Motion Picture Herald (Apr-Jun 1931)

June 13. 1931 MOTION PICTURE HERALD 27 Ufa to Sponsor Key City Runs For German Films (Continued from page 17) sale on the American market to U. S. distributors. In the first group of four, already in New York, are "White Devil" with Ivan Mosjoukine; "Last Company," Conrad Veidt; "Immortal Vagabond," starring Lucien Haid and Gusta Froehlich ; and "Love Waltz," co-featuring Lillian Harvey and Joan Batton. In the second group of English versions will be three Erich Pommer productions : "Monte Carlo," a musical comedy; "Congress Dances," an operetta, and an untitled Emil Jannings picture. The fourth will be "Ronny," another operetta. Ufa, it is understood, will give as much thought next season to the American market as it will to invasion of France, where serious inroads already have been made. In fact, English companies who have been close to the French situation have become alarmed over Ufa's rapidly developing hold on the Parisian market. Ufa executives in Germany cannot understand what prompts American companies to take so seriously multi-linguals in any versions other than French and German. Ufa will not make any Spanish talkers, believing them to be economically unsound. There is a demand for Spanish films, but they feel that it is not of sufficient strength to offer paying returns. Ufa now has 150 theatres, mostly key first-runs, scattered through Germany and the Continent. Gives School a Theatre Harry M. Warner and Mrs. Warner have given $250,000 to Worcester Academy, Worcester, Mass., for the erection of an auditorium to be known as the Lewis J. Warner Memorial Auditorium, in honor of their son. a 1928 graduate who died last April. Tobis in Action in U. S. Tobis Company of America, which has just obtained a charter at Albany, N. Y., will handle all patent and commercial questions arising from the Paris agreement reached last year on sound patents. Milestone on Coast Lewis Milestone, Howard Hughes director, has arrived in Hollywood, with Nate Watt, as assistant. Milestone will handle two more for Hughes. "77 Park Lane" In Canada Arrangements have been made, it is understood, for United Artists to distribute the talking version of "77 Park Lane" in Canada. Australia and the English colonies. George Cukor on Coast George Cukor, Paramount director, is in Holl>-wood to direct, following one year at the company's Eastern studio. Few Denver Golf Courses Denver reports indicate that only about one-fourth of the miniature golf courses ooen last year have so far opened this year. STRONG BOXES AND GUTS ■ By WILL H. HAYS = {Continued from page 8) without lowering basic wage scales. And very well, too, can state legislatures and the congress aid business further by declaring a moratorium on all legislation which would add undue specific or general additional burdens on business. Of all times in this generation, this is the one for more business in government and less government in business. The templates for prosperity are right behind us — the patterns for the recovery of business and the resumption of employment are on file in the history of the United States and in the biographies of shrewd, bold enthusiasts who brought us to the peaks of '29. There's nothing the matter with America except stupidity, timidity and "some yellow streak," but as Roy Howard said to the American Club in Paris last week: "We do not propose to add it to our national emblem." Fear has seized the wheel of progress and jammed the brakes. We're not running to schedule because the old spirit isn't pressing on the throttle and keeping the gas tank filled with get-up-andgo. Let's lower the banner of Fear and raise the banner of Faith. If Patrick Henry is right — if there's no way to judge the future except by the past — all that we need is to shut up the croakers, start up the band and keep up our dander. Boost for Sylvia Sidney Sylvia Sidney, who won a prominent part in "City Streets" when Clara Bow was taken ill, and then was given the feminine lead in "An American Tragedy," has another big assignment supplanting Nancy Carroll in "Street Scene" for Sam Goldwyn. Philadelphia Boyd Closes StanleyWarner is closing the Boyd theatre at Philadelphia, second only to the Mastbaum in the circuit, on Saturday, for an indefinite period. Other StanleyWarner houses within a radius of two blocks have given the Boyd serious competition. Independents Get Cut Projectionists' local No. 306 of New York is giving independent owners the same consideration as accorded circuits in cutting projectionists' salaries during the summer. The cut is 5 to 7j^ per cent for 10 weeks. Weber Sees Slight Success Joseph N. Weber, president of the American Federation of Musicians, in Chattanooga, Tenn., declared the fight against "canned music" has been successful "in a measure." To Test Protection The Allied unit of Des Moines, Iowa, nlans test cases against the Hays organization to test the legality of extended protection. Secret Report Arouses M. P/s i To New Fight {Continued from page 11) official blessings to the president of the Board of Trade? The report is also, according to earlier intentions, to form the basis of the case upon which the Trades Union Congress will build in serious conferences which are due to be held between the Film Group of the Federation of British Industries and the Unions. There evidently has to be explaining one side or the other ! A Mansfield Markham, son of a British millionaire coal and iron master, who recently backed Reginald Fogwell Productions, Ltd., responsible for the production of the none too impressive "Madame Guillotine," is to stay in Paris indefinitely. His resignation from the Fogwell concern is believed to be imminent, and already Mr. Markham is backing Rex Ingram in the production of a new story of the French Foreign Legion, exteriors for which are to be shot in Africa. Markham is known to have got cold feet as a result of the lack of success attained by the initial Fogwell picture, and his losses in the whole venture are said to amount to upwards of $500,000. Several stories were acquired, and treatments worked out, but that is where they still stand. A staff of scenarists also was recruited, but their work has not yet justified the period of their service, which in several cases has been terminated. ▲ Shakeup in Warner Gus Schlesinger, foreign sales manager for the past five years or so for Warner and more recently for Warner-First National, is reported out of the concern. Leila Stewart, one of the slickest publicity chiefs this side, also is reported leaving Warners, because, when the two units Warner and First National come closer together within the next few weeks, Frederick J. Allen, for some time publicity chief for First National, takes over the combined jobs. David E. Griffiths, general sales manager of First National, is in the running for the managing directorship of this concern, and as a newly created director of Warners will take active part in the control of both units. F. H. Bandy, appointed managing director of Warner when Arthur Clavering stepped out three weeks back, probably is returning to the U. S. A. to take up a new job there. It is said that Warners will send over some one from America to succeed him. Clara Bow Denies "No More Films," Schulberg Statement In connection with Coast reports that Paramount had broken Clara Bow's contract following several requests from the actress, Florabel Muir, Coast news writer, reports Clara as having said : "I'm positively not through with pictures, not by a long shot. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer has made me an offer, and I think Schulberg has a lot of nerve to say that I want to quit." The contract called for two more films. Hollywood reports indicate the star's Paramount salary had been between $2,000 and $3,000 per week. She had made eight films.