Hollywood Filmograph (Jun-Aug 1929)

HOLLYWOOD FILMO GRAPH Five Million Dollar Columbia Program 'Prosperity Group' Will Feature Quality and Quantity Columbia Pictures will offer during the 1929-1930 season a highly diversified program of 26 all-talking features, produced at an aggregate outlay of more than $5,000,000. Ten of these productions will be specials, far exceeding anything ever attempted by the company before, and the remander will be a group of sixteen starring vehicles, produced on an elaborate scale with prominent directors and well known stars. In making this announcement, Jack Cohn, treasurer of the company, said: "In naming our new program, 'the Prosperity Group,' we have been governed by box office reports covering results obtained by showing our product and contrasting it with similar tabulations of other comapnies. Each year we have consistently improved our product and in several instances have been in the vanguard of progress. The reaction has revealed itself in increased prosperity for the exhibitor showing the Columbia product. The past year saw Columbia productions play over the Fox, Keith, Stanley, F. & R., Publix, Loew, West Coast and other of the country's most important circuits. In many instances Columbia's 19281929 productions were presented in theatres where independent products had never been played before. "Columbia's motto is quality rather than quantity — the production of pictures, which will receive public support and endorsement. For the season of 1929-1930 we have limited ourselves to 26 high quality all-talking photodramas, 10 of which will be specials of a magnitude never before attempted. The remaining 16 will have the texture and atmosphere of the average de luxe productions and present casts of outstanding screen players, acknowledged as leaders in their respective fields. "No expense will be spared to maintain the high quality and entertainment value for which our product has become known. The general trend for economy will have no effect on our plans. Not only will Columbia not retrench, but our ample finances will enable us to spend more money than ever before in every branch of our business during the coming year. "We are spending as much on the purchase and development of our story material this year as we formerly expended upon an entire production. Our aim is to secure the best in the line of drama, comedy and entertainment that the exhibitor may be assured of a ready made audience through author, story and plot development." Columbia production is based on the principle that the story is a most important factor in the making of a good picture. To that end Columbia has acquired some of the best story mtaerial now on the market. The company has already secured some outstanding vehicles and is negotiating to obtain additional works of universally known writers and playwrights. In order to add to the variety of Columbia's program, several of the stories will be written directly for the screen by Columbia's own scenario department which boasts of a staff composed of the personalities who have won fame both in the literary and legitimate fields. A nation-wide advertising and exploitation campaign is now being launched to make "The Prosperity Group" a household word. A general intensive institutional campaign is to be conducted in the trade papers and popular magazines and interlinked will be a specific advertising and exploitation campaign on behalf of each of the 26 pictures on the program. To take care of this increased output— the most ambitious in its history— Columbia has strengthened its sales and distribution departments materially by the signing of high type executives. Every exchange will now be fully equipped to offer exhibitors every necessary aid to publiizce and exploit the Columbia pictures he is playing. This is in line with Columbia's determination to offer the exhibitor booking its product 100 per cent showmanship service with a group of pictures that have the utmost in box office value. 111 E. V. Durling, editorial supervisor of Darmour-RKO, has gone on the eighteen-day diet. Upon the advice of Pell Mitchell, studio efficiency man, he has cut it down to six days by eating nine of the scheduled meals each day. So far he has lost a lot of time but no weight. KIDDIES KORNER By BABS MULLEN Leon and Naomi Krummel, twins, who are now appearing in their acrobatic work under the direction of Leonard St. Leo, are very clever. They are working in a Paramount picture under the direction of Earl Lindsey. ^* ^* i&rl Virginia Duncan, the whistler, does some wonderful bird imitations. She is eight years of age. ^w ^* ^W Edward Gazelle is at his best as page boy in "The Love Parade," a Lasky production. ^* ^?* ^W Lerlene Uller leads the ensemble in "Tiger Valley." She has a marvelous personality. t£fr ^* (l5* Anna Lou Gazelle will be featured in "Sunny Side Up," a Fox picture. The picture starts next week at the Fox studio. ^5* c5» t[9* Adaline Craig is taking the child's part in "Sunny Side Up." «,£• «,?* (5* Weanda Moncur, the 4-year-old actress, has been given the lead at the Hollywood Bowl. Miss Moncur has had three and one-half years' experience in this sort of work. Jack L. Warner Tells of Rapid Strides in Talkers Made Prediction Year Ago That Audibles Would Revolutionize Industry; Stage Fame Not Necessary • A year ago Jack Warner predicted "Comparatively few silent screen that fully 85 per cent of the screen's stars and featured players have fallen accomplished talent would make good by the wayside in the past year which in talking pictures. has been marked by sensational Today the vice president and pro strides in the perfection and expansion duction executive of Warner Brothers of the talking picture," Warner conbelieves that prophesy to have proved tinued. itself. Warner, who has kept his "The screen fan public has remained finger on the exhibitor's pulse, so to speak, while devoting himself to production with unusual vigor, bases his observations both on the stellar per loyal to its stars, introduced to them via the silent screen, and the latter in large measures have justified that loyalty. Fortunately most producers sonnel of Warner Brothers and other sensed this potential condition a year studios as well. ago and retained their stellar person "As a matter of fact, many players nel practically intact. They have not who were comparatively obscure in regretted their action, silent films, have demonstrated that "During the past year also, the mo they have unusual talent to devote to tion picture has been vitally strength the new medium of expression," ened by the addition of talent from Warner commented. "Lack of stage fame, or stage experience, has not handicapped them in the least." He pointed out that Marion Nixon, Betty Compson, Myrna Loy, Grant Withers and others are members of the stage and by other newcomers. "The growth of the screen, opening new possibilities in the production of musical comedies, operettas and revues have so broadened the demands upon talent that remarkable this group who have climbed rapidly opportunities have been opened for in popularity with the talking picture. Others including Al Jolson, Monte Blue, Conrad Nagel, Dolores Costello, Richard Barthelmess and Billie Dove and a great many others who were established screen stars have increased their prestige via the talking screen, Warner points out. the versatile player, whether of the screen or stage. Real talent has never before been at such a premium. "The general result has been one which has proved the most successful year in film history and one which predicts a remarkable future for screen drama." Ethel Clayton to Have Lead in Picture Frank O'Connor believes that good fortune played into his hands when Ethel Clayton accepted his wired proposal to portray the leading role in the screen version of "Painted Faces," his first 100 per cent all-talking independent production. Having just successfully completed a stock engagement in Kansas City, Ethel Clayton stopped long enough between rehearsals at the Tec-Art studio to answer our query, regarding her reaction to the "talkies." "I fully realize the value of my stage experience in launching my first 100 per cent talking picture. I am playing the part of 'the woman' in 'Painted Faces' for Pickwick Productions. Even though there is a vast difference between stage and screen technique one must use the same method in enacting a talking role. "The dialogue of the part I am playing has been written to suit my personality by Maxine Alton, an authoress who has herself spent many years on the stage. Miss Alton has also been a dramatic leading woman and her thorough understanding of life and excellent stage schooling has enabled her to give to this part I am enacting the depth and emotion of true drama. "Frank O'Connor who is directing me in 'Painted Faces' also spent many years on the stage before becoming a motion picture director. "There is understanding in the combination and I anticipate the most satisfactory results." 1 1 1 Christie Predicts Boom In Foreign Talkies Al Christie arrived in Hollywood last week after a trip through Europe. Talking pictures are finding universal appeal in Europe and Mr. Christie predicts a great boom in the making of foreign-language talkies here for consumption in various countries of the world. "Already Paris is preparing to show Paramount's 'Innocents of Paris' with Maurice Chevalier," he said. "Pictures of this type, partly in English and partly in the local language with particular local appeal, will do enormous business. Preparations are being made to film pictures which have the same appeal in German, Spanish, Portuguest, Italian and many other languages. And, of course, England has hundreds of installations made and showing talking pictures." 111 "The Jungle Song" by Nacio Herb Brown, and Arthur Freed, "That Wonderful Something Called Love" are the vocal numbers to be sung by Joan Crawford in her new starring vehicle, temporarily called "Jungle."