The Film Daily (1930)

THE i Monday, June 2, 1930 Timely Topics A Digest of Current Opinion © ilways Will Be Star System pVERY once in a while the question of the star system pops up again. Are stars essential to the success of a film? Isn't the story the thing and couldn't a picture be just as successful without some particular shining light, a£ well as with some big name to carry it along? There have been films, of course, that have not needed the presence of a star as a drawing card, and there are some directors, notably Eisenstein, who will have none of stars, or even actors, preferring to choose types best suitable to the narrative, and then teaching them all that need be known about acting. But, on the whole, it seems quite evident that in this country at least, where movie patrons love to worship at the shrines of their favorites, there will always be a demand for the star system. That is so long as they are competent. The public is demanding more and more of their favorites, especially now that the talkies are here, and if they don't measure up to snuff they are soon discarded. Witness the case of John Gilbert and others. To the query then, "Will the star system ever be abolished?" the usnual answer from film executives is "No." However, there is an exception. According to Larry Kent, head of the short subject department at Paramount's New York studio, the star system has been abandoned in the production of short motion picture comedies. "It has been found essential for the success of a one or two reel comedy that the material be selected before the cast," Mr. Kent explained. "It is seldom that a really funny story can be built around a particular player." — William Boehnel in "N. Y. Telegram" Over 100 films listed on 193031 programs will have color sequences or will be all-color. Along The Rialto with PhilM. Daly QNE OF these very "exclusive" films that can only be shown to gents behind locked doors is being peddled around town ........ it has a big magazine publisher worried, for the gal in the jazzy film is shown reading a copy of one of his mags that is nationally famous so the mag man hired a gum-shoe man to try and cop the negative and print, but so far no success • it seems that the gum-shoe man is financially interested in the jazz film now ain't that a break for the mag man? * * * * CUZETTE AUBERT, well known Parisian ingenue comedienne, just dropped in from Argentine where she has been knocking the natives cuckoo with those chansons such as Chevalier sings so enchantingly Suzette has just left us, and thees world eet seem much brighter and filled with sunshine and oo-la-la. Teddy Pitts, assistant manager at the Capitol, still owns one of those Whippett roadsters he is using it as a ballyhoo for the old fashioned "Florodora Girl" now playing at his theater Abe Waxman is back in town from the Atlantic City convention, and he is still sporting that gold-headed cane that had 'em dizzy on the seaside boardwalk * * * * f YA DE PUTTI, that oh so charming Continental, is with us again to appear on the New York stage Warners are giving Paramount a gratuitous break the sidewalk loudspeaker at the Winter Garden Seventh Ave. entrance is playing "March of the Vagabonds," theme song of "The Vagabond King" Martin Starr, the AMPA sec, is also a big golf man, for his score card never shows more than 78 when he hits that number of strokes, he quits playing Katharine Swan, who has been identified with Paris stage productions, aided D. A. Doran in selecting Columbia's current program * * * * YV7HAT A party that was which Yascha Bunchuk threw Sunday eve at the Moscow Art restaurant for Capitol employees by way of celebrating his first anniversary as conductor About 25 New Jersey theaters came near being without programs the other day a film delivery truck was loaded with film over at the Film' Center building, when the driver discovered his gasoline tank punctured some gent threw a lighted cigarette in the flowing gas in the gutter, and it took fast work to save the truck from the column of flames. Mary Lewis en route from Europe to Hollywood, stops in New York for a few days, as she sez, "just to pay a few telephone bills" how many phones has that gal got, anvwavr A L ZIMBALIST assures us he edits the Warner "Club News" after office hours not such a tough job, Al, visiting those pretty Warner gals at their homes collecting social notes. H. M. Addison, managing director of Loew's Rochester theater, has been promoted to manager of the Penn in Pittsburgh George Reddy, our office pal, became a blooming bridegroom Sunday, so the gang stood around his deserted desk for a minute and paid silent tribute to this hero, while the editorial cuckoo clock cucked a coupla coos Hugh O'Connell, appearing in Vitaphone shorts, is in Atlantic City as the principal player in "Once In A Lifetime," a stage show at the Apollo William Fox and family also Atlantic citying * * * * LTAY JOHNSON planned to leave New York for Hollywood by airplane as she said: "A friend gave me a handsome suitcase built just for airplane travel, and' it seems a shame to waste it on a train" ain't that just like a woman? The current Movietone News shows Uncle Sam's flyers counting eggs of Oregon sea gulls now we know why these flyers are called birdmen And what happened to Ambrose J. Small, who disappeared in Toronto ten years ago after closing a $1,000,000 deal with the old Trans-Canada theater? * * * * 'T'HEY USED n mike 'it the annual conference of Ihr Dmf and Dumb Association, just to be np-to-date. EXPLOITETTES A Clearing House for Tabloid Exploitation Ideas — €)— Use Ushers On Advertising Plug [TSHERS come more directly in personal contact with patrons than any other members of theater staffs. Russell F. Brown, at the Fox MacDonald Theater, Eugene, Oregon, is aware of this fact and uses it advantageously as part of his advertising campaigns. Recently he has been supplementing his program mailing list with postcards, signed by his ushers. The girls are called into conference, go over the mailing list, each one picking out the people whom she personally knew. —'Wow" * * * Used Door Stunt for "Rogue Song" PRACTICALLY every business house in Cheyenne, Wyoming, was closed for the opening of "The Rogue Song" in the Fox Lincoln Theater. Bill Fairchild, the manager, had door cards made to hang on the handles reading "Closed! Gone to see The Rogue Song." The stunt was a scoop on other Cheyenne houses. The Lincoln did the real business that day. Just because it was Sunday made little difference. —Fox MANY HAPPY RETURNS Best wishes and congratulations are extended by THE FILM DAILY to the following members of the industry, who are celebrating their birthdays: June 2 Hedda Hopper Benjamin Goetz Ada Williams