The Film Daily (1931)

DAILV Sunday, June 28, 1931 ■ \im I i .ini I onclon, Paris, Berlin, Sydney, Melbourne and < Mlii r I on ign I 'Hi. i FOREIGN MARKETS Happening! in Other Lands of Interest to Producers, Distributors and Others in the U. S. By GEORGE REDDY. FRENCH 1930 PRODUCTION DOUBLED PREVIOUS YEAR Paris— Production in France injur per cent in 1930 over the with negative higher bj 240 per cent, according to indu impiled here. Of 47k features released in 1930, com.1 with 437 in 1929, 237 wen n origin, 111 from Germany, and ''4 were domestic producl 52 turned out bj France fn I "Five Year Plan" Film First Pudowkin Talker n — Pudowkin, one of the fore ; of Russian director.-, is now in this city accompanied by a technical produce a talker film based on the Soviet "Five Year Plan" in both German and Russian versions. ional players have been engaged for the film, as it will he .(I entirely of episodes from actual life. British Sunday Bill Up Next Week London — Consideration of the Sunday Kinemas Bill is expected to start nextweek before Standing Committee "B" in the House of Commons. There has been a big attack on the measure in an effort to limit the act to London and to effect other modifications. In all, about 50 amendments have been handed in by opponents of the bill. Green Circuit, Scotland, Closes 4 of Its Houses Glasgow • — ■ Four houses in the Green circuit with interests throughout Scotland are now closed. Three of the theaters are in the Govan, Bridgeton, and Whitevale sections of this city, and the fourth is at Johnstone, on the outskirts of Paisley. B.I. P. Trio Held Over on Liner London — Strong reception tender the three British International luctions, "The Yellow Mask," "Young Woodley" and "The Middle Watch,' shown aboard the Canadian tic liner, Empress of Britain, on the liner's recent maiden voyage, prompted the holding over of the tilnis for another trip. 4,700 More Seats for Aberdeen Aherdeen, Scotland — Work has been started on Poole's Regent, a $150,000 super here to seat 2,500. Promoters of the project are J. R. Poole of Edinburgh, and William Firth, Bradford. The Poole interests al>o have under reconstruction the Palace here, which when completed will have accommodations for 2,200. Move in Irish Free State To Bring Back Orchestras Duhlin — Although no definite steps have yet been taken by the Free State Minister of Finance, to put into operation suggestions made by a combined labor and musical deputation regarding amusement tax coi> cessions to be made in theaters env ploying orchestras, the Capitol and Queen's here have reinstated their musicians. These are the only houses in this city using orchestras since the advent of talkers. Another British Newsreel House Birmingham — The Select Cinema on Station St. here has closed for structural alterations and redecoration, and on reopening will operate with a newsreel policy. It will be its kind in the Midlands. London Scenic Series Filmed London — A series of 12 two-reel films dealing with the British capital it is li-s, generally known, has been produced by I lay ford Hobbs. The series is synchronized with a running commentary by Jack Hobbs, English legitimate actor. Largest Paris Super Reopens Paris — The reconstructed Gaumont I'alace at Montmartre here has been reopened as the largest motion picture house in this city and probably the world. In the projection booth of the house are four sound projection machines, manned by seven operators. Two screens have been installed, one a large one 16 meters by 12 meters, and the lighting equipment includes 22,000 lamps. N. Bloch, Osso Production Chief Paris — Xoe Bloch has been appointed production director for Films Osso, leading French producing organization. RENTAL BOOSTS IN I.F.S. LIKELY AS RESULT OF TAX Dublin— Method to be adopted by distributors in the Irish Free State to meet the new entertainment tax obligations, it is reported, will be the imposition of an extra 15 per cent on the amount payable for films by» exhibitors. This boost in rental, it is said, will apply only to pictures booked since the tax was placed in operation. W. E.'s Wirings in U. K. 1,295 London — With the equipping of the Star, Clayton-le-Moor, Lance, which will be completed June 9, and the Empire, Easington Colliery, Durham, on July 12. total numer of \\ estern Electric installations in the I'nited Kingdom will have reached 1,295. Pathe Natan Signs French Star Paris — Marcelle Chantal, FrencTi star has signed a contract with Pathe Natan to appear exclusively in their productions. Mme. Chantal's most recent work was with Paramount" at Joinville. Berlin Talker School n — A school for director artists and technicians is being formed here by Karl Froelich, in collaboration with Herr Plughaupt. Chaplin Run at Leeds London — Western Electric sound equipment is being installed in the Leeds Empire, a Moss Empires house, and Charlie Chaplin's "City Lights" is to open there in August for an extended run. British Players' Training School London — A private company has been registered here under the title of British Cinematograph Training Studios, Ltd., with a capital of $75,000, to carry on a college at which training and instruction will be given in the art and technique of acting for the films, and in all professional and technical subjects. Jacques Haik Adding to Capital Etablissements Jacques Haik, the French production company, which increased its capital from seven fo 15 million francs at the end of last year, is to raise more capital by means of an issue of 50,000 new hundred-franc shares. The company, whose profits have increased from 576,000 francs in 1928-29 to 2,136,000 francs in 1929-30. will then be capitalized to the extent of 20.000,000 francs (approximated $80,000). Spanish Film Congress Postponed Until October Madrid — The Hispano-American Motion Picture Congress, originally scheduled to be held in this city ;:i May, has been postponed until Oct. 1. because of the present upset Spanish political situation. The committee on arrangements prefers to hold the meet after the formation of the Chamber of Deputies so that resolutions of the Congress may be considered officially by the representative government. B.I.P. Signs Two More Stars London — In addition to Molly Lamont, whose contract has been renewed by B.IP. for another vear, the company has announced the signing to long term starring contracts of Ann Casson and Lesley Warsing, the latter a newcomer. 500 Swedish Houses Wired Stockholm — There are 500 theaters in Sweden equipped for the presentation of sound pictures, a recent checkup shows. Installations in operation are, 86 of Danish manufacture; more than 190 domestic; 58 American, and 55 German. Audible Filmcraft Winding Up London — A petition for the winding up of Audible Filmcraft is reported to have been presented by the liquidator of the Beaconsfield Trust (in voluntary liquidation) here, as creditors. U in Germany Reports Loss Berlin — German Universal Film A.-G. reports a net Ios of 85,000 marks for the past fiscal year ended Oct. 31, 1930. 2 Austrian Legits Go Sound Vienna— The Johann Strauss and the Renaissance Stage, two famous Austrian legitimate houses, are to be converted into talker houses. Ex-B.I.P. Exec to Form Own Unit London— J. A. Thorpe, formerlv chief of production at the B.I.P. Elstree studios, is reported contemplating formation of an independent production unit. New French Film Enterprise Paris — A new French producing company known as Cinemasques, has been formed here with headquarters in this city. Directors of the enterprise are Max de Pourtales, Camille Lemoine and J. F. de Thierrens. First production of the company will be "Beneath the Leather Helmet/' dealing with the French air force. Another English House for Paris Paris — Another addition to the growing number of theaters here presenting English talkers, is the Elvsee Gaumont, which will run a four months season of this tvpe of production. 653 Jap Features Tokio — Motion picture films of feature length produced in Japan during 1930 totaled 653, according to a trade report here. Of this number, 339 were classic Japanese dramas, 278 modern dramas. 35 educational subjects and one known as a paper novelty film.