The Film Daily (1930)

THE Sunday, December 28, 1930 Timely Topics A Digest of Current Opinion — e— The Public Wants The Psychological Story A N accomplishment of the cinema that marks its unmistakable progress is the ability to cope with that type of drama which deals with the psychological conflict of its characters rather than with the physical. Crude melodramatic action is no longer the limitation of screen production, for the recent output of the studios includes numerous examples of subtle and delicate drama translated to the screen without any sacrifice of their spirit or significance. The realization of this has emboldened Universal to undertake the production of a number of splendid stories which would have baffled us a short time ago. Not only have we demonstrated that situations -based on psychological reactions can be effectively produced, but we know that the response of audiences thereto will be enthusiastic. "All Quiet on the Western Front" is an illustration in point. We defied the judgment of many experienced film people, who predicted that this story could not be told on the screen with any semblance of its original spirit and charm. The result is history. Now we are engaged in a number of other productions in which the attempt to preserve the intangible element of psychological situations has been eminently successful. One reason for this victory, is that more intelligent and artistic minds are directing the destiny of pictures. Some of them have been brought to the industry, while many of them have grown and expanded within it. At any rate, it does not require a great imagination to grasp the vista of future possibilities opened up for the motion picture by this accomplishment. — Carl Laemmle, Jr. A /•n FILM *%lf "V ' FACT g r-** A DAY 2,543 theatrical films costing $118,692,733 were produced in the U. S. in 1929 against 1,347 costing $92,593,732 in 1927. ■2WI DAILV • • • THEY STILL persist in keeping that fairy tale circulating about "blonde" stars when every woman knows that if a gal has vivid blonde hair after she's 20, she must be an albino or spend all her spare jack in beauty parlors taking regular weekly treatments to keep it blonde the cold, harsh truth is that there ain't no such animal as a natural vivid blonde after the high school age and the birth statistics prove that there are more blonde males than females but the males let nature take it's natural course and if Bill or Clarence has blonde hair at 17, Bill hangs his head in shame and puts shoeblack on his golden locks while Clarence glories in his golden gift like the rest of the girls if the beauty parlors all went out of business tomorrow, in a month from now there wouldn't be one real blonde on the screen unless it was some ingenue in her 'teens so we rise to ask: Who do these producers think they are kidding by talking about their "blonde" stars? they ain't foolin anybody yet Caddo Productions naively launches a contest for a slogan for their "platinum blonde star" Jean Harlow...... and guys like me who have known a raft of "blondes" stick their tongues in their cheeks and send in such selections as "The Sunkist Blonde," "The Blonde Landslide," "The Blonde Fury," etceters some fellers have no morals or conscience they'll help perpetuate this Blonde Myth unscrupulously, with their eyes on the prize of 100 smackers mind you, we're not objecting to these synthetic screen sirens their blonde beauty makes a great splash, and is needed in pix but why doesn't some producer pull a REAL publicity stunt and announce: "Minnie Moosh, the Only Honest Blonde on the Screen Minnie's hair is a natural dirty brown but look what Perspicacity and Peroxide have done for her!" yes, sir let's knock the Public dizzy with Honest Frankness * * * * • • • JACK OAKIE out in Hollywood staged a great scene without his director he went into his bank to draw out some coin and they told him all withdrawals would be held up temporarily so Jack, thinking of the Bank of Hollywood affair, started to throw the furniture around and they gave him his money in a hurry J. O. ain't so dumb as he tries to appear in pix E. J. Hudson is now associated with the Plumbers' Trade Journal Publishing Co as this is a new line for him, he will probably start as a journeyman plumber * * * * • • • • IF THESE noiseless recording systems keep developing, we'll soon be back to silent pix again which reminds us of a "part-time producer" over in the Film Center building who a month ago was giving a projection room showing of a cluck talkie when an exhib complained he couldn't hear the voices distinctly, the racketeer sez: "Soitinly not! That's our new Muffler Attachment." The Irish Film Company has been formed to get justice for the Irish which reminds us of the Irisher before the Jewish Judge who yelled for justice and the judge sez: "Sure, Mike. Thirty days." Today's Bedtime Story: Ian Keith has at his command the leading roles of 104 plays he can go on at a moment's notice in any one of the 104 productions without having to refresh his memory by glancing at a script oops * * * * • • • CHESTER BAHN, empey crit of the Syracuse "Id raid," has opened the polls to selecl the Ten Best Pictures shown in Syracuse tbis year this poll is in conjunction with the FILM DAI I.N selections foi tin Year Hook, and has proved y big annual feature for the up-state paper Chester, tiling fabulous star salaries of the siltnts, notes that "Nancy Carroll was reported drawing only $600 a week, and \un Hard ing only $15,000 a picture.*' poor Nancy I p. .or Ann I our heart bleeds for both of you now where did I put tl Bmackers that's got to lasl me till pay day:-' EXPLOITETTES A Clearing House for Tabloid Exploitation Ideas €) Library Bookmarks Exploit Air Film AT Loew's Vendome, in Nashville, Tenn., manager E. Adler exploited "Hell's Angels" by arranging for distribution of 35,000 bookmarks and blotters in the main and four branches of the public library. Permission was secured to have 10,000 score cards with mention of the picture, distributed at the stadium during the football game between Vanderbilt-Tennessee. — United Artists Schools Assist "Tom Sawyer" Opening QNE of the most extensive public school campaigns ever attempted in Philadelphia was used by Ed. F. Corcoran, manager of Keith's, to exploit the opening of Paramount's "Tom Sawyer" on Christmas Day. A supply of heralds was sent to 350 elementary school principals together with a letter asking them to assist in arousing interest in the picture through announcement of its playing in open meeting or by posted announcements. — Paramount « « « » » » MANY HAPPY RETURNS Beat wishes and congratulations aje extended by ThC FILM DAILY to the following members of the industry, who are celebrating tneir birthdays: December 27-28 John Bowers Marlene Dietrich Edward L. Klein Marie Alba Frank Butler Arch Reeve Jack Gardiner Lewis Ayres