The Film Daily (1918)

Vol. VI, No. .54 Sunday, December 1, 1918 Price-. 25c. Copyright 1918, Wid's Film and Film Folks, Inc. Published Daily at 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. by WID'S FILMS AND FILM FOLKS, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DENIG, Editor Entered as second-class matter May 21, 1918, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the Act of March 3, 1879 Terms (Postage free) United States, Outside of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00 Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-?3 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551—2 Features Reviewed Grace Cunard & Edward Cecil in. . . .AFTER THE WAR Universal — M. H. Hoffman Spcl. R'lsc.Page io Maciste in THE LIBERATOR Harry Raver Distr,, Continued in 12 episodes Page 11 Mae Gaston, Rosemary Theby & Francis Ford in THE SILENT MYSTERY L. Buston Prod. Serial — Hiller & Wilk Page 13 Carmel Myers in ALL NIGHT Universal Page 15 Enrico Caruso in MY COUSIN Artcraft Page 18 Montagu Love and Dorothy Green in . . . .THE GROUCH World Film Page 19 Corinne Griffith in MISS AMBITION Vitagraph Page 21 Emmy Wehlen in HIS BONDED WIFE Metro Page 23 Grace Davidson in SUSPICION M. H. Hoffman Prod. Page 25 George Stone & Gertrude Messinger in ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES Fox Special Page 27 Mary McLaren and Star Cast in VANITY POOL Universal Special Page 28 Hale Hamilton in FIVE THOUSAND AN HOUR Metro Page 29 Mr. Hodkinson Answers Mr. Zukor and Mr. Williams. What Dj You Think ? I believe very strongly in discussion of interesting problems at this time in the hope of this discussion developing something which will be of definite value to the industry as a whole. As 1 have frequently stated, I'm ready at any time to print anybody's statement so long as it registers a definite point and keeps within the law. Recently Mr. Zukor presented a statement in a vaudeville paper which is not really a motion picture publication, and this statement was answered for the First National Exhibitors' Circuit by Mr. J. D. Williams. Then Mr. \Y. \Y. Hodkinson of the corporation which bears his name, asked this publication if they would also publish a statement from him, bearing upon the discussion, and he was informed that they would. He prepared this statement, sent it in, and understood that it was to be published, but when the time came, Mr. Hodkinson informs me that he was told that the publication had decided that they would not publish the statement, and he says that they did refuse to do so. Because of this rather peculiar situation, and because-of the fact that Mr. Zukor, Mr. Williams and Mr. Hodkinson are three prominent figures in the present line-up in the film industry situation, I have decided to present here the entire discussion so that it may be analyzed as a whole. First, I give the statement verbatim as sent out by Mr. Zukor. Second, the reply verbatim as sent out by Mr. Williams, and third, the statement issued by Mr. W. W. Hodkinson, answering the statements of both Mr. Zukor and Mr. Williams. I'm presenting these three statements at this time without comment in order that they may be judged on their merits. Later on I expect to have a hand in the discussion myself, unless some of you aggressive, intelligent, analytical exhibitors, distributors or producers care to present your opinions, in the matter. I would like very much for everyone to have their say at this time, because big things are happening, and a free discussion of them helps everyone. It is a very hard matter to get the big minds of this industry together in a room for a discussion, but it may be possible to work something out by having this discussion handled in this manner. I would suggest that you read these three statements carefully, and then if you have something to say, let's have it. You need not think that because you run a theatre in a small town, your opinion will not be important, because these matters concern every factor in the industry. I will be glad to print your thoughts providing you condense them into a reasonable space. I believe that the statements printed here could be condensed, but since they have been published, I want to give them in full so that I could not in any way be accused of changing the meaning of the statements by using only portions of them.