The Film Daily (1930)

Timely Topics A Digest of Current Opinion — c— Talkies Have Changed the Director's Task nPOO much directing is as perilous to the success of a picture as too little. An overzealous director can do more harm to a production than one who is inferior. It is particularly true in these days, when so many first-rate artists have been brought to the industry, particularly actors. The danger of directorial ego hampering the genius and cramping the technique of actors ought to be recognized in every studio, by every man who undertakes to direct. There was a time when the standards of screen acting were not so high as they are today, that a director was called upon almost to lead his actors through their parts. Nuances and subtleties of dramatic expression had to be explained, and then the director usually offered a prayer as he called for the camera. Today, the less interference that can be exerted upon the actor, once he has been given a conception of the drama and his role in it, the better. Instinct, training and feeling will do the work formerly shouldered upon the director, and the competent actor is at his best when left alone. Let the director be alert to sense the false note in the acting, to guide the ensembles with rhythm and speed, and the rest can be left to the actor. I have known of many a scene which was spoiled because the director insisted on imposing on a player a technique or method which was foreign to his equipment. Al Rogell Along The Rialto Of the wired houses in Germany, 168 are in 47 cities with a population of 100,000 or more. with PhilM. Daly JsJAT SAL AND, head of Craft Film Laboratories, is building a new lab in H'lywood so when ground was broken they sent Nat a souvenir bottle containing some of the soil from the first shovelful another case of digging up dirt about Hollywood * * * * JOE JOHNSON, former Commissioner of Public Works and now a big Fox exec, is ensconced in about the handsomest suite of offices you ever saw Jack Norworth and the missus, recently signed for a series of Vitaphone shorts, are vacationing on the continent and will return in September Burnet Hershey of the Vitaphone scenario staff has written a thrill novelette to appear in "Top Notch" mag soon Joe Deegan was appointed to the Mayor's Committee to welcome Commander Byrd yesterday On the Wampas' committee to visit the sick, notes Harrison Carroll, are a Mr. Coffin and a Mr. Joy a sort of bon voyage committee * * * * A L SELIG has a new gag he pulls when he wants to be polite to a visitor who is handing him a line of boloney when the gent has finished his spiel, Al quietly pulls out that new gag book written by Joseph Fulling Fishman, and places it face up on the desk the title of the book is "It's Still Boloney" to us the best wheeze in the brochure is this: "Success Rule: Never watch the clock. Watch your stenog who is always watching the clock. Besides, the stenog is easier to look at, and is just as reliable around quitting time." Wood Holly of the Losang "Express" tells one about Walter Catlett, who has played 19 roles in the past 22 months, and Walter sez: "All of them put together wouldn't even make a good butler." J7CONOMY HAS hit the stars Harold Lloyd saves pieces of twine, Will Rogers saves discarded plugs of tobacco, and Tom Mix saves small pieces of soap and the Scotch player, Jimmy Finlayson, combines all the hobbies by saving everything James M. Fiddler, publicity specialist in Bab bletown, has became engaged to Dorothy Lee, the film actress Dorothy will keep on dancing while Jimmy fiddles. Bob Shapiro, formerly chief-of-service at the Paramount and Rialto theaters, has attained his life's ambish as student treasurer at the Rivoli he wears a soup-and-fish TAMES A. FITZPATRICK is celebrating Fourth of July ahead of vime his Independence Day special, with Vice President Curtis speaking, has been booked by R-K-O and the Loew circuit a coupla more like this and James should be independent for life Charles Stumer, former Universal cameraman, now with Ufa, arrived here from Berlin only to find a cable waiting him to return on the same boat to make interiors in Stockholm Frank Tuttle, ace director, was running around in circles just before shooting started on "Love Among the Millionaires" the company watched him uneasily for a half hour as he ran hither and yon with a worried expression. thinking the heat had got him finally Frank came up all smiles with a frayed and tattered necktie which he adjusted with a sigh of relief it's his good luck charm, which he happened to be wearing years ago when he directed his first success. A WIRE framed to get publicity was sent from a gyp producer in H'lywood to his New York representative, but a dumb stenog in sending out copies to the trade papers forgot to eliminate the REAL dope the wire was substantially as follows: "Preview of 'Unhappy Girls' a riot — audience went wild — so did the guy who put up the jack — he's gone meshuga and is suing us — wire carfare at once." "CVER NOTICE how some unattractive girls are so a-peeling whew sunburned 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 20 Scott R. Dunlap Betty Lorraine Edward Shelling EXPL0ITETTES A Clearing House for Tabloid Exploitation Ideas — €)— Bank Window Display for "Caught Short" J^K interesting display in a savings bank, arranged by I. Wienscheink, of the Majestic, La Salle, 111. A window and counter display was arranged in the La Salle Trust and Savings Bank. A cut-out figure of a man with a movable arm was placed in the window, his arm upraised, pointing to a sign with a small builtup cut-out letters reading: "To be 'Caught Short' shows a lack of thrift. Start saving NOW — and you won't have to play on margin. See Polly Moran and Marie Dressier in 'Caught Short' at the Majestic Theater." Inside on the counter was a similar sign and in addition, a thousand pieces of spurious money was distributed. n — M-G-M * * * Remembrance Gift j Promotes Showing JN playing "Sweethearts and Wives," at the Olympia. Miami, Fla., the management took advantage of Fathers' Day. A small insert in the iegdlSr newspaper advertising read as follows: "Fathers' Day — To the fathers of Miami — congratulations! and to each of the first four hundred attending the matinee today with their sons, we will present a beautiful necktie as a Fathers' Day remembrance." — First National