The Film Mercury (1928-1929)

Hollywood, Calif. THE FILM MERCURY, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1928 Page Fifty-Seven Great Britain and Sound Films London. London’s newest theatre, the Piccadilly, has been leased to Warner Brothers for the presentation of the first American talking pictures to be shown in this country. Thus the first inroad made by the “talkies” in Great Britain will not be on the silent film but on the stage. The Piccadilly, thoroughly modern in construction and beautiful in green and gold, was built as a home for musical plays. One musical play was, in fact, shown there, but has since been transferred, and now this advance post of the speaking stage is surrendering to the talking film. Is this a sign of the times — a shadow cast before by coming events? Will the stage, already injured by the silent picture, be practically extinguished by its audible development? Last week I quoted the opinion of Basil Dean, one of the best and best-known English theatrical producers, that something of this sort might happen. Certainly the London stage has been in a bad way of late. Even importations from New York, which London managers seem on the whole to prefer to the native product, have been failing after runs that might be measured in weeks or even days. Talking pictures, should they intrigue and hold the public fancy, might well accelerate this rake’s progress. And yet — there is nothing here yet of that whole-hearted belief in the future of alldialogue films that seems to prevail in Hollywood. Not even the talking film concerns themselves seem overly optimistics. This week, for instance, Stewart Sandeman, who besides being a member of Parliament is a director of British Phonofilms, the first talking film company in this country, predicted that for the next few years the real use of the sound film might be classified under the following four heads: 1 — News of the day. 2 — Effects; the occasional introduction of the human voice and introduction of “noises.” 3 — Turns, variety and revue sketches, or “star” turns to offer interludes. 4 — Music. The incidental music will become part of film production instead of being left to the mercy of the local cinema orchestra. The perfect synchronization will make possible the production of ballets and excerpts from operas. An English Opinion So much for the talking film men themselves. One of England’s foremost screen critics has gone further and asseverated that “America’s remarkable stampede over talkies has practically made a present of the film producing industry to Britain. Hollywood, intent on stoppinig the rot in American cinema box offices, is voluntarily resigning its leadership of the film world, and Hollywood’s difficulty is England’s opportunity.” Ht advises British producers of silent film to get together, hire or buy a Broadway theatre and thus sell their films to the thousands of American theatres which may never show talkies. There will be, he argues, a shortage throughout the world of nontalking films, and a demand that British producers can supply. I quote all this without comment, but it is interesting in view of the formation in New York by J. D. Williams of a company designed to give British and foreign silpnt films an entry into the United States markets. John Maxwell, Chairman of British International, whose pictures will be placed in America through its agency, has co-operated in the forming of the new distributing concern. British International, already the largest producing firm in this country, has just completed a deal whereby it has secured control of First National-Pathe. The control was formerly held by the Lord Beaverbrook, Lord Ashfield, Sir William Jury and Will Evans combine. An important result of this transfer is that British International will from now on make the “quota pictures” required by First National here. J hus, the amalgamation and internationalization of English producing and distributing firms — now recognized as a necessary basis for real growth — goes on. British International, which has increased its capital to $5,000,000 to finance these activities, owns 95 per cent of the share capital of .the Sudfilm A. G., one of the two most important film distributing concerns in Germany. It also has a substantial holding in the Pathe Consortium Societe Anonyme, the largest film distributing company in France; control of Sascha Films of Austria, which has subsidiary distributing companies in Hungary, Y ugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Poland and Rumania, and a substantial holding in Cinema-Art Films which will distribute British International products in Australia and New Zealand. — John MacCormack , in the New York Times. * * * New P-F-L Stock at Most of the trading in Paramount-Famous-Lasky Corporation swung over to the new common shares which were issued after the 3 for 1 split. 29.300 shares were traded in opening the first quotation at 49 }i and closing at 48 Only 5.300 shares of the old stock were swapped. * * * For Laura La Plante As soon as Laura La Plante completes her leading feminine role in “Show Boat,” Harry Pollard directing for Universal, she will start work in “Little Miss Satan,” Wesley Ruggles to direct. It will be about ten days before Pollard completes his picture. * * * H. B. Warner Picture Sir James Barrie’s “Half an Hour” is H. B. Warner’s second vehicle for Paramount. It will be an all-talkie, Ruth Chatterton to appear opposite Warner, with Robert Edeson, Ethel Wales and Joyce Coad, William DeMille to direct. Barrie’s story was originally written for Maude Adams. $1,000,000 Paid Balahan & Katz One million dollars is the price received by Balaban & Katz from Warner Brothers for their First National franchise holdings, of which they held about 5,000 shares. Herbert Stern, president of Balaban & Katz arranged the sale for his company. Some 9,000 additional shares acquired by Warners for First National control were held by Finkelstein & Ruben, E. V. Richards, Robert Lieber, A. H. Blank and the Skouras Bros. Skouras will have the management of the huge chain of theatres now controlled by Warners, as exclusively predicted in Exhibitors Daily Review on Saturday, September 22. * * * For Mary Alden Mary Alden has been added to the cast of Charles Rogers’ new picture for Paramount, “Someone to Love,” which F. Richard Jones is directing. * * * Paul Guertzman Added Paul Guertzman, European youth recently acquired by Paramount, has been cast in “The Wolf of Wall Street,” Bancroft’s starring picture, as the office boy. PATENTS Protect Your Idea! Write Freely, sending Data of your Invention, for full advice. Write for “Proof of Invention” folder mailed free. Trade-Marks Registered We give genuine personal service Established — Experienced Twentynine Years E. E. VROOMAN & CO. 88 Atlas Building Washington, D. C. Mention Film Mercury when writing