The Film Daily (1929)

THE Sunday, December 15, 1929 DAILV Timely Topics A Digest of Current Opinion — o— Censor Not Hired to Weigh Artistic Values, is Opinion THE censors are, perhaps, worthy of more sympathy than they receive. Only with an unyielding standard of what is right morally and what is wrong morally can the censor function efficiently. If his standard occasionally conflicts with the somewhat vague ideas we hold as to what is right artistically and what is wrong artistically, he, certainly, is not to blame. He is hired as a watchdog and not as a dramatic critic. James Gow in "The Sunday World", New York. * * * Holds Dialogue Regulates Warmth of Love in Talkers TN the voiceless picture the ■*■ language of love is of a necessity left to the imagination. It will require fine writing to make the same, spoken, as full of tenderness and poesy as that which exists in the mind only. But there are playwrights equal to the task. Dialogue — that is what will make the love sparkle in American films. Artistic dialogue, tipped with the fire of passion, vivid with the flame of truth. Jacques Feyder, Director * * * Sherwood Says Films Will Ever Be Dependent on Stage THE screen will continue, as it always has done, to find its chief source of talent and material in the living theater. Now, with talking pictures definitely established, it is obvious that in most cases the actor who has had stage training will enjoy an appreciable advantage over the actor who has never appeared in person before an audience. What the movies can take from the stage — what they have always taken from the stage and profited thereby — is youth, and enthusiasm, and the creative urge. Robert E. Sherwood in the "New York Evening Post" THEIR FIRST JOBS GARY COOPER selling advertising Along The Rialto with PhilM. Daly, Jr. YOU may be interested to know that Nancy Lou is the latest addition to the Leaper family. The head man of the family is Earl T. Leaper, who manages the Paramount and does a good job of that also A fellow by the name of G. D. Lottman, handling the pen for Robbins Music Corp., tells us "How Am I to Know" is stepping out as the "best" seller, well, how were we? * * * * Some more "hells," Hank Linet, the dashing youth of Columbia, phones to claim "Hell's Bells" for dear 'Id Columbia, they made it as a Disney Silly Symphony and also adds "Hell's Island" a feature with Holt in the lead Well, try this one: How many sister teams working in the picture game? Beat this gang, the Arons, four in all, and getting their scheckels from M-G-M, Helen, Rita and Dorothy and Madeline with the Capitol * * * * Frederic Fradkin, violinist, has been added to the list of (artists scheduled for the Roxy. Remember him when he was with the Warner theater? Handles a mean bow, that man. Sidney Blackmer by this time is evidently nearing the center of the U. S. A. on his auto hike to the Coast, "Murder Will Out" the cause of this urgent ride * * * * The Rosenstein duo, Mr. and Mrs. of Rosco Lab, B'klyn, who always carry a horseshoe in their car, sure can thank the luck it brought them recently. While hitting it up on Ocean Parkway, they smashed with another machine, completely demolished their own, without any personal injuries. Luck, and how * * * * Joe Fisher, Singapore exhibitor, who has been in New York buying equipment and films for the Orient's first ultra-modern picture house, made a hurried trip to Boston the past week * * * * Lynn Farnol, who gets publicity for Sam Goldwyn, has been appointed to the board of trustees of the Birth Control League, no less The Bremen's passenger list contains the names of Mr. and Mrs. Sidney R. Kent, who gangplank Saturday. John McCormack's initial talker may be appropriately released on St. Patrick's Day, according to Fox whisperings * * * * P. A. notices sort of suggest that we newspapermen are now getting a break in pitchers. Paramount is contributing "The River Inn" to the swelling crop of newspaper yarns and "U" is pepped up over "The Night Ride," which also deals with gents of the press Ken Hansen, assistant to Boris Morros, Pub lix music big chief, has been transferred to the editorial staff of "Publix Opinion," which, in case you don't know, is the Publix house organ. He'll aid Ben Serkowich * * * * Ann Harding Week, Neilson convinces us, was unofficially observed in Los Angeles theatrical circles from Dec. S to 12 when two of the Pathe star's pictures were presented there. DECEMBER 14-15-MANY HAPPY RETURNS Best wishes and congratulations are extended by THE FLM DAILY to the following members of the industry, who are celebrating their birthday on these days. December 14th James W. Home Frank Campeau Ray Foster Warren Boothby Jack E. Raymond Edward Royce December 15th Charles Rosenzweig —AND THA T'S THAT By PHIL M DALY TRY THIS typewriter exercise on your word-mangling machine, fellers. All ready? Let's start: "Now is the time for all good film men to come to the aid of The Film Daily Relief Fund." That's great. Once more. Now follow with this little exercise: "Enclosed please find check as my bit toward the good cause." You can vary this last exercise any way you like — just so long as you send the check. Atta boy. We knew it was just an oversight that you hadn't sent it before this. ♦ * * Coming up in the elevator, we found ourself alone with two Roxyette cuties. And take it from us, pal, they were eye-dazzlers. One had her leg— er— limb raised up with her foot resting on the other's knee while her friend tied the shoelace. The chorinette tying the lace remarks: "This is my daily good deed." We speaks up as the elevator stops at our floor. "Mitt us, kid. I'm a Boy Scout, too." * * * And she threw both her mitts at us. Tombstone Titles {.Dedicated to Publicity Men) Just a press agent's last resting place Bought on the installment plan, .With the last payment clear He flopped down here A worn out but happy man. * * *. G. R. (Jerry) Keyser, foreign publicity blurber for First Nash, burns up the A. T. & T. telephone system this morn to advise us that one of the also-ran in a British trade paper contest for an alternative name for the "talkies" submitted "cineMUTTERgraph." TEN YEARS AGO TO-DAY IN David Horsley is named an incorporator of Unista Film Manufacturing Co. * * * Herman F. Jans, exhibitor, forms Jans Pictures, Inc., to produce. D. W. Griffith safe after being lost at sea for 24 hours. Park-Whiteside forms Cinemaplays, Inc., to feature Gail Kane and Thurston Hall.