Year book of motion pictures (1925)

Outlook and Resume MENACE OF BOOKING COMBINATIONS I am extremely optimistic over the outlook for the motion picture business in 1925. In the first place, the best observers of general economic conditions, not only in this country, but throughout the world, have almost unanimously Jtefc *** predicted grenter prosper ajgfHMk, ' -~* In tl United particularly is this ex '«aWmtV | pected to be true, as, with the elections over, business can face the future without disturbing spell prosperity whether or not the gross increase rises over former years. — E. V. RICHARDS, VicePresident and General Manager, Saenger Amusement Co., Inc. Adolph Zukor political factors. Given sound general conditions, the picture industry should forge ahead to even greater prosperity than it has ever experienced in the past. Pictures are better today than they were a year ago ; they will be better next year than they have been this. The public, more and more, is coming to appreciate good pictures, and th^s appreciation is reflected in the attendance at theaters playing the better class of productions. We must not, however, let our optimism blind us to the perils of practices which inherently have the means of blocking this progress. Just as exhibitors have been encouraged by increasingly better pictures to build better and better theaters, so producers must be encouraged to continue producing better pictures by assurances that their product will find a suitable outlet at adequate returns. By this I mean artificial handicaps to progress, such as unnatural booking combinations, are distinctly unhealthy. They are bad for the whole industry — bad, naturally, for the producer, who will be prevented from obtaining a legitimate reward for his effort and investment, and bad for the exhibitor, because his prosperity depends wholly and solely on the continuing high quality of the productions which he shows his local public. This high quality cannot be maintained by the producer unless his rewards on his pictures enrou-age him to forge forward in his future productions. But, most of all, the economic burden of booking combinatiins falls upon the small exhibitor. It is he who will be obliged to make up whatever losses the booking combinations force upon the producer and distributor. This present tendency, however, is one which I am confident will be solved satisfactorily. It will be solved not by shortsighted gentlemen who are satisfied to grasp only the immediate dollar, but by all working together to bring about the greatest good for the entire industry. Enlightened selfishness, or, in other words, good business sense, will cure this condition which is about the only grave one now facing our business. RICHARDS OPTIMISTIC The year or season of 1924-1925, in my opinion, is to be one of general prosperity. The over-building habit has let up, cost of production generally sobered down — where circuits have formed, the tendency has been to operate on the broader scale. The "loan sharks" are not as prominent as in former years. The productions of real merit have generally brought a very satisfactory return. Exhibitors are more discriminating and not as easy to be led into "wild dreams" (as in former years) and the Hays unit is gradually bringing some reason into the minds of our leaders. If the above deductions are correct, we have a better systematized business — more conservative than ever before, and the net of such should Marcus Loew ANTICIPATES NO BUSINESS SLUMP 1925 will hold exceptional prosperity, not only for the film industry, but for business in general There has been a gradua' adjustment of business onditions since the war vhich has taken care oi he problems that have irisen. Sound conservative policy has helped all ndustries weather the per iod of stress. The result is that the motion picture industry particu larly stands solidly on it« feet to reap the harvest of the year we are entering on. With the prcsdential election over, the prosperity that every business will share in 1925 has already begun to manifest itself. All that is necessary to learn the real internal state o economic prosperity is to consider the phenomenal business in stocks. Throughout the country, the public is spending money more freely and in larger quantities than in several years. The amusement business, particularly the film industry, will be among the first to benefit. I am confident there will be no slump. For our own part, Metro-Goldwyn looks forward to the most successful season that any film organization ever enjoyed. We are going ahead with plans that will surpass in scope anything before attempted in the industry. The start of the new year finds two splendid Metro-Goldwyn pictures in Broadway theaters for runs. Lillian Gish in Henry King's Inspiration production of "Romola," with Dorothy Gish, at the George M. Cohan Theater, and Erich von Strohenn's "Greed" at the Cosmpolitan. Shortly after 1925 has dawned we will have another great production on Broadway in "Ben Hur," which I aim confident, will be recognized and acclaimed as the finest, as well as the most elaborate motion picture that has been made. Our production schedule at the Culver City studios of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer includes such special productions as "The Merry Widow," directed by Erich von Stroheim with Mae Murray and John Gilbert heading the cast, and "The Great Divide," recently completed by Reginald Barker. We will have also for release in 1925, among other big features, Rex Ingram's production of "Mare Nostrum," by Blasco Ibanez. This production, by that combination which made "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" one of the biggest successes ever known to the industry, we expect to be Mr. Ingram's greatest achievement. From this it will be evident that our plans for 1925 are on a tremendous scale. Under the supervision of Louis B. Mayer, and his associates, Harry Rapf and Irving G. Thalberg, the studio will continue to surpass its big achievements already, and give motion picture theaters the best box office product in the business. In view of what our company has already accomplished this season, there can be no question of what 1925 will hold for exhibitors in the way of MetroGoldwyn product. Our own activity reflects that in the business as a whole. It is for the business as a whole, as well as for Metro-Goldwyn, that I look for a year of fine success. 363