The Film Daily (1930)

THE fuesday, September 2, 1930 ^ 5B&* DAILY Timely Topics A Digest of Cu rren t% Op in ion — o— 'roper Handling / Continuity WHEN critics complain of pictures that drag and lack spirited movement, charge most of the blame to the continuity writer. Adaptation of scenarios from narrative writing requires a careful selection of the most essential episodes from the story, and their arrangement in a sequence that will make the drama forceful and lively, Laemmle asserts. To the extent to which this is accomplished depends much of the director's ability to fashion a straightforward and compelling photoplay. The strict unities of time, place and action demanded in ideal drama, cannot be preserved in all pictures any more than they can on the stage. However, too great a disregard of these unities have spelled failure for many pictures that should have been successful. Many stories are stretched over long periods of time, and enacted in widely scattered places and in handling the plot it is easy to confuse the audience by trying to place too much of the action on the screen. It is surprising how well the action can be cut down to the limit, sparing many scenes that some writers would consider essential. The best promise for greater success of film entertainment lies in the understanding which writers are acquiring of this principle of picture industry. — Carl Laemmle, Jr. 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 : September 1 and 2 Rex Beach Richard Arlen John Mack Brown Helen Brent David Rollins Millard Ochs Along The Rialto with Phil M. Daly J7RICH REMARQUE, author of "All Quiet on the Western Front," is hard at work on a sequel called "Kamerad," which he expects to turn over to Universal for the screen rights about Oct. 1 it tells of the lives of the surviving members of that little group of youths who left the village schoolhouse together at the call to arms "All Quiet" is a great book, a great film, principally because the author wrote with his heart's blood — a poignant record of the agonies and hopes of pals he had known from childhood and we have it on his word that "Kamerad" is a greater story Remarque is a sad, shy individual world renown has left him cold the war disillusioned him he lives only to complete the saga of his comrades it is only ironical to him that the story of their sacrifice has brought him wealth, renown * * * * 'THE STAGE has started that little game of tit for tat Broadway producers are now lining up screen celebs for legit appearances, after sitting back for several seasons watching the Hollerwood studios annex the best of the stage Lillian Gish started it now will follow Colleen Moore, Vilma Banky, Rod La Rocque, Lya de Putti others for whom stage producers are angling are Jack Oakie, Doug Fairbanks, Bebe Daniels Norma Shearer, Alice White, Clara Bow and Ronald Colman pretty soft for the screen celebs when they are not busy in the studios they can trek to Broadway, and collect at both ends * * * * ("OLUMBIA made a fine gesture toward aiding the jobless situation in this town they made arrangements with the city employment bureau to supply 200 extra players for scenes of "Dirigible" that were made at City Hall there is a bit in the story that calls for shots showing the return of a famous flyer so Joe Brandt used the old bean, and with Director Frank Capra arranged to give some jobless gents a break when they filmed the stuff Saturday morn at City Hall the story crashed big in the newspapers * * * * pAT GARYN of National Screen Service was caught sneaking out of a Brooklyn theater when we accosted him, and accused him of going in there on business, possibly to sell some trailers, he finally admitted it these film men are getting to be very cagy dodging publicity these days all they want to brag about is their golf game The Newark "Star-Eagle" gave Gloria Swanson an unexpected plug when they used her cut as a picture of the new Mrs. H. L. Mencken Pat Sullivan and the Red Star boys are all het up over "What's the Use of Living Without Love," song hit of the Fox pix, "Man Trouble" Warren Nolan lost 30 pounds by the simple trick of confining himself to three heavy meals a day self-denial, that's what we calls it * * * * PVER hear of Bob Hennesey? "Roaring" Bob they call him up in the wilds of Ontario... he's the gent who wrestled food supplies, supervised building operations, and kept the dog team taxis from going on strike during filming of "The Silent Enemy" this lumberjack is a real character he spent an inheritance of 100 grand in less than a year, and went to work for the picture company for 60 bucks a month he will hit the Broadway trail soon for his annual jamboree a nifty dresser, Bob, the Berry Wall of the Tall Timber, sporting a derby and red tie but don't ever let that fool you * * * * 'W'lOLA COOPER, authors' agent, would like to sec a line about Mister Greenhurger, assistant to Mister Wilk of Warners Viola sez: "He is on the job 100 per cent, and highly courteous and considerate to agents offering scripts.".. this i> almost unbelievable, that anyone should be considerate to authors' agents, and we offer the astounding news here as another proof thai this hi/ is full of surprises Vernon ray tells us "Animal Crackers" has broken all records for Thursday openings at the Rialto the Marx Brothers are funnier than any film golf foursome and we ought to know, after attending these tournaments for years EXPL0ITETTES A Clearing House for Tabloid Exploitation Ideas €) Mechanical Figure for Ballyhoo J{ MECHANICAL man, opcrated by radio, was used to exploit "Top Speed" at the Warner Bros. Hollywood theater, Hollywood. This phenomenon stood outside the theater making announcements and singing songs from the picture. His services were highly effective in engaging public attraction and in keeping crowds constantly around the theater with most satisfactory box-office results. Another activity in which the mechanical man engaged was in connection with a street procession which he led to the theater. All manner of novel radio and television devices were shown in this procession. — First National * * * Shoe Tie-Up on "Reno" 'TWO hundred and thirty-eight stores, comprising the American retailers of I. Miller Shoes, will each tie up iocally with "Reno," when it is released Oct. 1. The tie-up is the result of a specially grouped series of six shoe models worn at different times by the star, Ruth Roland, who makes her return to the screen in "Reno." — Sono-Art * * * Free Gas for Car Owners J{ STUNT which helped to boost the box-office receipts at the Fox theater in Green Bay, Wis., was staged by Fred lh own, manager. Brown secured a tie-up with a local automobile concern, whereby the company gave away 25 gallons of gasoline daily to owners of whose numbers were on display in the lobby of the theater. — "Movie Age" At the end of five years the Russian Soviet plans that all theaters in the country will be showing 100 per cent Soviet films.