The Film Daily (1930)

THE ■c£tk DAILY Sunday, June 22, 1930 RAPID STRIDES ARE BEING MADE IN THE FOREIGN FIELD. KEEP POSTED THROUGH "FOREIGN" MARKETS" Foreign Markets NEWS FLASHES FROM FILM CENTERS ALL OVER THE GLOBE: MELBOURNE, LONDON, BERLIN, PARIS By LOUIS PELEGRINE U.S. DOMINATION IS TOPIC AT Brussels — American domination in the European film world was one of the chief topics of discussion at the third international film congress recently held in this city. A proposal was set before the 150 delegates that an international bureau be established at Geneva for the purpose of protecting the European film interests from coming under the control of the American industry. R. V. Crow, vice-president of the Cinematography Exhibitors Ass'n of Great Britain, said that one way the European nations could lessen America's influence in the foreign film market would be to produce talking pictures of their own on an extensive scale. "The international market." he asserted, "needs about 300 talking films a year over and above the present American supply." Mr. Crow added that "the industry was faced with the problem of "the struggle of the individual exhibitor to live in a market which is underfed with pictures." The conference condemned the practice of hiring sound apparatus, voted in favor of a reduction in film taxation, and filed a protest against the high cost of film hire and talking picture apparatus. Other subjects discussed were block booking and the interchangeability of sound equipment. It was decided to hold next year's congress in Rome in April or May. 585 Films, 277 American, Censored in France in '29 Paris — Five hundred and eightyfive films were submitted for censorship in France last year, according to statistics just made public here. America was first with 277, with Germany second with 142. There were 88 French films and 41 British. British Trade Editor Dead London — Arthur Edward Taylor, noted British film trade journalist and father of Victor Taylor of British Filmcraft, is dead. Buys Legit. For Talkers Hyde, England — Lancashire Cin( mas. Ltd., has purchased the Royal, il legitimate house, and will coni it into a talking picture theater First British Klangfilm Film London — The Pro Patria film "Stark Nature" is the first British nre picture in which the Klangfilm recording used. To Equip Liners London — The White Star Line announces it plans to equip a number of its ships with RCA sound equipment. The first installation will be aboard the 27,000-ton Britannic, the largest motor ship to be built in Great Britain. The vessel is scheduled to leave on its maiden trip to America on June 28. BRITISH EXHIBITORS SEEK TO REFORM TEST BODY London — Protesting against the methods pursued in the testing of sound equipment in theaters, the Sussex branch of the Cinematography Exhibitors Ass'n has started a movement to get the Renters' Sound Committee to revise its policy. One of the exhibitors' demands is that the personnel of the committee be composed equally of exhibitors and renters. NEW EIRM TO HANDLE A. B.C. CHAIN EXPANSION London — A company known as Associated Cinema Properties, Ltd., has been formed here to handle the expansion activities of Associated British Cinemas. The chairman of the firm, which has a capital of half a million, is John Maxwell. Already five theaters have been acquired. The formation of this company is in step with the A. B.C. chain's competitive move against the Gaumont circuit. Balcony Edict Glasgow — In the future theaters in this city will not be permitted to allow children in the balconies unless in the company of a parent or guardian over 16 years old. To Make French Versions of Two British Talkers London — French versions are planned of two British pictures, "The House of the Arrow" and "The Flame of Love." Work on the first, a sequel to "Mystery at the Villa Rose," will start at Twickenham next month under the direction of Roger Lion, the French director. The principals will be Leon Mathot and Maxudian. "The Flame of Love" will be made at Elstree by Jean Kemm for Jacques Haik, Anna May Wong, once a Hollywood favorite, will have a role in the picture. British Exhibs Offered Photophone at Reduction London — A reduction in price on sound equipment for houses seating up to 1,000 is announced by RCA Photophone, Ltd. The new price, $5,500, applies to both sound-on-film and sound-on-disc apparatus and includes also the cost of installation. At the same time the company is offering the equipment on easier terms. Payments may be made on a weekly basis and spread over a three-year period, with no down payment necessary. BIG EXPANSION PLANNED BY LEON BREZILLON CHAIN Paris — Plans to make his circuit the third largest in France have been announced by Leon Brezillon. The French theater owner is acquiring theaters and sites here and in the provinces. One of the houses purchased in this city is the Roquette Cyrano. The two leading theater chains in France are Pathe-Natan and Aubert-Franco. 4 For W. E. in Palestine Haifa — The wiring of the Aindor Cinema here gives Western Electric its fourth installation in Palestine. $150,000 Profit Reported by British Filmophone London — Filmophone has issued its first financial statement. Covering the period from Dec. 18. 1928, the date of the firm's incorporation, to March 31 of this year, it shows profits totalling approximately $150,000. To Have Wide Screen Romford, England — A wide screen will be included among the equipment of the Broadway, a 3,000-seat house scheduled to open here in April of next year. Mrs. Holderness Dies London — The death is announced here of Mrs. Leslie C. Holderness, wife of the general supervisor of I heaters for Paramount in Great Britain. French Firm Liquidating Paris — The Societe des Films Artistiques is reported in liquidation. To Push Tax Fight Belfast — Their demands for a reduction in the entertainment tax ignored in the budget ol the minister if finance for Northern Ireland, hibitors operating in Ulster have determined to push the fight to have he entertainment tax reduced to the same level as that obtained elsehere in the British Isles. Gets Lead in French Version Paris — Paramount has engaged Mine. Marcelle Chantal to play the hief role in the French version of 'The Doctor's Secret." The picture will be made at Joinville under the direction of Charles de Rochfort. Other players will be Leon Bary, lean Bradin, Maxudian, Alice Tissot, Hubert Deux. British Film Players Get Standard Contract London — A standard contract involving the relations between producers and film artists has been drawn up by the Federation of British Industries. Film of Motor Industry Paris — A talking picture called "Yirage," which will have the automobile industry as a background is to be produced by Jager-Schmidt. The subject will be largely filmed at Belfast. To Assume New W. E. Post London — W. H. Larkin is on his way to Bombay to assume the post of commercial manager for Western Electric in India. This is a new position. A.S.F.I. Camera Chief Dead London — The death is reported in Italy of Arpad Viragh, chief cameraman of the Associated Sound Film Industries. Mr. Viragh was stricken with peritonitis while filming scenes for the "City of Song" on the island of Capri. British Recording Device London — British Thomson-Houston Co. is said to have developed a recording equipment which will soon be offered on the British market. Sound Invades Persia Teheran — The Cinema Iran here is the first Persian theater to show sound pictures. Start "Call of the Sea" London — Work has started on "Call of the Sea," a naval story by Captain Frank Shaw being made as a Henry Edwards-Christie White production.