The Film Daily (1930)

££ifev Sunday, July 6, 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 PBLEGRINE RKO PLANS TO EXPAND I London — With the establishment of a British unit, RKO expects to increase its production activity in England. The company is limiting itself this year to three films, which Associated Radio Pictures is producing. This number may be increased to as high as 12. "Escape" is Completed by Basil Dean for RKO London — "Escape," made from the John Galsworthy play of the same name, has been completed under the direction of Basil Dean as the first of three Associated Radio Pictures to be released in Great Britain and abroad on RKO's program for 1930-1931. Sir Gerald Du Maurier has the role Leslie Howard played in the stage production. Others in the cast, said to be the most notable ever assembled for a British picture, are Mabel Poulton, Ian Hunter, George Curzon,. Gordon Harker, Raymond Massey, H. St. Barbe, Edna Best, Phyllis Konstam, Horace Hodges, Ben Field, Lawrence Hanray, Margaret Yarde, Jean Cadell, Eric Cowley, Nigel Bruce, David Hawthorne, Neil Porter, Lawrence Bascombe, Lewis Casson, Anna Casson, Madeline Carroll, Austin Trevor, Miles Malleson, Felix Aylmer and Edward Fitzclarence. New Film Companies Spring up in England London — Several new names have been added to the list of British film companies. Among them are Magnetic Talking Pictures, Ltd., which will manufacture, produce, distribute and exhibit sound films; British Celebrity Concerts, Ltd., which will include the operation of film theaters among its activities; Welsh Cinemas, Ltd., which will operate a chain of film theaters, and Celluloid Products, Ltd., formed to deal in film stock and film equipment. Sound for Norwegian Town Stavanger, Norway — Talking pictures will make their first appearance in this town in the near future. The Filmteater, one of three local houses, is being wired with American equipment. To Make Comedy Series London — Gainsborough plans to make a series of talking features with Ernie Lotinga. "The Police Force" will be the name of the first. To Protect Legit Budapest — In an effort to keep the legitimate theater in Hungary from disappearing, the Royal Hungarian National Theater has decreed that none of its members shall take part in the production of sound pictures. FIGHT ON DAYLIGHT TIME OPENS IN GREAT BRITAIN London — A campaign is being waged in Great Britain against the continuance of daylight saving, which was adopted in the emergency of the war. Motion picture exhibitors are among those who have interested themselves in efforts to have the practice abolished by the government. Sascha May Cooperate in Filming Vienna Operas tVashmgton Bureau of THE FILM DAILi Washington — News that Sascha, which is scheduled to begin the production of sound films in August, may join forces with the Vienna opera in the recording of a number of popular operas is contained in a report received by the M. P. Division of the Dept. of Commerce. This development follows the recent announcement that the Vienna opera management was considering plans to enter the production field with sound versions of the better known of the operas in its repertoire. N. Zealand Stage Doomed as Legit Chain Goes Talker Auckland — Doom of the stage in New Zealand has been pronounced with the official confirmation of the acquisition by Fuller of the Fuller-Hayward chain of 60 legitimate theaters, the largest circuit in the dominion. It is expected that every house in the chain will be wired for talking pictures. Madan Chain to Handle B. I. P. Product in India London — British International Pictures has signed an agreement with the Madan Theaters, Ltd., of Calcutta providing for the distribution of its films in India, Burma and Ceylon. The deal involves 17 productions. AUSTRALIAN THEATER TAX E Canberra — A revenue of some $380,000 was derived by the Australian government from taxes levied on theaters during the first three quarters of the year which began in July, 1929, it is revealed by figures given out by the Federal Treasurer. Half of 12,000 Musicians in Germany Out of Work Berlin— Half of the 12,000 musicians employed in German picture theaters before the coming of audible films are out of work today, according to figures contained in a petition laid before the government by the German Musicians' Union. Monnier Named Head of Universal in France Paris — Universal has appointed M. R. Monnier its French head to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of M. Stein. New French Sound Studio Courbevoie la Garonne, France — A sound film studio has been placed in operation here by M. Del Torre. $150,000 Profit Reported by Filmophone in Britain London — The first financial statement to be issued by Filmophone, Ltd., covering the period from December, 1928, when the firm was organized, to the end of the last year, shows a net profit of $150,000 and sets a valuation of $300,000 on the company's patents. Films in English Found Succeeding in Scandinavia Paris — English language films are making rapid progress in Denmark, Norway and Sweden, according to George Canty, American Trade Commissioner here who has just returned from a tour of those countries. Equity to Handle Film London— Exclusive distribution rights to "The Chinese Bungalow," in which Matheson Lang is featured, have been obtained by Bernard Smith of Equity British Films, Ltd. Australian Talker Revue Sydney — Production has been started by Norman Dawn on a talker revue called "Talkie Mad." Soviet Film Refused License Edinburgh — A license to show the Russian film, "Storm Over Asia," in this city has been denied for the second time. Films as Teacher Rome — A film group which will use the screen to disseminate culture has been organized here. Lectures for the young and the establishment of a theater where films suitable for children will be shown are on the program of the organization. MANY SMALL EXHIBS FACED WITH FAILURE IN SCOTLAND Edinburgh — That many of the "little fellows" in Scotland will be unable to last through the winter months is the consensus in Scottish film circles. Their predicament is blamed on the shortage of good silent films. It would be easy for them to solve this problem were the price of efficient sound equipment within their means, according to | opinion. (I Ullman Made French Head j of Paramount Theaters Paris — Paramount has elevated Andre Ullman to director general of all its theaters in France and Belgium. Rene Lebreton succeeds him as manager of the Paramount house here. f & P u< British Talking Returns to Sound Equipment Field London — British Talking Pictures, Ltd., is back in the sound equipment field with a sound-on-film and sound-on-disc device made by the General Electric Co., Ltd., to sell for $5,000. Service stations will be maintained at Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Newcastle, Cardiff, Glasgow, Dublin and this city. I : F,. Siebelbaum Weds in Paris Paris — Arthur Siebelbaum, director for M-G-M in Germany, Scandinavia and Poland, has been married here to Jere Lawrence, whose brother is M-G-M's European director. Worton Hall Studios Wired Isleworth, Eng. — Worton Hall Studios are now completely equipped for the production of sound pic tures. "All Quiet" Sets London Record London — "All Quiet on the Western Front" is establishing box-office records at the Regal and Alhambra, where it is being shown simultane ously. In Ifcuvill IVlllt! r lout. I. 1 rtt E ids