The Film Daily (1932)

Sunday, Feb. 21. 1932 THE -^^ DAILY Latest News From London, Paris, Berlin, Sydney, Melbourne and Other Foreign Centers FOREIGN MARKETS Happenings in Other Lands of (nterest to Producers, Distributors and Others in the U. S. 'By L. H. MITCHELL 200 BRITISH PICTURES OFFERED FOR COLONIES London — The British United Film Producers' Co., recently organized to distribute British-made product to the colonies and mandated territories, has already received offers of 200 British-made pictures for examination as to their suitability. Examination and classification of the productions is now in progress. A policy of the company is to have enough films on hand when distribution starts so that there will be no let-down in the supply to exhibitors. Circuits on the east and west coast of Africa have already signed for the service and they will receive six to eight pictures at a time. ARGENTINE TELEVISION CO. Buenos Aires — A company has recently been formed here, under the name of Baird Television Limited (Argentine Co.) for the purpose of exploiting in Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil and Chile the patents of the Baird Television Co. of England.^ It is intended to establish a combination television and radio telephone service. In Argentina it will be established in conjunction with the Buenos Aires broadcasting station of Radio Splendid. AID FOR NORWEGIANS Oslo — A Norwegian film company, subsidized by Norwegian municipalities, to support the taking of Norwegian motion pictures, is in the process of formation. The company's capital will be devoted mainly to aiding producers of films though the company may itself produce. CINES AVIATION PICTURE Rome — Cines Pittaluga is preparing a motion picture dealing with the progress of Italian aviation iii dramatic form. Gullo Lombardozzi will be in charge of the production. The principal actors are Germana Paolieri, Leda Gloria, Giulia Costa, the aviator Alfredo Moretti, and Ennio Cherlesi. DELAC'S NEW FILM Paris — Germain Delac, France's noted woman director, is preparing to direct "The Invisible God," a taljcing picture dealing with gold. French Patents Conference Paris — A conference on patents will be held here this month at which motion picture exhibitors will be present. They refused to attend the conference in 1929 and their absence is said to have cost them millions of francs. The royalty question which has been disturbing the French film industry will come up for revision. Gaumont-British Opens First of "1932" Supers London — Gaumont-British opened its first new "super" cinema theater for the year, the Gaumont Palace, at Peckham, London suburb, last week. It is the first of a series of suburban "supers" planned for the year by Gaumont-British. PORT OF LONDON FILM London — The Port of London Authority has completed a sound motion picture illustrating the growth and history of that port. It is called "The Story of the Port of London." GULLIVER WITH MOSS London — Charles Gulliver has been appointed one of the managing directors of Moss' Empires Theaters, to co-operate with R. H. Gillespie in the management of the theatrical and variety end of the circuit. Will Evans continues to control the motion picture section of the business. "SERVICE" FOR U. S. London — "Service for Ladies," Paramount's British-made production, which recently played the Plaza, Piccadilly Circus, for an extended run, will be distributed throughout the United S^tates, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, India and the British colonies by Paramount. Flicker Productions Will Make Features London — Flicker Productions, Ltd., formed two years ago to make "book movies" illustrating sport and other subjects, has been so successful that it is going into the production of feature pictures, with a schedule for six productions during the present year. A studio site of 60 acres, including a magnificent old house which is being transformed into a studio, has been acquired at Littleton Park, Shepperton, Middlesex. N. W. Loudon is managing director of the company. Visatone recording apparatus has been installed. Stereoscopic Invention Paris — Twenty patents have been issued here to the inventors of a new stereoscopic device for projecting motion pictures. The invention has been kept a strict secret, but the "Paris-Midi" recently announced such an invention had been made. It is reported to be based on the filtration of light rays through multiple lenses. FRENCH ARBITRATION Paris — The French Exhibitors' Ass'n has agreed to a two months' truce with the Society of Authors and Composers in the exhibitors' war against paying increased royalties. A settlement of the matter will be sought by arbitration in the meantime. "LILY CHRISTINE" CAST London — Walter Morosco, Paramount production chief at the Elstree studios, announces the following cast for "Lily Christine," which Director Paul Stein has just put into work: Corinne Griffith, Jack Trevor, Anne Grey, Colin Clive, Miles Mander and Margaret Bannerman. FILM PIONEER DIES London— R. I. Beard, who made the first Geneva Cross projector in 1897, which was used by Sir William Jury, and invented the oxygen-hydrogen generator used before electricity became general, is dead here at the age of 76. "Road to Life" Director Is Honored by Soviet Moscow — Nikolai Ekk, who directed the production now appearing at the Cameo Theater, New York, under the title of "Road to Life," has been chosen, because of his remarkable work on that production, to direct the outstanding film of the fifteenth anniversary of the Russian Revolution to be held in Moscow next October. His production will deal with the "Five Year Plan," and will show the great new Palace of the Soviets, which will be the new seat of the Russian government. Sergei M, Eisenstein, now in Mexico, has been recalled to start on a film for the anniversary program. AUSTRALIAN EXHIBS CET REBATE J^EQUIPMENT Sydney — Western Electric is rebating 20,000 pounds to 240 Australian exhibitors following tariff readjustments. Checks varied in amount from a few pounds to as high as 400 pounds, and were sent out without previous notice. The exhibitors who benefit by the rebate are those who signed for installations after the Federal Government had imposed a "loading duty" more than two years ago. Western Electric asked the Customs Department for a revision of the tariff on its recording apparatus. The loading duty was reduced from 100 to 60 per cent. When the Customs Department rebated the differences to Western Electric the latter passed it on to exhibitors who had paid tht full price under the loading duty. CHEAP COLOR FILMS Wellington — Tru Color, invention of a New Zealander in natural color cinematography, was demonstrated for government officials and film executives at the Art Craft theater. The inventor claims that colored motion pictures can be made as cheaply by his process as black and white pictures. The general opinion of those who saw the demonstration was that Tru Color is better than any other color filming process yet shown in New Zealand. "MONTE CARLO MADNESS" London — Pathe will release throughout the United Kingdom Erich Pommer's Ufa production, "Monte Carlo Madness," of which an English version has been made. Sari Maritza has the leading role, supported by Helen Haye, Charles Redgie, John Deverill and Thomas Weguelin. ROWLAND LEE TO ENGLAND London — Associated Radio Pictures, it • is stated, has signed the American director, Rowland V. Lee, to direct pictures in England. Basil Dean is said to have persuaded Lee to come here. His latest picture, "The Guilty Generation," was recently featured at the New Gallery. SOVIET FILMS FOR FRANCE Paris — The French Conseil Generale du Cinema is conferring with representatives of the Soviet film industries with a view to possible reciprocal production in France and Russia, with a guarantee of markets in both countries. Abel Gance has recently taken over the Paris agency for Soviet films. M. Chouniatsky arrived in Paris in time to take part in the conferences. ITALIAN MUSICAL NOVELTY Rome — Cines Pittaluga has in preparation a novel musical motion picture, named after Pergolesi, one of the outstanding figures in Italian music, and which will deal with his adventurous love affairs, accompanied by his own music. Vittorio Guy is preparing the scenario and continuity. BRISTOL FILM CARNIVAL London — The suggested Kinema Carnival and Ball of the Bristol and West of England branch, is expected to be postponed until fall. Central Preview Theater London — The scheme for « central preview theater where newspaper critici could see the new motion pictures In advance of their regular showing, put forward by one of the film reviewers, is attracting a good deal of attention here and may result in such a venture being undertaken. It is receiving support from others of the film critics. i