Motion Picture Herald (Apr-Jun 1931)

20 MOTION PICTURE HERALD May 16, 1931 TROUBLE AHEAD UNLESS COSTS OF PRODUCTION ARE CUT AT STUDIOS British Producer Warns Against Heavy Budgets $200,000 to $250,000 Grossed in England From Domestic Films Costing $75,000 The British motion picture industry is at least a year behind the United States. British producers have at last become convinced that the film business is a commercial business just the same as any other industry. They at last realize the handicap under which they work because of the limited number of theatres available and they are keeping their costs down to rock bottom. American producers may soon find themselves in the same position out of which British producers have been trying for four years to work themselves ; that is, with bad business in theatres and diminishing grosses, over which costs may run ahead of income. These are the views of John A. Thorpe, director and general manager of British International Pictures, now in Hollywood. "I am here to learn what I can," he said, "especially about new developments in sound. We are far behind this country in the matter of sound recording. For instance, we have no noiseless recording equipment, nor have we any of the ribbon mikes. "We now are down to a common sense basis at Elstree. We realize that we must keep our costs down if we are to make any money in the limited number of houses to which we can sell our product. There are only about 2,500 theatres over there and 600 of them are controlled by Gaumont and are therefor closed to us. We have a market in South Africa, but little if any profit there. We make a little profit in Australia. Canada is practically closed to us because of Paramount. So, with only the home theatres to draw from, we must keep costs down. "It is only the extraordinary picture on which we are able to spend more than $75,000, but for that we can turn out a picture that will compare favorably with an American picture costing two to three times as much. We can gross anything up to $200,000 or even $250,000 with such pictures. "Not long ago the word 'British' on a picture was a stigma, was a liability instead of an asset. That has been changed. Our exhibitors will take our average picture in preference to an American average production and make more money with it. Motion pictures is a commercial business now in England and is being run as such. We cannot and do not attempt to pay the salaries you pay over here. We haven't your big stars, but we have the entire West End stage to draw from and this, except for the matter of ingenues, has the best material in the world. Ingenues, I admit, are scarce. {Continued on page 50) Welford Beaton 's Farewell To His Beloved Son Hollywood — The funeral of one of Hollywood's most popular and best loved characters was held last week. From the moment the news of Donald Beaton's death got abroad the Welford Beaton home in the Hollywood hills was literally deluged with telegraphic and floral tributes from the high and mighty of filmdom. For Donald's friends were legion. He was known and loved for his writings, as associate editor of his father's paper, the Film Spectator. He was equally well known and loved for the almost super-human fight he had waged, on crutches and in bed, for four years against the ravages of a strange tropical disease which struck him down while he was still in his 'teens. He was known and loved by hundreds of stars and directors and writers and producers who had sat at the dinner table with him in his father's home. All Hollywood knew Donald Beaton as an extraordinary boy. When the minister who conducted the funeral services in the Little Church of the Flowers asked Welford Beaton a day or two before the funeral if there was anything the minister could say for the stricken father, or whether the father wished to write any message, Welford Beaton said he was afraid he could not write anything for a few days. But in the still hours that night he sat in his study and penned a farewell note about Donald, and the minister used it to conclude his funeral oration. And this is what a father said about his son : "We were writers together, he and I, and perhaps it would please him if I wrote a note that he could take with him to the throne of God. "I think I know the things they value at the throne of God, and I'm sure that Donald takes them with him. He leaves to us, to his mother and sisters and me, a vast estate of golden memories of kind things done on earth. This legacy is not ours alone, and we would not keep it if we could, for everywhere he went throughout his life he scattered seeds from which sweet memories grew for each of those who knew what a charming boy he was, what a loyal friend and what a brave soldier. "It is 'Happy Landings !' that we say to him today, and we keep our faces to the sun, our heads up, our smiles confident, for it is a strong man who is taking-off for over there. We do not worry, for we know that he has everything to carry him straight through to the landing field for lives welllived on earth." Academy Technicians To Talk On New High-Speed Stock Hollywood — The Technicians' Branch of the Academy of M. P. Arts and Sciences will meet on May 21 to further discuss the practicability of the new high-speed panchromatic film recently brought out by Eastman and DuPont companies. As at the March 31 meeting, H. Keith Weeks will preside. Set lighting equipment will also be discussed. Colunnbia Will Distribute 2 British International Films Columbia will distribute nationally "Young Woodley" and "Murder," two British International films, making six acquired from the English company. Both films played the Cohan in New York some time ago. "Atlantic," "Night Birds," "Middle Watch" and "The Man from Chicago" are the first four. Kin+ner Elected Westinghouse V. P. S. M. Kintner, who has been assistant vice-president of Westinghouse Electric, was elected vice-president in charge of engineering for that company. He succeeds W. S. Rugg who has been elected vicepresident in charge of sales. Britone Begins Production With Own Sound System London — Production of domestic talking pictures with the use of its own type of recording system, has been started by Britone Sound Studios, Ltd. It is a new company which has begun operation very quietly, and even now its plans are not officially divulged. It is understood, however, that a number of short subjects have already been made, and that presently the production schedule will be extended to six features a year. The company's studio is at Southall. Recording is of the variable area type. Kessler Howes is general manager. Fox Loses Lease Judgment Philadelphia — Supreme Court has affirmed judgment of Common Pleas Court in the suit of Jacob N. Gold and Herman Segal against Fox, in which plaintiffs recovered judgment against Fox for a one vear's lease on premises at 1315-17 Vine St., which Fox vacated as its exchange on April 30, 1926, without giving three months' written notice as provided in the lease. The rental was $7,200 a year. i Si in di "Seed" At Rivoii "Seed," Universal's film from Charles G. Norris's novel, will have its Broadway run at the Rivoii beginning Thursday, May 14. oil