Motion Picture News (Apr - Jun 1928)

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June 30, 1928 2173 200 Sound Features Minimum For Coming Season Announcements by Leading Companies Show Production Plans Shaping Up; Score, Effects and Dialogue Will Be Used THE onward sweep of soundin-pictures was clearly shown this week with the announcement by several leading companies of plans for synchronization of features for the new season. This will take the form of synchronized scores, or effects, or dialogue, or all three. Based upon these preliminary announcements, Motion Picture News estimates that not less than 200 of the 1928-9 feature productions will have sound in some form, and it is possible that this figure will be greatly increased, as theatre installations are made in growingnumbers, and the sound movement gains momentum in production quarters. Of announcements already made. Paramount heads the list with 25 to 30 features, as a minimum, to be synchronized, followed by Warner with 25 minimum, Fox with 22, Universal with 18, Pathe with io, FBO with 6 and more to be determined, and United Artists with at least 4. Details of the announcements made this week will be found in "The Voice of the Screen." No word has yet come from First National or M-G-M as to the number of features that will get sound treatment, but it is a safe hazard that each company will have a considerable number. Tiffany-Stahl announced this week that it would go in for sound on all features and short subjects. Columbia had previously made known its intention to svnehronize, as has also Gotham. Sierra Pictures will use the disc method, and Ethlyn Gibson Co., a new concern on the Coast, will use sound in serials. The Buck Jones Corp. will have sound in the first Buck Jones special. There will also be a large number of short subjects with sound. Hal Roach and the Christies have officially announced the signing of license agreements. Mack Sennett is on record as predicting that both color and sound will play big parts in future shorts. In addition to the Paramount features, the Publix stage unit shows will be synchronized. European Film Cartel Reported Move Against American Films Credited to Ufa and Luce Would Require Solid Front of European Concerns THE report of a European film cartel against American pictures has created considerable interest in the industry as a result of a statement published in the New York Times credited to Ludwig Klitsch, managing director of Ufa. The report has it that the cartel is being effected by Ufa of Germany and Luce of Italy. The Klitsch statement is reported as follows : "A European film cartel is actually established now. The German-Italian agreement was only an incidental step in a whole series of general European agreements. A number of leading film enterprises in important European film countries have joined to form a solid front against America in order to be able to negotiate on terms of equality with the greatest film factor in the world." According to the Times report Paris film circles are completely mystified over the Klitsch statement. There seems to be doubt that such a cartel could effectively be organized. The same doubt exists in the minds of foreign managers of American film companies, who advance several reasons why such a move could not be successfully carried out. The Klitsch statement undoubtedly was the outcome of cabled reports from Rome that Ufa had concluded a joint production agreement with the Institute Xazionale Luce. The latter is said to be a semi-official organization sponsored by Mussolini and has been making short subjects for some time. In arguing against the likelihood of a European cartel, those familiar with conditions abroad declare it would hardly be possible, particularly with Ufa named as one of the chief instigators. With Paramount and Metro allied with Ufa in business deals, it seems unlikely, it is argued, that Ufa would be behind such a movement. As another argument against the successful conclusion of a cartel it is pointed out that it would be possible only if the complete industry in Europe joined hands with the entire industry in Italy or France. Ufa is considerably removed from representing the entire industry in Germany. A solid front is necessary in the organizing forces in each country and these several units must be in absolute accord and in control of the industry in the various countries. It is pointed out that to perfect such an organization the combined forces would be put to an enormous expense first in the building of such an organization and then in the financing of studios. Ufa, according to the report, however, has promised Premier Mussolini that they will rehabilitate Italian film studios and supply technical staffs for the revival of Italian film production. According to the U. S. Department of Commerce, the Institute Luce has signed agreements with various European countries for cooperation in educational and instructional films, and announced some time ago their desire to collaborate with Ufa in educational film matters. Spanish Producers Ask Government Protection Government protection of the Spanish motion picture industry has been asked by Spanish film producers, according to a cable to the Department of Commerce in Washington last week from Trade Commissioner George R. Canty at Paris. The producers are reported to have requested the inauguration of a quota regime, similar to that in France, to be operated in either of two ways. The first proposal is that exhibitors show five Spanish feature films for every UK) exhibited. The second suggestion i~ that one Spanish feature film be purchased for exhibition abroad for every 25 features imported.