The Film Daily (1930)

THE MIL NEWSPAPER OF HEM DOM ALL THE NEWS ALL THE TIME VOL. LIII No. 17 Monday, July 21, 1930 Price 5 Cents Comedy is 'Esperanto' of Amusement — Hammons ACADEMY MAY ADMITASSISTANT DIRECTORS Eddie Cantor Signed by Goldwyn for One a Year An Argument — we just must have 'em ^=J3y JACK ALICOATE^^ We are in reJust Why Are ceipt of a dull Trade Papers? but voluminous letter from a square head second-rate production executive, residing in healthy hut unhappy Hollywood, frankly belittling the honest efforts of ourselves as well as other brother industry editors in our collective endeavor of uplifting the mental, moral and financial tone of the good old picture biz. He closes with the unkindest cut of all. "Just why ARE trade papers anyway?" asks he. Here is one of those momentous questions upon which the fate of nations sometimes rests, and which comes to us as a bullin-a-china-shop leaving us all aflutter. Gathering our shattered nerves about us we might meekly suggest : That, among other things, in time of peril the trade papers form the first line of industry defense. 1 hey are the bulletin board or town crier from which the news of the industry is broadcast. They are the n pump where the gossip on the business is interchanged. At times they become the schoolmaster through which elemental but neglected lesare learned, as well as the sitting magistrate from which deserved criticism, both good and bad, is administered. In case of a tie, the offices of our trade papers also offer excellent loafing grounds for press agents, free telephones and stationery to chisellers and an information booth for busy executives and lazy subordinates. And before we cool off let us also add that, to the best of our limited knowledge and honest belief, the trade papers of this in(Continued on Page 2) "Whoopee" Star, on Five Year Contract, To Stay in Films West Coast Bureau, THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Eddie Cantor, star of "Whoopee," just filmed by Samuel Goldwyn, has signed a five-year contract with Goldwyn calling for at least one picture a year. This is taken as Cantor's definite retirement from the stage in favor of the screen. He goes East tomorrow for a brief visit. Reversing Process In the production of "Illicit," comedy drama by Robert Riskin and Edith Fitzgerald, announced for the Broadway stage next fall, Warner Bros, will reverse the popular practice of making screen versions of stage plays. "Illicit" will be produced as a talker first and then as a legitimate theater attraction. Foreign Distribution Problems Being Solved, Says John L. Day Establishing of Branch Will Be Decided by Executive Board West Coast Bureau, THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Establishing of an assistant directors' section in the directors' branch of the Academy of M. P. Arts and Sciences is now under consideration by the executive board, which is expected to make a decision in the near future. Favorable action is anticipated. HAN SIGNS CONTRACT AS SOVIET FILM ADVISER Joe W. Coffman, president of Audio-Cinema, has concluded a contract with the Amkino Corp. whereby he will become consultant in connection with the development of sound films by the Soyuzkino, the united film industry of the Soviet Union, it is announced by L. Monosson, president of Amkino. Coffman leaves for Russia in about two weeks. Problems encountered in the distribution of talkers in foreign countries are rapidly being solved by the American, ^companies, John L. Day, Jr., general manager for Paramount in South America, told a representative of THE FILM DAILY. "Dubbing is definitely out," says Day, "because in most cases the language of the foreign countries does not synr chronize with the lip movement of the characters and the people resent it. "What we are doing at present is to insert titles where the conversation takes place on disc, and where talking is going on in sound-on-film prints we superimpose native titles (Continued »» Page 2) All Nations, Creeds, Ages Understand Comedy Films 50 WARNER SUBSIDIARIES WILL JOIN SILVER JUBILEE All subsidiaries of Warner Bros., numbering about 50, will participate in the Silver Jubilee to be celebrated throughout August. In addition to commemorating 25 years of activity in the industry, next month also will mark the fourth anniversary of the talkers, which made their debut Aug. 5, 1926, at the Warner on Broadway. Special Jubilee Month releases will include "Sweet Kitty Bellairs," "The Matrimonial Bed," Recaptured Love," "Three Faces East," "Viennese Nights," "Dancing Sweeties" and "Three Flights Up" from Warners, and "The Dawn Patrol," "Road to Paradise," "Number<l Men," "Bright Lights," "Top Speed," "The Bad Man," "One Night at Susie's" and "The Way of All Men," from First National. Bandit Foiled Dayton, O. — Ernie Austgen, manager, and Robert Curry, assistant, held captive in the office at Loew's Dayton by a bandit who ordered them to open the safe, refused to comply and held their ground until the gunman ran out of threats and nerve, whereupon he beat it without booty. Supremacy of comedies as the favorite form of international entertainment is due to the fact that comedy is the "esperanto" of the amusement world and can be appreciated by all nationalities, creeds and ages, says E, \Y. Hammons, president of Educational Film Exchanges, in commenting on the 100 per cent comedy program mapped out by Educational for 1930-31. In addition, Hammons points out, comedies are the most (.Continued on Page 23) Exhibs' Date Book Fox's 1930-31 exhibitors' date book, just off the press, is about the most comprehensive and valuable compendirms of its kind ever put out. It is packed with information and dates of special interest nationally, with particular local applications, as well as suggested ticket selling methods to tie in with these dates. The boys who compiled this excellent booklet deserve congratulations.