Motion Picture News (Jan - Mar 1927)

470 Motion Picture News Birmingham Exhibitors in Protest Against F. P. Pledge Themselves to Rent Films Only From Companies Not in Competition With Them FOLLOWING the purchase of two theatres in Birmingham, England, one month ago by Famous Players-Lasky, reports reached here this week that exhibitors of that section in closed meeting had pledged themselves "to book films only from producers or renters who do not enter into competition with them as exhibitors." The Cinematograph Exhibitors Association, called upon to make this move general throughout England, voted to leave it to individual action in each region. Subsequently, it was reported, Liverpool exhibtors voted to support Birmingham theatre owners in their stand. A dispatch to the New York "Times" stated that a C.E.A. member had asked the Chamber of Commerce to make representations to the Government in the matter, asserting that American interests sought to gain control of British theatres. No statements have been given out by Famous Players, but the reason given for the purchase at the time it was made was that the only two first-run theatres in Birmingham in which they were given a fair chance were about to pass to another com pany, and that the only way in which they could prevent their being "frozen out" in that city was to buy the houses, which was done. An editorial in "The Bioscope," "The Battle of Birmingham," represents a sane and clear-headed view. An extract follows : ' ' Frankly, we are of the opinion that Birmingham's isolated action is a mistake, and that it will be a still more serious mistake if exhibitors in other centers allow themselves to be stampeded into a grave, and possibly devastating, conflict without first making sure of their cause and, even more important, of their weapons. . . . Should a general fight take place, it might well prove the Armageddon of the British Film Trade. No -matter which side won the victory, all parties would suffer, and they would suffer at a time Avhich, given peace, promises an era of unusual prosperity. Therefoi-e the responsibility of easting the fatal die must not be lightly undertaken, nor should exhibitors be asked to pledge themselves to a cause of whose merits they are not completely satisfied." Film Rights to "The Miracle" Claimed By F. N. and M-G-M. AN unusual legal tangle over the screen rights to "The Miracle" developed this week with the announcement that First National had purchased such riglits from A. H. Woods, theatrical producer. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, as announced last week, has closed a similar deal with Joseph Menchen, who also claims to own the motion picture rights to the stage spectacle and pantomime made famous by Max Reinhardt. Woods, according to First National, "has controlled the rights since 1913, when he presented the first screen version of the play at the Park Theatre, New York. The producer's rights to the property were upheld in court later, when he obtained a permanent injunction restraining another company from presenting a picture under this title. These rights have now been purchased by First National, and will be protected by whatever legal action may become necessary." Woods states that he purchased the holdings of Menchen, who produced the film in 1912. Menchen asserts that Woods contracted only for distribution rights in the U.S. and ("anada, and through failure to pay the final $5,000 required, breached the contract. There the matter stands at present, and either arbitration or court action will be necessary, it is declared, to find out just who actually owns the film rights to the storv. Ne wNonFl am Film Found Cheap and Durable as Other, is Claim for English Product; Other Technical Inventions SEVERAL technical inventions of more than ordinai'v interest Avere announced in Eui'ope this week, including a nonflam film claimed to be actually superior to the present nitrate film; a cool projection light which will not ignite film; a gyroscopic tripod head which ends the usual difficulties in painiing and tilting; and a triple width sci-een for panoramic scenes on a great scale. Most important of these in its potential aspects is the non-flam film. Invented by n. J. Mallabar, F.R.P.S., it represents many years of research. A factory is now being e(iuipped, and machinery already installed, it is declared, can produce more tlian 2,000,000 feet i>er month. An ultimate output of 2.')0,000,000 feet per annum is planned. Tlie cost is as low as that of ordinary stock, and tests arc declared to show that wear, plial)ilify, o])ncity, and so on, compare very favorably with nitrate film. It burns only with a direct flame, and when the flame is removed, the blaze goes out. The fumes from the burning material are not dangerous, and there is practically no chance of its explosion, it is claimed. Like other non-flam films, the Mallabar product is an acetate base, but if the claims are correct, he has succeeded in removing the usual objections to the material. In this case, many new fields will be opened up to the motion picture which are now difficult because of stringent fire laws and the requirement of fireproof booths. No details are available on the "cold light" as yet, only the bare announcement of its invention being made. The gyroscopic tripod head, put out by a British camera firm, is not unlike the Akeley tripod in operation. The usual cranks for panning and tilting are replaced by a single long handle, by means of which the camera can be moved in any direction. Internal gears set two gj'roscopes in motion when the head is moved, resulting in an absolutely even, steady movement and eliminating vibration. The triple screen is being employed by Abel Gance, French producer of "Napoleon." Unlike the Magnaseope, being used in New York on "Old Ironsides," it does not magnify the picture in its ordinary proportions, but projects three standard pictures side by side, the trio joining into a panorama of the usual height but three times the width. It is described as follows bv the Paris correspondent of "The Daily Film Renter" (England): ' ' The ordinary screen is in the middle of two black curtains. He pulls a cord, the curtains disai^jjear, and the screen is elongated on both sides. In taking the film three cameras are used one above the other, l)ut in projection the three are placed side by side. . . . The great advantage of the triple screen will be its use for battle scenes and huge croAvds, and M. Gance has great hopes of its usefulness in his 'Napoleon,' especially for the burning of the fleet at Toulon, the French army crossing the Alps into Italy and the big battles and cavalry charges." British F.B.O. Launches International Plan F. A. Enders, managing director of Film Booking Offices. Ltd.. of England (not to be confused witli F.B.O. in the United States, with which it has no connection) this week announced an international production schedule taking in England, America, France, Germany and Russia. The British F.B.O. will produce two or three pictures a year in England. The American product is that of Columbia Pictures. Alliances have been made in France, Germany and Russia by which ]\Ir. Enders will have a hand in the supervision of pi'oduction, as well as the financing, which will give this company one of the most genuinely international programs of any firm in existence. He has already acquired several French. Russian and German films, and the first British production is nearly finished. Shauer Sails for England on Annual Visit E. E. Shauer. head of tiie furcign department of Famous Players-Lasky. sails on Friday night on the Aquitania for England to look over conditions there and on the Continent. He will remain abroad for several weeks, making his usual annual tour of the im]iortant liranches.