Film Spectator (1927-1928)

Page Twenty THE FILM SPECTATOR August 6, 1927 cess, the others rush to make similar pictures, hoping to grab a little of the success for themselves. And yet there are always new stories to be had with a little careful searching. For every Big Parade and What Price Glory there are a thousand stupid pictures. Yet Lawrence Stallings was once unknown. Old Writers in a Rut The old writers are writing in circles; their stories never get anywhere. Yet there is the whole great world to explore. The new writer is apt to be an explorer. He is not fighting to hold his own; he has time for enthusiasm. This does not necessarily mean that the high schools and colleges should be combed for talent. To be sure one learns to read in school and at college, but the universities graduate thousands a year who have no ability at all as dramatists. Having an A. B. or an M. A. or a P. H. D. tied to your name does not guarantee that you have any value at all as a photo-dramatist. Then, too, genius often flowers late in life, and we need a few geniuses in the scenario departments. Sincerity and background have value in any reading department, as do judgment and experience. I would exchange fifty literary lights fresh from college for one embryo Jim Tully or Knut Hamsun. And I believe that the job of reader should be as highly paid as that of continuity writer. If the story be big enough and beautiful enough and dramatic enough, almost any skilful person can break it up into continuity. Why pay large sums for the doctoring and patching up of a weak yarn, when there are strong vital ones to be bought? Find the story. The rest is comparatively simple. And to find a story one must have readers. Anyone can read, but how many have judgment and knowledge? heart beat and its variations under abnormal conditions. The experiment has been utilized for teaching purposes. * * * In a recent decree by the president of Cuba, a censorship of motion pictures has been provided, according to information received by the Children’s Bureau, Department of Labor. r Under the Ministry of the Interior, a committee, consisting of six members, will examine all films with authority to bar those they consider objectionable to public morals, or offensive to the national honor, or that of a friendly nation. * * * Under a new ruling Cuban children, under fourteen years of age, may not be admitted to motion picture performances after 8:30 p. m., except on Sundays and holidays. Violations of the new law will provoke heavy fines, proceeds of which will be used for the purchase of educational films for the public schools. * * * What You Should Know About the Law Compiled by Roger Marchetti, of the Los Angeles Bar It is difficult to define in legal terms just what constitutes an indecent performance. In the case of People vs. Barney Kelly (manager of National Winter Garden stock) et al., the cast was placed under arrest during the performance. At the trial of the case. Policeman Ford told of alleged indecent dialogue, and was corroborated by other officers. However, the evidence being too weak to support the charge, it was not necessary for defendants to testify. The charge was dismissed on motion of the attorney for the defence. In a suit brought against Channing Pollock, well known author and playwright, Abraham Waxman charged Mr. Pollock with lifting from his play Soldiers of the Common Good his idea for The Fool. It was brought out, however, that he had never seen the manuscript of the Waxman play, and witnesses testified that he was considering the plot for The Fool in 1900 and that he wrote it from 1902 to 1908. This case has been brought to a close recently in the New York courts, clearing Mr. Pollock of the charge. * ♦ ♦ Among recent arbitration cases in New York, with two decisions in favor of the exhibitor, were claims against Famous Players. The Rialto at Westfield, N. Y., was awarded $236.50 from the Paramount New Jersey exchange because it did not receive the full amount of pictures contracted for. The theatre asked for $500 damages. The other victor against Famous Players was Lafferts, at Richmond Hill, L. I. Damages of $700 were claimed on the ground that the house claimed seven days’ protection on For Heaven’s Sake, and received reimbursement for a large amount paid for the picture, was made. An award of $150 Five years ago the Committee on Scientific Exhibit, recognizing the validity of criticisms against surgical film demonstrations in general medical ordinances, ruled that no films dealing with surgical technique could be shown in the motion picture theatres, although illustrated lectures on surgical topics were encouraged. “The motion picture film will, of course, always be of value for recording interesting or unusual conditions, such as nervous afflictions and motor defects . . .” it was declared by the committee, but the ruling remained the same “because the observer obtains an erroneous impression of the relative ease in performing unusual and difficult surgical operations.” A new note was sounded, however, when it was recently announced that a study of the physiognomy and physical attitudes in the different forms of mental diseases is soon to be undertaken. At Columbia University moving pictures demonstrated the actual movements of a heart with the organs exposed in a dog under an anesthetic. Under the influence of various drugs it was possible to permanently record and visually demonstrate the normal As a result of Mexico’s sensitive state, where her national pride is concerned, five of our completed pictures are on the shelf, and will not be released. It seems that there has been a law passed recently, to bar any films* from being screened on Mexican territory where any of the characters are cast as Mexican villains. And that is not all. Even if the picture, depicting such villain of said nationality, is shown far from the Mexican border* but is called to the attention of KEEP YOUR BODY FIT WILLIAM FISHER SCHOOL OF PHYSICAL CULTURE A pioneer school with a national reputation One of the best equipped gymnasiums in the West. Only school on the Pacific Coast affiliated with the Actors’ Equity Association. 6412 Hollywood Boulevard GLADSTONE 5308 Res. HE. 4668 . . ^ ^ BIRTHDAY WEDDING ^ thousand of Disfi/lction“ IQsoiRl^zrat <?326 HVlJ_ywWI7-BLVP.HV7LLyWWt7-WUF* I l^ANNIVERSARY Just West of Vine FRIENDSHIP ^