The Film Daily (1931)

10 -. <%&* DAILY Thursday, June 18, 1931 MONTREAL CENSORS YANK "HELL BOUND" ON 4TH DAY (Continued from Page 1) of it> run at the I'rim ess, leaving the house without an attraction There was great indignation among local bitors as the Princess had given i picture expensive advertising and v campaign, figuring on a full k. The film was pulled at a i nee without warning, necessitating refunds and a weak substitute film. The censor later apologized, but apparently was forced to act when organizations objected to the gangster theme. Ralph Kinsler Promoted To RKO Manager in Cincy Ralph Kinsler, formerly on the ! staff of RKO's branch in Cincinnati, has been advanced to the management of that office, replacing Al Motz, who was transferred to the Cleveland exchange as manager. Metz replaces F. H. Hathaway, resigned. William McCabe has been engaged as salesman to fill the post vacant by Kinsler's promotion. Foreign Policy House Cuts Scale A cut in scale averaging about 30 per cent has been made by Joseph R. Fleisler at the 8th St. Playhouse, which has a foreign film policy. This is the first cut reported among the arty houses playing imported product. "Die Forsterchristl," which had a run at the Belmont uptown, is the new attraction at the 8th St. Camera in Person at Opening Primo Camera, fistic giant, will make a personal appearance tonight at the Winter Garden, where his first Yitaphone short, "The Bigger They Are," appears on the new program with "Smart Money." Fox Signs Two from Stage Marcel Varnel, for six years stage director for the Shuberts, has been signed to a five-year Fox contract by Winfield Sheehan. Charles B. Williams, comedian and comedy writer, also has been signed to write and direct for Fox. Releasing Sync "Hur" in England London (By Cable) — M-G-M is releasing a synchronized version of "Ben Hur" in the United Kingdom. Music and sound effects have been added. |SUNSHIN€ I \sjA IN ***{ /* ■ THE DAY'S NEWS Lee Marcus of = dition of four Cify Studios to = work. RKO Pathe orders adnew stages at Culver speed up production Sir ' Short Shots from Eastern Studios By HARRY N. PI. AIR QEORGE BARBIER, popular character actor on Broadway, who is now appearing in support of Maurice Chevalier in "The Smiling Lieutenant," has had his contract renewed by Paramount as a featured player under a long term agreement. A total of $17,500 was represented in silverware and service rented f*>r the banquet scene in "The Girl Habit," recently completed here by Eddie Clitic with Charlie Ruggles starred. Simple Simon Comedies, Inc., plans to resume production at one of the New York studios within the next two weeks. Charles Glett, who is now on a sales trip throughout the country on behalf of the organization, reports that he has made arrangements with most of the principal circuits for the two comedies already completed, with a blanket agreement covering the balance of the series. Paramount Notes: Tallulah Bankhead telling about her trip to Coney Island where she went on every one of the amusements and ate hot dogs to her heart's content . . . She looks in great shape for her next picture . . . Eddie Cline re-enacting scenes from some of the old silent pictures he directed and attracting an interested audience. Strength of Film Industry Hidden By High Costs, Says Wall Street (Continued from Page 1) leading moving picture companies have suffered an unusually drastic deflation in the current bear market. At their recent lows, none of the leaders' common shares was selling at more than 3]/2 times 1930 earnings. While it is not unlikely that a gradual lowering of box office prices will continue, which will be reflected directly in film income since films are now rented on a percentage basis rather than at a flat rate, film producers probably will be able to offset the smaller income by a corresponding lowering of production expenses. The film industry traditionally is extravagant, so current developments may prove a blessing in disguise for the managements which for some time have been endeavoring to reduce overhead. Earnings of the moving picture companies showed striking increases in 1929 and 1930, partly due to large holdings of theaters, but mainly to increased admission prices and higher film rentals which accompanied the introduction of sound films. Sound films reached their peak as novelties in the first half of 1930, and showed a sharp falling off last summer from 1929, because sound was no longer a novelty and consequently did not offset the usual summer letdown. It thus was not unnatural for film income to subside to a lower level than that established during the peak of prosperity. Nearly all of the leading companies now have budget systems for keeping expenses under control. ParaParamount Loew's Net 1930 $18,381,178 $14,600,332 Net 1929 15,544,544 11,756,956 $ share 1930 5.90 9.65 $ share 1929 5.78 7.91 Net assets for common 139,417,202 62,092,000 Shares common 3,113,026 1,419.217 Current market price 23 41J4 mount has a particularly effective system under which every department makes up a budget for six months ahead, which is then combined in a master budget that is broken down to a weekly basis. All income and expenditures then are checked weekly so that it is possible to exercise a very accurate control over all branches of the business. In considering the moving picture industry, it sometimes is forgotten that it really is an amusement business, and that the first and most important requisite is to provide amusement. Just as a good stage play will make money under the most adverse conditions, and poor plays fail in a good year, so the earnings of the film companies depend directly upon the success of the films of the industry as a whole. An outstanding success of any one company benefits all of its competitors, since it increases theater income wherever shown. One of the causes of the present lower earnings is the dearth of outstanding films. Income this summer probably will be disappointing on this account, but the normal recovery in the fall should take place. Film releases for the new season will affect next year's earnings. Current earnings are the determining factor behind market prices, of course, but even on this basis the amusement securities appear to have had more than their share of deflation, compared to other industrials. Comparative positions of the five most important companies are as follows: Warner Fox RKO $7,074,621 $9,20S,434 $4,173,210 14,514,628 9,469,051 2,523,558 1.77 f 1.45 5.23 + . . .92 86,287,273 *47.88u',666 46,952,914 3,767,593 2,525,660 2,328.250 14 8 20 Market valuation $72,000,000 $58,898,000 $30,141,000 $50,513,200 $32,596,000 Book value share 44.78 43.93 22.90 *19 20.17 Preferred None 145.203 sh. 103,107 sh. None $10,319,200 Funded debt $101,429,844 $35,693,000 $99,371,062 $58,610,234 540,351.600 ♦After deducting $46,200,000 book value of holdings in Film Securities Corp. rPer share earnings not figured due to special deductions from surplus account. DUAL BILLS PARTLY DUE TO SHORT LENGTH FILMS (Continued from Page 1) that picture has sufficient footage and on other occasions he feels compelled to give his audiences two of them. A show ought to run 2}4 hours in order to satisfy an audience, said Fay. Otherwise they get out of an evening performance feeling that they haven't had their money's worth, he asserted. M.P.T.O.A. Representative Invited to Trade Confab A representative of the M.P.T.O.A. has been invited to attend a conference to be held Friday by the New York Group of the Congress of Industries to consider the final revised rules announced by the Federal Trade Commission. Meeting will be held at 3 o'clock at the office of Attorney Sol M. Herzog, 245 Fifth Ave. Similar conferences have been held in Washington and Chicago. Schumann-Heink Wins Suit West Coast Bureau, THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Full judgment in trie amount of $75,000 has been recorded in Superior Court in favor of Mme. Ernestine Schumann-Heink in her breach of contract suit against Edwin Carewe. She claimed Carewe agreed in 1929 to produce a motion picture in which she was to be starred and that she lost a full season of concert engagements through his failure to make the picture. Ferdinand Schumann-Heink, son of the singer, who claimed he was to have a leading part in the picture, was awarded $500 of the $11,000 he sought to recover from Carewe. Carewe contended that the contract was terminated when an EnglisTi company failed to supply financial backing. RKO Eastern Sales Meet Off RKO executives have called off the eastern sales meeting scheduled to be held here Saturday. According to Jerry Safron, eastern general sales manager, instructions that would have been given the men at the meeting will be transmitted by telephone and correspondence. Harry Green in Stage Venture Harry Green, former Paramount feature player, will produce and star in "The Shyster," stage play. Rehearsals soon start in New York. Ludwig Satz for Jewish Films Ludwig Satz, prominent Jewish actor, will appear in talkers to be made in the East by Yiddish Exhibitors Corp. under the direction of Sidney M. Goldin. Satz also has appeared on the English stage. And They Hang the PIX! A Columbia employe, upon viewing the new landscapes hung in the main lobby at the company's home office, inquired if they were Rembrandrs. "No, Joe Brandt's," was the reply snappy.