The Film Daily (1931)

THE m?k DAILY Sunday, January 11, 1931 LATEST NEWS FROM LONDON, PARIS, BERLIN, SYDNEY. MELBOURNE AND OTHER FOREIGN CENTERS Foreign Markets HAPPENINGS IN OTHER LANDS OF INTEREST TO PRODUCERS, DISTRIBUTORS AND OTHERS IN THE U. S. SWEDISH FILM COMPANY MAY PRODUCE IN PARIS Stockholm — Because of difficulties between Tobis-Western Electric and the Svensk Film Co., the latter may transfer its activities to Paris. RCA Photophone recording would likely be used by the Svensk in France. The Swedish eight-hour law is also said to be a drawback to domestic production by Svensk. Silvermount Films Starts Work at Joinville Paris — With offices here and studios at Joinville, Silvermount Films, a new producing, synchronizing and distributing firm, has started operations. P. H. Monteynard is directorgeneral; A. de Saint Andre, secretary general; Burton George, studio manager; G. Yablonsky, chief engineer, and Paul Mangenat,, publicity chief. Recording will be made with the Silvertone-Carpentier process. Legit Turns Talkie Paris — Les Folies Wagram, legitimate house on the Champs Elysees, is to be converted to a talkie theater by M. Bader, owner. Bader is proprietor of the Galleries Lafayette and shareholder in the Pathe-Natan group. 1,000-Seater Most Popular London — Theaters with 500 to 1,000 seats are the most popular in the British Isles, according to Western Electric's latest reports. Of the 1,152 W. E. -equipped theaters, 531 have between 500 and 1,000 seats; 354 between 1,000 and 1,500; 139 between 1,500 and 2,000; 57 between 2,000 and 2,500; 18 between 2,500 and 3,000; and 8 with over 3,000 seats. There are 43 W. E. installations in houses seating less than 500. M. Haase, Trade Vet, Dies Paris — M. Haase, veteran exhibitor and theater valuation expert, is dead at the age of 71. The Haase business will be carried on by his partner, M. Devarennes. Plan Industrials Edinburgh — British International Pictures plans early entry into the field of industrial picture production. Negotiations have been completed between John Maxwell, B. I. P. chairman, and the Scottish Travel Ass'n for filming of a series of publicity films for Scotland. French Exhibs to Tour U. S. Paris — A pleasure sight-seeing trip to the U. S. is being organized by the Syndicat Francais des Directeurs de Theatres Cinematographiques. The excursion will leave about April 1 and will visit New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Pittsburgh, Dayton, Chicago, Detroit, Buffalo, Niagara Falls and Hollywood. Selecting New Films Act Board Is Subject of Special Interest London — The selection of new trade representatives on the Advisory Committee under the Films Act, to take the place of those retiring in rotation (but who are eligible for re-election), is this year creating an exceptional amount of interest. In several important trade quarters there is a feeling that a special effort ought to be made to ensure that the Committee shall be fully representative, in the coming year, of all the trade interests affected by the Act. This end would be advanced, it is suggested, if C. M. Woolf could be persuaded to allow his name to be nut forward as a representative of the producers. Mr. Woolf, as joint managing director of the Gaumont-British Corp. and chairman of Gainsborough Pictures, has a peculiar right to represent British production, of which he was a powerful and successful supporter long before the Quota. The unanimous nomination of Woolf on the part of British producers (which would certainly be endorsed by the President of the B.O.T.) would be a graceful tribute to a man who did niuch to keep a British studio open when production in this country was regarded as a hopeless business proposition. It would also have the advantage of adding to a Committee, of which John Maxwell is already a member, the best possible representative of the company which is most usually linked with B.I. P. as representative of the British industry. H. Bruce Woolfe, the retiring producer member of the Committee, is associated with British Instructional Films, between whom and Wardour Films, the associate company of B. LP., there are now close business relations. To a certain extent, therefore, he represents the same interests as Maxwell. Five More Theaters Okayed for Birmingham Birmingham — The Public Entertainment Committee has approved of the erection of another five theaters with a total seating capacity of 9,660. There are now 90 places of entertainment here licensed to show pictures. G. F. Mayo Now Kemp Mgr. London — George Frederick Mayo, recently manager of Councillor W. Bonwick's Gosport, has been appointed sales manager for the Clifford Kemp Film Service, Ltd. Paris Record for "Cain" Paris — All records at the Olympia have been broken by Leon Poirier's "Cain." First week's receipts were $31,830. Haik Gets "End of the World" Paris — The world distribution rights for the Abel Gance production, "La Fin Du Monde" ("The End of the World") have been acquired by the Jacques Haik Productions. Marly Leaves Universal To Handle Own Circuit Paris — M. Marly, Ury'versal's representative here, has resigned to manage his own string of theaters. New India Film Co. Lahore, India — The Taj Pictures Corp., with B. Puri as director, has been formed here for the production of motion pictures. Metropole Nets $77,500 London — Net profits of the Metropole Victoria for the past nine months have been announced as $77,500 by the Metropolitan Investment Co., owners. Installation of sound and necessary building alterations have reduced the profits of the Biograph, owned by the Winton Cinema, 25 per ■ cent. Two Super-Cinemas Open London — The Trocadero, Elephant and Castle's new 5,500-seater, has opened with Gaumont's "Bed and Breakfast." Another opening was the Dominion at Walthamstow. FOUR SUES FOR SUPERS HEED BY STOEL CIRCUIT London — Four valuable theater sites, especially suitable for the erection of houses of the super type, are now held by Stoll Theaters Corp., with views toward future expansion. The sites are located at Liverpool, Chiswick, Chatham and Leicester. New Names in "Fool" London — Henry Kendall and Wallace Geoffrey, who will play the hero and heavy, respectively, in "The Flying Fooi," which is being directed by Walter Summers for British International, are considered to be real screen "finds." This is their first picture. Both actors have considerable stage experience. Ursula Jeans also is in the cast. Gerald Sanger to Visit U. S. London — Gerald Sanger, editor of British Movietone News, will leave for New York soon to study the Fox Movietone organization in America. Leslie Landau will substitute for Sanger under the supervision of Keith Ayling, Fox Continental representative. B. & D. Reports Loss London — A loss of approximately $906,740 over a period of 17 months from June 1, 1929, is reported by British & Dominions in its balance sheet recently issued. Stoll Profits Low London — For the year ending Sept. 20 last, the Stoll Theaters Corp. showed a drop of more than 50 per cent in profits. The total revenue was $229,045 as against $507,330 earned in 1925, its first working year. Donald Calthrop Cast London ■ — Donald Calthrop has been cast as the defense lawyer in British International's production of "Potiphar's Wife." Henry Vibart and Ben Webster will also appear in the film. Peace Film Delayed Paris — The prize for the best peace film scenario will not be awarded until May, 1931, according to the selection committee of the League of Nations. Scenarios received up to the end of 1930 have not reached the high standard set by the committee. The winning story will be produced and released throughout the world.