The Film Daily (1932)

THE Friday, July 1, 1932 -^ DAILY PA8CHALL BUYS INTO PUBLIX-DENT CIRCUIT (Continued from Page 1) as a circuit separate from Publix. Twenty houses are understood to be involved in the deal. Speculation in New York yesterday had Louis Dent, former operator of the circuit, in the background of the move. Griswold Quits Roxy; May Rejoin Rothafel (Continued from Page 1) would neither affirm nor deny it, but from other sources it was learned that Rothafel is desirous of having him at Radio City because of his fine record in the handling of the Roxy. New Far East Circuit Now Has 185 Theaters (Continued from Page 1) managing director, who has been here to buy British pictures and apparatus. Osborn also has been negotiating for British studio apparatus to equip three Chinese plants for making talkies. He intends to give English pictures wider exploitation in China, Japan, Siam, Malaya and Dutch East Indies. French Producers, Exhibs Debate New Film Quota Paris — At conferences held this week with government officials, the proposed new film quota, which would restrict imports of American product to about 50 features, was strenuously opposed by exhibitors, while producers argued for it. U. S. film representatives were not called into the consultations. Definite action on the measure is expected today or tomorrow. JOAN BENNETT'S NEXT West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILF Hollywood— "Pier 13," an original by Barry Conners and Philip Klein, will be Joan Bennett's next Fox vehicle. Ralph Bellamy is to play opposite her. Adaptation is by Al Cohn, and Alfred Werker will direct. Show Q^\%h^ man s \gnF Daily JTC REMINDER Get local merchants to pay for cost of buying and printing heralds and rotos. ALONGJ^RIALTO ll/^r/VX^^^i ^ PHIL M DALY MtW VORK. IDS ANGELES • • • THERE IS a load of fine creative writing talent right in the film biz that is going to waste because the usual procedure has been followed of sticking Labels on these gents they are in the publicity end of the industry so everybody looks upon 'em as press ageys now and forever •.' ■? # * • • • THESE CHAPS because of the very nature of their work know the screen and what it requires but do you imagine they can sell their creative work to a producer? not a chance! why, they're publicity men what do they know about Creative Writing so the producers go out and pay heavy jack for the screen rights of a published novel by a writer who knows nothing about screen technique and when the expert scenarists out in the studio get through with the novel there's nothing left but the title and often that is changed so all the producer gets for his dough is the author's name which often doesn't mean a hoot to the motion picture public • • • SO THESE experienced film writers are forced to sell their creative writing in the form of novels to discerning publishers who know entertaining fiction when they see it then when one of these publicity lads like Donald Henderson Clarke goes over big with his "Millie" and "Impatient Virgin" producers scramble to buy the film rights at fancy prices but do ya suppose Mister Clarke could have sold his ideas originally to the producers for the screen? the same guy the same stories but he didn't have a chance till some bright publisher first recognized his merit now everybody sez "Ain't Donald a great screen writer?" isn't that a Joke? # * 4 ft • • • AND THERE are plenty more just as good in their line as Mister Clarke take Norman Krasna he had to write his stage play knockout kidding his own publicity racket before they recognized him as a screen writer now he's on top of the heap there is Charles Reed Jones the indie publicity lad who has a half dozen fine mystery novels to his credit also Herbert Crooker whose novels are on all the booksellers' lists and Manfred Lee, in publicity for several different companies got his break from a publisher now under the pen name of Ellery Queen his detective novels rank with those of S. S. Van Dine in popularity * * * * • • • NOW COMES Walter Eberhardt with his first published novel from the press of Morrow "A Dagger In the Dark" we started reading it Sunday and got so absorbed that we forgot the waiting car the missus and Joonior so they went to the beach without us it's crammed with Action screen situations a highly ingenious and suspenseful plot will Walter get a break on the screen? will producers quit playing dumb and grab Talent right in their own family circle? • • • THOSE AMPA'S went literary at their luncheon with authorities in all departments telling the inside of the writing game Thayer Hobson, prexy of William Morrow Publishing Company, told how author and publisher were now just pals drawn closer together by their common misery Jacob Wilk, scenario editor of Warners, said that any pressagey with an original yarn could get an audience from his company so right now all the pressageys are camped in Jacob's outer office ha they can't take a joke! Walter Eberhardt, Florence Strauss and Harriet Henry also told the children some nice Fairy Stories L0EW,WITH GOOD PRODUCT LEADS DUAL BILL FIGHT (Continued from Page 1) gle features would result in admission price cutting and an increase in the cost of features. An additional expense would be added short subjects. An extra change of program would also be necessary. However, major circuits have been told that if double featuring is eliminated as a result of meetings now being held between first and second run operators, they will be given 45 days additional protection over any independent houses running dual programs. Para. Willing On 5-5-5 If Other Companies Are (Continued from Page 1) contract," declared the Paramount sales chieftain. Other group agreements effected by distributors in the past have "been kicked out by exhibitors," he pointed out. Fund for Aid of Films Proposed in England London — A proposal to deduct not more than 5 per cent from the revenue from Sunday movies to create a State fund for development of films as a means of entertainment and instruction has been approved by the House of Commons. The action was in connection with the bill to legalize Sunday shows under local option, which measure is now in its last parliamentary stage. NEW 16 mm. KODAK A new 16 mm. camera, small enough to fit in a coat pocket, but capable of taking enough pictures to run four minutes on the screen, will be introduced soon by Eastman Kodak Co. The camera holds 25 feet of 16 mm. film, but due to the fact that it quadruples the number of images recorded on a given length, every foot of film will go four times as far. ri MANY PAPPY RETURNS Best wishes ara extended by THE FILM DAILY to the following members of the industry, who are celebrating their birthdays: July 1 M. A. Schlesinger Don Eddy William Wyler Waldemar Young