The Film Daily (1930)

THE Siday, August 31, 1930 ■3&* DAILV rimely Topics A Digest of Current Opinion 1 eking Details Production E SEARCH in connection with the production of motion p lures is becoming increasingly i:iortant with the growth of a c ical attitude on the part of t fans which insist on absolute a uracy in every detail of a p sentation. Where producers c Id "get away" with approxi and clever faking a few y rs ago, the slightest variation ft n truth in any detail is now served and the outraged fan ds not hesitate to voice his reKtment. This places a tren idous burden on the staff, for irany production, however unpicntious, there are a thousand it' is making up the ensemble of a tcture none of which must be al|wed to lack anything in ' similitude. The introduction >t|ialogue has served to give us aiither responsibility in this di for every character must ohrve the manner of speech of h person he represents. We thk of the English language as urersally spoken in America, •' there are at least a dozen sejions of the country where prole employ different expresses, different pronunciations • various oddities that distinct h them. Just let a character n picture violate the manners <>i he people he is representing i the studio hears of it in a baage of critical letters. The pijire fan is growing smarter. H knows when the dress, man ' and peculiarities of a char e not faithfully portrayed inlvery detail. He knows when ihfe is some inconsistencies in ising of a set, and he is luk to recognize anachronisms 1 are allowed to slip into the ii of the drama. — Howard Estabrook KTPt shows films as fol"J»: 50 per cent from France; 2per cent from America; 12 > cent from England; 6 per ' from Germany. Along The Rialto with Phil M. Daly A LL THE film historians seem to have missed an interesting sidelight in the development of the biz 25 years ago the editor of "Exhibitors' Forum," in digging through old newspaper files, unearthed it in those days "Humanova" and "Actologue" presentations were the rage, meaning human actors speaking the lines behind the screen from four to seven actors composed the casts as many as 60 companies at one time were on the road with these one-reel films the idea is credited to J. O. Hooley, veteran theater manager of Pittsburgh he was the first to use girl ushers, 30 years ago and just to show that there's nothing new under the film sun, these usherettes sprayed perfume as illustrated songs were presented * * # * (""^OLLEEN MOORE starts rehearsing her first stage play for Selwyn a week from Monday and Colleen told us that "Now I can satisfy a yen I have long nursed" and here's hoping it brings you a lot of yen, Colleen the play is by Barney Glazer, who will arrive in a few days from the Gold Coast Proving that it pays to stick, Bill Worthington, after laboring for several years on his color process, sold it to Howard Hughes for 250 grand — cash money this oldtime director was knocked flat by talkies, but he still kept looking for the colors in the rainbow — and found them * * * * T JNA MERKEL, playing Ann Rutledge in "Abraham Lincoln," is not new to pictures by any means eight years ago D. W. Griffith was using her to "stand in" for the Gish sisters on lighting effects at the old Mamaroneck studio D. W. never got a chance to give Una a break on the screen till now but how! De Sylva, Brown & Henderson's song hit, "I Remember You from Somewhere," was suggested to the composer, a golf enthusiast, by his wife that's the way she greeted him one time when he absentmindedly strolled home * * * * "QANNY WINKLER, of the De Sylva outfit, modestly states that "I believe our competitors will be badly outdistanced this season" and now that we have fired the first shot in this new Tin Pan Alley war, we'll sit back and await results Danny's harmony factory is touting a new number, "Still I Love Her" most married gents would prefer it better if it was "I Love Her Still" And Sam Wigler, tooting for the same concern, slips us a line from a new "scorch" song all about a dame who has lost her man to another jane, who weeps torridly: "Ask her if the new kisses are divine. Ask her if they thrill just like mine" and what d'y' suppose will happen to us if we ask her, Sam? * * * * A/flRIAM HOPKINS of the stage has the lead in "Best People," just finished at Paramount Longisle stude and she looks like a comer Diane Ellis, having completed her role in "Laughter" at the same studio, has boated to England to play the marriage game with some gent, name unknown. Spotted at the opener of "Cafe" were Austin Parker, D. A. Doran, Carrington and Elizabeth North, Kitty Watts, Will Laidlaw, Jr., and Miriam Hopkins Jack Oakie and Mary Brian recently staged a fox trot at the Grove in Hollerword according to "Filmograph," the technique was: "Jack's right moved up and down Mary's sympathetic back, as if he were strumming a guitar" or mebbe he thought he was just playing the bones * * * * "W7ILLIAM BAKEWELL, who has just signed a new longterm contract, sez theri' is a splendid adventure for ever} actor in speculating when he will find a perfect role and some have quite an adventure finding a bread roll Mike Simmons has completed a novelization of "Cock \> the Walk" for Sono Art Add Records: Robert McWade has been a professional grouch for 20 years whenever there is a grouch role, they pick on Bobbie, although he is in private life one of the most amiable of hombres Three out of every five pels, uis possess acting ability, and "London Humorist" comments thai the other two go on the stage and after that they try the talkies Fred Niblo, Jr., son of Fred N'iblo. has taken out a marriage license in Holly wood to marry Patricia Henry EXPL0ITETTES A Clearing House for Tabloid Exploitation Ideas €) Free Lemonade Brings in Kids TWO tie-ups by Manager Ed. Kraus resulted in more than 1,000 children attending "Swing High" at the Publix-State theater, Fargo, N. D. A magnet for the youngsters was two stands set up by Kraus in his lobby. At these stands white-coated attendants served the children with pink lemonade and handed them a package of peanuts on their way out. The stunt didn't cost the theater a cent as a local bank paid for the peanuts and a radio station for the lemonade in return for free advertising in the theater. — "Movie Age" Three-Way Tie-Up on "Danger Lights" ARRANGEMENTS have been completed for a three-way exploitation drive on "Danger Lights." Shots of the products of RCA-Victor, Sessions Clock and the lines and rolling stock of the Chicago Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad have been included in the show. In addition to these three which will be nation-wide in scope, there will be a tie-up with the H. D. Lee Mercantile Co. Vulcan Gas Stoves are also included briefly in the show. Stills are being prepared that will sell the dramatic highlights of the show. Special exploitation and display stills are being taken with the stars, and the more punchy articles of railroading featured. — Radio 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 : August 30 and 31 Arthur Rankin Marguerite Allen John Garrick Fred Baer Francis Gross Si Seadler Frederic March