The Film Daily (1931)

THE DAILV Sunday, January 4, 1931 i_ i "— — LATEST NEWS FROM LONDON. PARIS. BERLIN. SYDNEY. MELBOURNE AND OTHER POREIGN CENTERS Foreign Markets HAPPENINGS IN OTHER LANDS OF INTEREST TO PRODUCERS, DISTRIBUTORS AND OTHERS IN THE U & By GEORGE REDDY $500,000 CONTRACT JOINS LEADING PLAYS TO SCREEN London— The leading plays of the English stage produced by Leslie Eienson and Firth Shephard will be made into serein productions as a result of a $500,000 contract signed l.\ the theatrical manager.-, and C. M. Woolf and Michael Balcon representing Gainsborough Pictures, Ltd., and the Gaumont-Britisb Corp. Advance deposits of $150,000 were made. It is >aid to be the biggest contract ever made in British him production. Paramount Names Literary Committee Joinville, France— Executives of the Paramount studios have appointed a literary committee to study the possibilities of French talkies and to advise on production improvements. The members selected are Sacha Guitry, actor-manager; Pierre Benoit, novelist; Paul Morand, novelist; Saint-Granier, comedian, and Marcel Pagnol playwright. Robert T. Kane presided at the firstjneeting. Warwick Ward Wins "Dubbed" Voice Suit London — A settlement of a "substantial sum" was made Warwick Ward, actor, by Charles Whittaker iductions, Ltd., and Warner Bros. Pictures, Ltd., in the suit brought by Ward to recover damages claiming that the voice supplied in the talkie version of "The Woman He Scorned" was not his, although his name was used as playing the part of Louis. Ward appeared in the silent version, to which voices were "dubbed." Ufatone Bi-lingual in Work Berlin — "Her Highness Commands" is the tentative title of a new Ufatone feature now in production at Neubabelsberg in German and French versions. Kathe von Nagy, Willy Fritsch, Paul Heidemann, Reinhold Schunzel and Paul 1 1 -rhiger are cast in the German release, and Lilian Harvey, Henry .it. Bill Bocetl and Jean Mercanton in the French. Both versions are being made under the supervision of Max Pfeiffer and the direction of Hanns Schwarz. President of P. D. C. Predicts Record Year London — A dinner at the Connaught Rooms and a showing of "Sm Takes a Holiday" concluded the sales conference held by P. D. C. with Reginald Smith, president, presiding. Smith, in his speech to the salesmen toasted Pathe, the American parent company, and predicted a record year. J. J. Kennedy, replying, toasted E. B. Derr as one of America's leading producers. Prizes for sales drive records were awarded. Vienna Tax Reduction Aids Smaller Houses Vienna — To aid the smaller houses laboring under expense of sound equipment, the authorities have mreed to reduce the entertainment tax from 28 to 5 per cent. Ufa Acquires Houses At Leipzig and Breslau Berlin — Two motion picture houses, the Gloria Palast at Leipzig, and the Deli, Breslau, have been acquired by Ufa Theaters circuit. Both houses have seating capacities of more than 1,200, and are said to be of most modern construction. Preparing New Pittaluga Film Rome — Gennaro Righelli, director of the Pittaluga production, "Love's Song," is preparing another feature for that company to be produced at the Cines Studios here. Title and cast of the film have not as yet been announced. REDUCED RENTALSPLANNED FOR SMALL BRITISH HOUSES London— At the monthly meeting of the K.R.S. last week it was decided to consider the matter of granting special assistance to small independent houses by granting reduced booking terms. A joint committee of the C.E.A. and K.R.S. will pass on a list of small houses for which the desired relief is being sought. Trocadero Pays 6% Dividend Liverpool — At the ninth annual meeting of Trocadero Super Cinema, Ltd.. the organization's dividend was increased to 6 per cent. Profits of s53,36S were announced for the year. 30 Wired in Manchester Manchester — With the opening of the West End, Western Electric completed their 30th sound installation in this city. Western Electric's total installations in the British Isles is now 1,164. Sunday Referendum London — British exhibitors, at a series of conferences held recently, outlined plans for a nation-wide campaign to enlist public sympathy in the bringing about of a referendum on the Sunday theater opening question. Motion picture houses in the London district will soon screen propaganda on the subject, and later, houses over the whole of Great Britain will be asked to aid in the campaign. New Cinema in St. Andrews St. Andrews, Scotland — With a seating capacity of 1,000 and Western Electric equipment, the new Picture House has opened with First National's "No! No! Xanettc." Three performances are given daily. Ufa Foreign Sales Active Berlin — The foreign department of Ufa recently concluded sales negotiations with Kinemas Films, Ltd., important distributing and theater firm in the South African Union, for three Ufatones, "The Blue Angel," "Love Waltz," "The Temporary Widow" and six Ufatone Educationals. A deal was also effected whereby Ufa sold its entire lineup of sound film productions for the Dutch Indies. British Wide Film Device Applied at Small Cost London — A British concern, Fulvue-Film, Ltd., is demonstrating an invention of a wide film which pho o.uraphs on 35 mm. stock, with the cost to the exhibitor for projecting pparatus not to exceed $125. New Birmingham Cinema New Birmingham — Over the opposition of the owners of the Warwick and Tivoli, who claimed that the district is adequately cared for, the provisional approval of the erection of a 1,458 seat theater in Yardley Road, Acock's Green has been secured by W. E. Salt, representing a private syndicate. Change Birmingham Managers Birmingham — J. F. Frewin, formerly manager of the Futurist, and now at the Finsbury Park Astoria, has been succeeded at the Futurist by A. P. Fitzpatrick, formerly of the Paramount, Manchester. Manchester's "Charity Sunday" Manchester — Believing that $250,<M)0 a year can be realized by motion picture houses keeping open on "Hospital Sunday" and donating their net ca>h receipts to the C.E.A. Benevolent Fund, W. Stephenson, president of the association, will lay the proposal before the C.E.A. board at their January meeting. London Legits Buck Talkers London — A move to compete with houses showing talking pictures has Keen launched here by two legitimate houses, the Winter Garden and Piccadilly. Matinee admissions have been lowered at both show places and a reduction of 30 per cent is in effect at night. Executive Changes at Ufa Berlin — With the return of general production manager Ernst Hugo Correll to the Ufa Neubabelsberg plant following a several months' illness, changes have been announced in the studio executive personnel. Director Meydam has been appointed member of the board of directors, with supervision over German distribution and the foreign department. Kurt Hubert, head of foreign activities, has resigned and is succeeded by Director von Theobald. Extra Equipment for "Angels" London — For the adequate showing of "Hell's Angels" at the Pavillian, additional sound equipment had to be installed by Western Electric. Four projectors are being used, two to project the picture and two to project the sound track, setting a precedent for sound picture projection in the British Isles. In addition to the large magnascopic screen, i :ight extra amplifiers, six extra horns and 29 extra amplifier valves are included in the equipment. Farewell Dinner to J. W. Roberts London — A complimentary dinner was tendered at the Cafe Royal by 50 Westernites to J. W. Roberts, director and financial manager of Western Electric, previous to his return to America last week. No Charge for Sunday Shows Birmingham — Permission for Sunday movies at the Picture House for the Birmingham Film Society, provided that admission shall not be charged, has been obtained from the High Court in London. Application for a picture entertainment at the Gaiety for the Local British Legion was refused. Drastic on Safety Newcastle, Eng. — The northern branch of the C.E.A. has protested the closing of a theater at Spennymoor by the magistrates on two hours' notice because the building did not conform with exit and fire regulations.