The Film Daily (1932)

CRITICS' FORUM (Continued from Page 1) it's deliberately rather all-inclusive, is: Avoid banality. 8. Why should a motion picture critic review pictures from his own individual viewpoint as distinguished from the viewpoint of the average film patron? A. Because his own individual viewpoint is the only viewpoint that a motion pictm-e critic really knows; because his readers are interested in what he thinks about a picture, not what he thinks others think about it; because, in theory, at least, a motion picture critic has a knowledge of dramatic art and his reviews are supposed to guide showgoers, inform and, perhaps, entertain them; because, right or wrong, his own viewpoint is the only honest, sure standard he can have. 9. What type of short subjects do you like best? A. Animated cartoons, because their fantasy frequently makes them funny, usually makes them entertaining; films showing movie or news shots of long ago because they have an historical interest, often recall pleasant memories, and always reassure one that movie-making has made progress, after all; "different" travelogues (which are rather rare), because they furnish one of the most neglected values of the pictures — to inform — and because they are different. 10. What is your pet theory or peeve relating to motion pictures? A. Some weeks ago I wrote a column criticizing the average "news" reel . . . not because the newsreel is an especial peeve, but because the hackneyed, stupid formula always followed in concocting the average "news" reel best shows the curse of motion picture production, the curse of constantly repeating the commonplace. My pet theory: That though the critics answering this questionnaire will submit a multitude of worthwhile ideas, the movie chiefs will blandly ignore them. SUCCEEDS BEAVER A switch in the EducationalWorld Wide field setup sends Bill Raynor to Albany, filling the post left vacant by the death of Howard Beaver. Of the 3 ,73 1 motion picture actors regularly employed in pictures. 1.031 speak one or more languages other than English. THE ■3fr* DAILY Wednesday, July 27, 1932 ALONG IALTO PUiLMDAlY .rirflfc NEW YORK. IDS ANGELES • • • H. B. FRANKLIN writes today's column in the July 30th issue of Arkayo "NOW" he has a vital message for the entire industry a message of Confidence Courage based on the coming product not alone from his organization but from every major producer for Mister Franklin fully realizes that the Era of Isolation is past in the film biz it's now all for one and one for all we go forward as an Industry shoulder to shoulder boosting the other fellow's product as well as our own and that's the way the public has to be sold in this new Era of Interdependence ..... so follow right along it's H. B. Franklin speaking • • • THE PAST is for Wisdom the present for Action the future for Confidence Never live in the past today give thought for tomorrow When motion pictures first came into vogue you couldn't keep the public away from the box-office if you had tried That success was short lived the one and two-reelers didn't last long The producers were not satisfied with the first crude efforts neither was the public Soon the public flocked to the three-reelers then came the four-reeler.s later the five • • • THE EXHIBITOR who had something new either in theater or entertainment was the one that got the business Then the talkies! overnight business brightened and an industry turned over a new page pressagents yelled "Our screen talks" the public listened they came and for the time being, they were satisfied but not for long! © • • THE PUBLIC is fickle easy to please for the time being but constant repetition soon tires and patrons start shopping for entertainment Once again the public is shopping but will support a good show as enthusiastically as ever before • • • HOLLYWOOD KNOWS that the public is interested only in good entertainment and the producers of every organization are making heroic efforts to win box-office approval all signs indicate a continuation of the fine< standard set by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer who begin the new season with "Strange Interlude," featuring Norma Shearer and Clark Gable as well as "Rasputin," with Ethel, John and Lionel Barrymore "Prosperity," with Marie Dressier and Polly Moran and "Skyscraper Souls" • • • PARAMOUNT OFFERS Chevalier in "Love Me Tonight" the Four Marx Brothers in "Horsefeathers" Harold Lloyd's newest, "Movie Crazy" "Farewell to Arms," produced by Frank Borzage Marlene Dietrich in "Blonde Venus" all spelling Box-Office • • • FOX FILM, reinvigorated have produced the best Will Rogers picture in two years, "Down to Earth" also Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell in the very excellent attraction, "The First Year" and Mr. and Mrs. Martin Johnson's animal picture all examples of the good things to come Universal will soon establish new box-office records with their excellent production of "Back Street" (Continued on Page 8) Cleveland — Nat Wolf, Warner theater zone manager, is holding a series of managers' meetings next week. On Monday the northern Ohio managers meeting Cleveland. The following day the southern Ohio managers meet in Lima. Middletown, Conn. — Harold S. Es : kin, Daniel Finn and Maxwell D. * Hoffman of New Haven, have formed the National Theaters Co., Inc., with authorized capital of $25,000, and $1,000 paid in. Cleveland — Manny Glick, formerly with Fox, has joined the local Educational sales force. Thompson, Conn. — The Paramount, closed throughout July, will be reopened Aug. 1. Cleveland — F. A. Reinhart has formed the Broadway Theater Corp. for the operation of the Fountain theater, which he opens next week. Lisbon, O.— E. E. Wingate has closed the Grand theater for the summer. Akron, O. — Mrs. O. Muenick is the new owner of the Portage, which has been closed since April. Cleveland — RKO Hippodrome, 3,800-seat first-run downtown house which has been closed since the beginning of June, will reopen on Saturday preceding Labor Day. Coral Gables, Fla. — The Coral Gables has been closed. It is uncertain as to when it will reopen Cleveland — Loew's State, one of the five Loew houses which closed four weeks ago, is to reopen Sept. 2, it is unofficially announced. Lake North, Fla.— The Ritz has been opened in the Laurelton Hotel. MANY HAPPY RETURNS Best wishes are extended by THE FILM DAILY to the following members of the industry, who are celebrating their birthdays: July 27 Lawrence Gray Albert Wetzel Natalie Moorehead Joseph Quinlan