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The L.S.D. of
the Talkies
Do you know ivhat it costs to make a film ?
by John Kenrick
NEARLY twenty-nine million pounds are invested in Hollywood motion picture companies.
This is a fantastically large amount, yet it only represents the major producing concerns. Independent producers probably account for two or three millions more.
Film production is America's fourth largest industry.
In actual American film interests, including theatres and renting organisations, the sum of five hundred million pounds is invested. It is difficult to conceive how much is invested in films all over the world.
But, while we are talking in nice large sums like this, let us go into this question of Hollywood finance. Supposing you wanted to be a film magnate, how much capital would you need ?
Well, I am afraid that, even if you won a first prize in the Irish Sweepstake, you would still be unable to set up as a film producer on a big scale without asking someone else to subscribe towards the company. Your £30,000 would not go very far !
Howard Hughes, for example, has two or three million pounds in movies. Hollywood has a stock joke concerning him.
Hughes was talking to a friend.
“ You know,” said the friend, " there must be an overwhelming amount of money tied-up in films which have not yet brought in a penny.” “ I know,” said Hughes, gloomily. “ It's nearly all mine, too ! ”
A ND it is a fact that, at one period, he had no less than £750,000 locked up in three pictures which had yet to show a pennyprofit for the simple reason that none of them had been released. The films in question were : Scarf ace, Sky Devils, and Cock o’ the Air.
But, leaving Howard Hughes for a few moments, think in more ordinary terms of movie money. How much does it cost to film an average production, the kind of picture which is shown nine weeks out of ten at your local kincma ?
The amount, of course, varies to a certain extent. There are no hard and fast rules regarding
the exact expenditure. Most films you see cost something between £40,000 and £60,000.
It is only rarely that one can make a good film for less, though with a simple story, a not-toohighly-paid cast, and an efficient director, it is possible to produce a polished picture for £30,000 — the whole of your Irish Sweep money at one blow !
“Westerns” and “quickies,” however, naturally work out at less than this. These are shot quickly, with cheap casts, and mostly out-of-doors. Studio overhead costs are light, for space is rented onlyaccording to the exact length of time required, and only the simplest of sets are used.
BUT even films of this description generallycost something like £20,000 !
The stars themselves do not always realise how much a picture really costs to make. Ann Harding wanted to buy Prestige — lock, stock and barrel !
This was on the suggestion of a Hollywood paper which, on reviewing the picture, commented that it would save Ann's own prestige if she
RICHARD DIX and IRENE DUNNE in “ Cimarron .'
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