Harrison's Reports (1934)

Entered as second-class matter January 4. 1921, at the post ofnce at New York. New York, under the act of March 3, 1879. Harrison’s Reports Yearly Subscription Rates: United States $15.00 U. S. Insuiar Possessions . 15.50 Canada 16.50 Mexico, Cuba, Spain 16.50 Great Britain 15.75 Australia. New Zealand, India, Europe, Asia .... 17.50 35c a Copy 1440 BROADWAY New York, N. Y. A Motion Picture Reviewing Service Devoted Chiefly to the Interests of the Exhibitors Its Editorial Policy: No Problem Too Big for Its Editorial Columns, if It is to Benefit the Exhibitor Published Weekly by Harrison's Reports, Inc., Publisher P. S. HARRISON, Editor Established July 1, 1919 PEnnsylvania 6-6379 Cable Address : Harreports (Bentley Code) A REVIEWING SERVICE FREE FROM THE INFLUENCE OF FILM ADVERTISING Vol. XVI S~ATU RDAY DECEMBER 22, “ 1934 “ “ No. 51 PICTURES AND PICTURE MAKERS IN HOLLYWOOD — No. 4 FRIDA Y-SATURDAY. DECEMBER / 8 I did not do any visiting these two days, employing a great deal of my time in writing and reviewing pictures. Friday evening I visited the Variety offices and had a pleasant chat with Mr. Arthur Ungar, Lynn Bonner, and the rest of the boys. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9 I spent this day at the Harry Carey ranch with some friends. We arrived at the ranch early in the morning, and after breakfast we went horseback riding. In the afternoon we gathered around the hearth and had the great pleasure of listening to Harry Carey’s adventures while in South Africa several years ago, where MGM produced “Trader Horn,” in which he took, as everyone of you I am sure remembers, the leading part. His account fascinated every one of us. MONDAY, DECEMBER IO I went to San Bernardino and called on some old friends whose acquaintanceship I had enjoyed when I lived there from 1914 to 1917. When I arose in the morning, I read in the papers that several people had died in the cold wave which was sweeping the East. The day was bright with a temperature around 74°. I was driving through the orange orchards, and the petunias, the marigolds, the roses. In fact flowers of all kinds and colors grew abundantly everywhere. The orange and the lemon trees were laden with fruit. The scenery was extremely beautiful. What a contrast between the California and the Eastern weather ! Before I came West I had an idea that the moving of the studios East was absolutely necessary if pictures were to be produced economically. I felt that the men who spent the money were too far away from the men who furnished it, and the spending of it could not be controlled ; but my views have changed entirely on the subject, for I have convinced myself that pictures cannot be made in the East as economicallv as they can in Hollywood because of climatic conditions. the fine climate keeps the artists in a better frame of mind to do their work than the gloomy climate of the East. My visit in San Bernardino was both pleasurable and sad : pleasurable to see my old friends ; sad to find that many of them had taken the long journey. I found an opportunity to drop into the Elks Club, of which I am a member. I saw many new faces. Some of the old friends had moved, some had died ; but the old spirit of hospitality for which “836’’ has become famous among the other lodges throughout the country is still there. I had luncheon with Mrs. Martha L. Kiplinger and her three sisters. Mrs. Kiplinger used to own the Opera House, which has now been torn down. For three years I did the picture booking for the theatre on a profit sharing arrangement. In the afternoon I visited the Harworth family. In the single reel days, the daughter — Miss Hilda — used to write scenarios. In the evening I visited the Allison family, four brothers (one of them — Charles — a judge) and two sisters, who, all through these years, have remained as friendly as in the days when I lived in San Bernardino. In those days a chair was placed at the dinner table every Sunday, and when I did not show up the chair remained vacant. I returned home late in the evening through an atmosphere laden with the perfume of the orange and lemon trees. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1 1 I called on Mr. Zanuck to discuss with him the script for “Call of the Wild.” I pointed out several weaknesses in the characterization and made suggestions as to how the character of the hero could be strengthened. To my pleasurable surprise, Mr. Zanuck accepted the suggestions and is going to act upon them immediately. As I stated before, people in Hollywood don’t think much of suggestions given free, but Mr. Zanuck and a few others seem to be exceptions. As I said in my last account, Mr. Zanuck is an aggressive man and full of enthusiasm, his one desire being to make as fine pictures as any producer can make. I am sure he will succeed, but I still think that United Artists charge too much for their pictures. In the evening I was at the Hollywood Athletic Club with Joe Shea, and found Jack Ford, the famous director. I met him several years ago but didn’t have an opportunity to have a talk with him then. The first time Mr. Ford’s work came to my attention was while he worked for Universal in 1918 and 1919; he directed Harry Carey. When I noticed that his direction was highly skillful. I didn’t hesitate to call the attention of the exhibitors to it. He told me that, as a result of my favorable reviews, his salary jumped from $50 to SI, 000 a week, and Harn* Carey’s from $75 to $2,350. (Xow you know why I am called the ( Continued on last page)