Hollywood Filmograph (Jan-Dec 1932)

NOV 16 1932 Vi^UlB 1/i^i ATTENTION AUTHORS AND SCREEN WRITERS— READ WHAT STUDIO STORY REQUIREMENTS ARE TODAY— Page 15 HOLLYWOOD mo Copyright 1932 — Hollywood Filmograph — Established 1922 VOL. 12, NO. 43 HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA, SATURDAY, NOV. 12, 1932 PUBLISHED WEEKLY D. W. Griffith Takes Rap at Movie Box-Office Craze How the Election Affects Motion Picture Industry SAYS ARTISTIC FILMS AID INDUSTRY BECAUSE THEY RAISE STANDARD David Wark Griffith, dean of movie directors, has delivered another wallop to the collection of socks that are being aimed at the "box-office mania" of the film industry. In an interview published in the Film Daily of November 2nd, Mr. Griffith makes some pointed observations about the relative value of fine artistic films, and so-called box-office fodder, as it pertains to the general prosperity of the industry. "How often does a company make a really fine picture for the sake of giving the public something beautiful with poetry of scenes, action, dialogue and story?" asks Griffith. " "It's not box-office' they say. So I say that those fine artistic triumphs are 'box-office'. Possibly they will not be great money makers, but they will bring the better class of people back to the theaters and that is a present day necessity. Not every company can afford to do that. Independents, of course, can not. Let the major producers make one or two fine, outstanding artistic productions without both eyes focused on the box-office and the industry will surely regain much that it has lost." When asked about his own plans for the future, Griffith opined: "The time is not right for me to re-enter production. As a matter of fact, I have not come across a suitable story and, until I do, I shall not merely rush to Hollywood for the sake of making a film." Griffith, who has made so many outstanding artistic triumps for the screen, has not produced a picture for some time now. But his first big hit, "The Birth of a Nation," remains as the one unforgettable film of the past; and his other enchanting artistries, such as "Broken Blossoms," have secured his place among the movie great. In such sweeping spectacles as "Intolerance" and "Way Down (Continued on page 9) AL ALBORN AIDS DIRECTOR MERVYN LE ROY Popular Al Alborn is assisting Mervyn Le Roy, the youngest director in Filmland, who is directing features for the majors. Warner Brothers are producing "Hard to Handle" which calls for a lot of hard work for both the megaphone wielder, who just finished "I am a Fugitive," now showing at Warner theaters, and his chief aide. Al Alborn is very much on the job which means that Director Le Roy will bring home another winner. RANDOLPH SCOTT Realizing that the he-man star of tomorrow must not only look the part but must be capable of delivering the goods, Paramount Studios have cast their ballot in favor of Randolph Scott. This young thespian, who has won himself much favor through his outdoor screen activities, has had the option on his contract taken up by Paramount. DEFEAT OF HOOVER TOPPLES HOLLYWOOD POLITICAL THRONES The crushing defeat suffered by President Hoover at the national election last Tuesday will have far-reaching effects upon the movie business. During the Hoover regime there was considerable trumpeting about the close contact between President Hoover and Louis B. Mayer, production head of the M-G-M Studios, who is also a prominent figure in California and national Republican circles. Mayer has been a staunch supporter of the President, and voiced his admiration for Hoover on many occasions. In fact, Mayer's enthusiasm for President Hoover was interpreted in many quarters as indicating the support of the film industry in general. To offset this impression, and to muster the many adherents of the Democratic nominee in the Hollywood studios, a committee including Jack Warner and other prominent film executives broadcast the word that the Republican party did not have control of the cinema. It is reasonable to expect that Mayer's future power in national politics will be as greatly diminished as it has flourished in the past. At the same time, it is not expected that Jack Warner and other Democratic supporters in the industry will be able to obtain as close contact with our next President as Mayer has had during the Hoover administration, for the Mayer prestige in the Hoover era was founded on a close friendship with President Hoover from earlier days. There has been no evidence that Jack Warner, nor any of his committee, enjoys equal confidence with President-elect Roosevelt. As Filmograph pointed out in an earlier issue, it would be much better if the movie magnates laid off political activities. There is no evidence that Mayer's contact with President Hoover has benefitted the industry at large; and there is every probability that the broadcast notion, that the Republicans had taken the film industry into camp has aroused harmful antagonisms in opposition circles in times past. This business is beset with enough political machinations, blue-nose legislation and red tape, and if it persists in projecting itself into partisan controversies and sympathies, then it must suffer the penalties that are borne by defeated opponents. Let's keep the movie business out of politics, and start to clean up our own house instead. j Here is A Special Three Months Otter That's A Woiv $ j Why Not Make Yourself Or A Friend A Yuletide Gilt 25 will pay lor a Life's Subscription j to the Hollywood FILMOGRAPH I Mail sour check today to HARRY BURNS, I6O6 Cahuenga Avenue, Hollywood, California (Positively closes New Year's Eve.)