Motion Picture News (Apr - Jun 1928)

June 30 , 19 28 2181 England Now Agog Over Sound Pictures Enthusiasm Running High With Many New Devices Introduced EN'GLAXD is just as much agog over the sound reproducing apparatus as is the United States, and several systems are being advanced with the claim that they are just as effective as American devices and at much lower rates of installation. The excitement abroad over the sound films lias apparently all come to a head wit hin the past few weeks. On the arrival here a month ago of J. D. Williams, he said there was little interest in England at that time in talking movies. The British trade press is now full of sound film propaganda announcing the various devices. Using DeForest Device DeForest Phonofilms is one of the principal devices being exploited, with Harold Holt, managing director for the company making the statement in the Daily Film Renter that DeForest produces as good a sound film as the Americans at less than quarter the cost. The company has equipped and moved into its Wembley studio, to which is attached various subsidiary studios and laboratories. At the new studio it is estimated they will turn out 3,000 feet a week, chiefly of short subjects and topicals in general, including a series of pictures of a comedy nature by Ernie Lotinga. The cost of the DeForest apparatus, Mr. Holt is quoted as saying, would be about £300, but as a rule no cost is involved upon the exhibitor. The latter pays rent for films only, and the apparatus is supplied with no extra charge whatsoever. Regarding the cost of rental, Mr. Holt said their minimum charge for 3,000 feet a week is £16, 10s., showing alternate weeks, including hire and maintenance of apparatus. Regarding another device, "Cinema," says : "Recently British Brunswick, the controllers of 'Panatrope, ' acquired a device from a Bristol inventor, which enables a gramaphone record to be played in exact synchronization with film. The most important developments are expected to follow the purchase of this invention. Project Under W ay "We are now able to state that a project is under consideration for the formation of a new company to handle this device, and that the men interested are well known to the film world; that in all probability a company will be formed to make pictures; to make specially prepared gramaphone record. to accompany them, and to market the synchronizing device. "In other words, it' the scheme goes through as at present planned, it will mean the formation of a British company to undertake in England a campaign almost identical with that put over in America by Warner Brothers when they first began to make pictures with Yitaphone accompaniment, but apparently on a much cheaper scale." Another sound process is reported perfected by British Acoustics, Ltd., the com Movietone to Follow Hoover, Smith THE voice of Governor Smith, if he is nominated at the Democratic convenlion in Houston, and Herbert Hoover, Republican candidate for president, will be filmed by Fox Movietone cameras wherever they speak between now and next November and projected in motion picture theatres throughout the country. This announcement was made by William Fox, president of Fox Film Corporation, who has assigned Movietone camera crews to follow the presidential candidates wherever they go in their campaign. These sight and sound records of the political campaign will be shown in one thousand theatres in the United States that will be equipped by the first of October to show Movietone pictures. pany controlled by Gaumont-British, and will he marketed shortly throughout Britain and Europe. Discussing this process with a special correspondent of "The Renter," J. Metcalfe, manager of British Acoustics, Ltd., said : "At this moment we have completed a number of short topical films, one of which you now hear being demonstrated. Feature films will perhaps follow. At present all I can say is that we have taken a record of a London stage success which after a long and successful run came off the boards in London a month ago, and has gone to the provinces. ' ' Already Installed Already the Acoustic films apparatus, Mr. Metcalfe stated, has been installed for some time at two or three cinema theatres. It has now been simplified and perfected to an extent that justifies its wholesale installation, and it will before long be adopted by the Gaumont circuit. ' ' It has been wrongly stated that our process costs £500 to install. "That is an exaggeration. Actually the cost will be approximately no more than £300. Compare that," added Mr. Metcalfe, "with the figures, up to £3,000, mentioned as the cost of installation of other sound-film apparatus. "For the past two years we have been working on the simplification, both as regard costs and operating, of our process, and now I can state that not only can we do all they (the American sound-films) can do, but we can do it a very great deal cheaper. It is not for me to say whether we can do it better. Our process must speak for itself." Capitol, Ottawa, Will Be First to Feature "Talkies" The Capitol in Ottawa, Canada, will be the first theatre in Canada to be completely and permanently equipped with mechanical facilities for the presentation of audible pictures. The talking films has of late been widely discussed but with the exception of a few brief occasions when audofilms were screened in theatre in a number of cities as demonstrations, there has been no definite move by theatre companies or exhibitors to install equipment for the sound pictures. On two or three occasions the talkies were presented at the Regent in Ottawa but there was nothing permanent about the arrangement. The Capitol will open toward the end of the year under the auspices of Famous Players Canadian Corporation. One feature of the house will be the one box of the theatre — the Royal Box, which will be reserved for royalty and high executives. Columbia Studios Now in Active Production With the completion of a new stage, Columbia studios is now working vigorously in all departments. Alan Crosland is putting Lya De Putti through her paces in "The Scarlet Woman," which deals with Russian refugees. Irvin Willat is beginning the first scenes of "Into the Depths," the submarine story starring Jack Holt. The editors and cutters are now working on "Beware of Blondes" and "Say It with Sables." Millard Webb is preparing to start "Trial Marriage," from the Saturday Evening Post story by Elizabeth Alexander. Ben Grauman Kohn is doing the adaptation. Tiffany-Stahl Announces All Product To Be Synchronized TIFFANY-STAHL announces that plans arc about completed for the synchronization of all their feature product ion and Tiffany Color pictures for 1928-29. It is understood that all of the Big 10 special feature production* scheduled for release for 1928-29 will he vocalized, orchestrated and have talking sequences. It is more than likely that "The Toilers." the Reginald Barker special, he the lirst to he so equipped and shown for an extended run in a Broadway theatre in the early fall. George Jessel. who has just completed '"The Ghetto." will be heard and -ecu in this picture scheduled for early release.