleges that Fox plans to acquire more. Contention is made in both the Fox and Warner cases that the stock ownership in both instances reduces competition in interstate commerce. "No comment" was the attitude of companies involved in the actions when queried by THE FILM DAILY Wednesday afternoon. Canty Urges Developing of American Chains Abroad (Continued from Page 1) Wednesday night, summarized the legislative situation in nine European countries which have enacted quotas and contingents against Hollywood product, and showed where these were gradually being abandoned or changed as the various governmental authorities were discovering them to be impractical and reacting on themselves more than on the American producers. In most cases they amounted to mere subterfuges for retarding the growth and popularity of American product, and were only serving to hamper the development of their native productions, he declared. The present outlook for American development throughout Europe is very encouraging, Canty asserted, due principally to the admitted inability of all foreign countries to adequately meet the problems of talking pictures to date. American producers, however, find themselves in the position of marking time, as the returns on present bookings are inadequate, and they are indisposed to go ahead until the various European governments show a disposition to treat our productions more considerably and reenact their restrictive legislation accordingly. Meanwhile Commissioner Canty urges strongly upon our producers that they adopt what he terms a "long-range program" to meet the great opportunities that are bound to come within the next 18 months. His plan calls for two major campaigns on our part. First : Development of adequate theaters under American control in all key cities of Europe, which properly equipped with sound reproduction will give us the undisputed lead when Continental nations realize they must "play ball" or suffer more than we will. Second : Well organized propaganda campaigns to impress upon the European picture-going public the superiority of our product, so that pressure from their own peoples will force their government agencies to fall in line. American production organizations are now face to face with a splendid opportunity for laying the groundwork for dominance of the European market on a scale which has never yet been attained, Commissioner Canty stated emphatically. But he stressed the fact that we must give individual problems in the various European countries intensive study and research. This will call for the employment of trained specialists in the different nations who would be permanently established there, backed by an organization and adequately trained man-power to sell the product when the time comes. This means the highest type of salesmen who have an understanding of the particular psychology of the people they are dealing with. Forcing of our product on European markets at this time is very inadvisable, Canty believes, and the present situation throughout the Continent calls for intensive effort in selling Europe thoroughly on our ability to deliver sound pictures to meet the individual requirements of every nation. The Commissioner is convinced that European sound systems can give us no serious competition, and that eventually they will have to come to us if they are ever to develop their own native productions and build up their picturegoing public. Commissioner Canty has just returned from an intensive study of the new sound developments in Hollywood, and is very enthusiastic over the entire situation. He called particular attention to the work of Friedrick Zelnick, a German Technical specialist who is pioneering an entirely new field which promises to become of major importance in supplying multilingual films to meet the needs of all foreign countries. Zelnick has worked out an original and practical system for "dubbing," or doubling scenes on the sound track. This system he has successfully demonstrated in the production of a German version of United Artists' "Lummox." Zelnick takes the English sound version and perfectly synchronizes the English spoken words with synonymous words in German so that the timing with the lip-movement of the player is perfect. For illustration: "Go away" is accurately converted into the German "Ge veck," perfectly fitting the lip movement. Again, in the case of the line "Good-bye," the German "Aufwiedersehen" equivalent would be entirely out of timing, and Zelnick works out another expression that fits the lip movement accurately. He is now applying his system to another big production for a Spanish version. Canty says that here is the beginning of a new technical field which solves the problem of foreign language versions on Hollywood product. Coast Wire Service Hollywood Happenings T GETS 5-YEAR OPTION ON REMARQUt'S WRITINGS Universal has an option on Erich Maria Remarque's literary efforts for the next five years under an agreement signed with the author of "All Quiet on the Western Front." Warner Oland is Cast for First National Film Warner Oland has been added to the cast of "Faithful," which First National will produce with Billie Dove starred. In the cast are George Barraud, Montagu Love and Kaj Francis. Lloyd Bacon will direct the production, based on an original story by Forrest Halsey. Adolfi Directing Short John G. Adolfi is directing "The New Racket," a Vitaphone Variety. In the cast are Gardner James, DeWitt Jennings, James Bradbury, Jr., Irene Homer and Edwin Lynch. Fox to Start Film Show "The Girl Who Wasn't Wanted" will be placed in production by Fox in two weeks. Exteriors will be made in the Lake Louise district of Canada. Helen Chandler and George O'Brien have the chief roles. Universal Signs Writer Helen Grace Carlisle has been placed under contract to write originals and dialogue for Universal. New Title for M-G-M Film "Playing the Field" has been selected as the final title of the film which Van and Schenck are making for M-G-M. It was formerly "Take It Big." Get Roles in Comedy Norman Peck and John Litel, Los Angeles stage players, have been added to the cast of the Jack White talking comedy now in production at Educational. Color for Columbia Film A number of sequences in Columbia's "The Melody Man" will be done in Technicolor. The film is based on the stage production of Herbert Fields, Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart. John St. Polis will handle the title role. Arlen Film Named "Burning Up" "Burning Up" has been picked as the final title of Richard Arlen's first starring picture for Paramount. Edward Sutherland is directing. Caesar Writes Dialogue Dialogue in "She Couldn't Say No," being made by Warner with Winnie Lightner and Chester Morris in the cast, is the work of Arthur Caesar. A Little from "Lots"\ By RALPH W1LK Hollyw\ JEAN HERSHOLT is consider a very attractive offer to appear! New York in a stage version of "1 Van Winkle." It is said the offer] eludes a weekly salary of $5,000. was while Hersholt was on localj in Tampa, Fla., playing the featt male role in "Hell's Harbor," he was approached by a New stage producer and tendered proposition. He has until Januarj to make his decision. * * * Sarah Y. Mason is one of busiest writers at M-G-M. adapted "Broadway Melody" also wrote the scenario f-or "AM Jimmy Valentine." She also tvrV the screen plays for "Take It Bl starring Van and Schenck, M "Fresh From College," which t| star William Haines. * * * Smiling Ralph Dietrich, who st| ed his editorial work in the EastX cently completed the editing of "M Hawk," for Fox. He has edited si eral Fox Movietone features. * * * Our Passing Show: Joel Weber and Lew Fields dining! at M-G-M; Benny Rubin and] Joan Crawford chatting at M-G-M; John Miljan busy at] First National, to whom he| was loaned by M-G-M. "Camera Shy" Hamilton's Nexi With "Grass Skirts" completq Lloyd Hamilton is to start prodi tion soon on "Camera Shy." 2 Signed as RKO Directors George Archainbaud and Laud; Hillyer have been signed to duj for RKO. Berlin Tunes for Richman Harry Richman sings six numb written by Irving Berlin expres for "Puttin on the Ritz," wh United Artists will present. To Be Heard But Not Seen John Ford will be heard but seen singing in "Men Without men," which he is directing for Another Change of Title "Tonight's the Night," forme "Hollywood Nights," is now tit "What a Break." Frank Strayer| directing. • Part for Lucille Hutton Lucille Hutton is in the cast "Cold Shivers," Jack White talkhj comedy. M-G-M Contract for Feyder Jacques Feyder has been awards a long-term contract by M-G-M.