The Film Daily (1931)

THE Wednesday, May 27, 1931 IN THE MAIL BAG More Music Policy Praised Editor: Film Daily, I have noted with great interest, in your issue of May 24, that Paramount is planning a program to use more music and less talk in their snorts, and I wish to congratulate them on this move. I have watched with a very great deal of interest the actions of the various motion picture companies relative to the use of music in connection with pictures, and have been astounded at the lack of comprehension on the part of producers as to the box-office value of music artisticallv and tastefully used. The principal object of too many producers has been to cut down on the music uses in order to curtail music costs, but music is and must remain an integral part of sound pictures. Cutting costs is a highly commendable policy, but no film producer today would think of using cheaper equipment in the production of his product, cheaper stars, less light, cheaper sets, fewer retakes, less film footage, or other similar production savings. His only thought is to use less music or less expensive music without fullv comprehending that this policy is just as serious a menace to his box-office returns as the adoption of any of the other cuts suggested. There comes a point in every industry where cutting costs is costly, and that has and is still proving true in the film industry so far as music uses are concerned. I realize that no arguments which we who are interested in a larger use of music can make are quite so forceful as dwindling public interest in pictures, and smaller box-office returns. These will speak for us better than any words of our own, but it is gratifying to see that one company has awakened verv strongly to the situation. JOHN G. PAIXK. Agent and Trustee, Music Publishers' Protective Ass... X'ew York, May 24, 1931. TEN YEARS AGO TO-DAY l t ■ THE W II1MDOM Charles C. Burr suggests Board of Trade to iron out troubles of independents. * * * M.P.T.O. still investigating Zukor theater activities. * * * Colorado and Iowa join M.P.T.O. Forty-three states lined up. «^3 DAILY RULf • • • WORD COMES from dear ole Philadelphia relayed by Oscar Neufeld, of Success Pictures, that we are gonna have a picture dealing with Phrenology "A Little Flat in the Temple" proving that living in Philly is bound to get you sooner or later Oscar has a swell lineup of Success Screen Subjects on display in his Sample Room look 'em over and make a bid no reasonable offer refused "Chiselers of Hollywood," a story of the studio carpenters "Phantom in the House," being the home life of a ghost writer "Defenders of the Law," a costume drama of the ole days, when cops useter work for the citizens "Woman Who Was Forgotten," the drama of a golf widow "Convict's Code," showing how the boys are taught to always notify the warden after they stage a jail break, for he may not even have missed 'em "Second Honeymoon," a Real Hero who was a bear for punishment "Mystery Train," the bankers and brokers special, bringing 'em to Wall Street every morn this one fools you, for the Mystery remains unexplained and so do bankers and brokers and so does a guy trying to sell pictures in Philly but that gives Oscar lots of time to write to us but if he was tryinp to sell pictures in New York, he'd have to change that name. Success Pictures a joke's a joke but these babies over at the Film Center building are a li'l touchv about that subject, lately * * * * • • • GOOD OLD A.M.P.A. has decided to kick in with a trophy for the Film Golf Tournament on June 10 it will he a handsomely engraved Mustache Cup the idea is that if things get much tougher in this film biz, we'll all be wearing mustaches soon Mike Simmons suggests that it has to he won three times the mustache fancier who wins it once has a hair on the cup if he wins it a second time, he has an upper-lip hold on it if he wins it the third time, it serves him right the only reason we submit these two contributions from Mister Neufeld and Mister Simmons is to show just what this continued Depression does to film muggs it's terrible • • • CHESTER BAHN, cinema crit of the Syracuse "Herald," devotes a recent column to an analysis of what makes a director look like a director or a mugg the same being no less than the pix he grinds out his inspiration is the forthcoming poll of the Ten Best Directors soon to be spread before the eyes of the industry in the Directors' Annual Chester ties it in with a similar poll of his Herald Cinema Critics Club and gives to the world his personal selections and why as this crit is conceded to be one of the shrewdest pickers in the biz, directors in general should be interested in his list to wit • • • LEWIS MILESTONE, for "All Quiet. " adding to his laurels with "The Front Page" Wesley Rugbies, for "Cimarron," one could forgive him even "The Sea Bat" Alfred E. Green, for "Old English," and Chester believes he is the only "Best Ten" of last year to retain his niche D. W, Griffith, for "Abraham Lincoln," one of the screen year's most notable comebacks, restoring Mister Griffith's lost prestige . '. Edward H. Griffith, for "Holiday," brilliantly directed Edmund Goulding, for "Devil's Holiday," a major directorial achievement Howard Hawks, for "The Dawn Patrol," a splendid aerial drama, understanding^ handled George Hill, for "The Big House." also "Min and Bill" John Cromwell, "Tom Sawyer" — enough said Tav Gar nett, for "Her Man" taught a needed Action versus Dialogue lesson to other directors V* Short Shots from New York Studios _ By HARRY .V. BLAIR _ gEN BLAKE has completed a sponsored scenic short for Standard Oil. Production was made in Pennsylvania with Frank Zukor at the camera. Made by Warner Bros, industrial department. We hear that Vladimir Dukelsky, who is better known in this country as Vernon Duke, Paramount staff composer, has had his original ballet, "Zephyr and Flora," accepted bti the Metropolitan Opera for the 1932 season. This work was originally performed in Monte Carlo, Paris, London and Berlin, where it met with great success. Paramount Notes: Eddie Cline cops all existing records for exteriors with "Girl Habit," now being edited by Barney Rogan. ... A bath tub that would put Cecil De Mille to shame has been designed by Chick Kirk for "Personal Maid." . . . Helen Tucker one of the lovely bathing cuties being put through their paces by Ray Cozine for "The Beach Nut." « « « » » » Aubrey Scotto is looking over the golf courses in the vicinity of New York for use as location spots in a forthcoming Paramount short. Fifth Avenue figured as the setting for exteriors in both "Personal Maid" and "Girl Habit." Casey Robinson, having completed "Nothing to Declare," a two-reeler starring Lulu McConnell, declares that he'll next direct Helen Kane in "A Lesson in Love," a musical onereeler. The story of "Secrets of a Secretary," recently completed here, is running serially in Collier's Weekly under the title of "Social Secretary." Charles Brackett is the author. Many Happy Returns Best wishes and congratulations arc extended by THE ~"^ / FILM DAILY to the following members of the industry, who are celebrating their birthdays: May 27 Josef von Sternberg Richard Currier Mary McAHster Marjorie Montgomery E. Lloyd Sheldon Cliff Wheeler