Motion Picture News (Mar-Apr 1923)

1664 Motion Picture News Zukor, Lasky Deny Trust Charge Acquisition of Theatres Admitted, But Competition Not Lessened, Is Claim IN their reply to the amended complaint of the Federal Trade Commission in its drive against alleged monopolistic tendencies and conspiracies in the moving picture industry Adolph Zukor and Jesse L. Lasky maintain that they were forced to acquire theatres in self defense against " a group of producers and exhibitors controlling a large number of theatres and claiming to control over 3,000 theatres throughout the United States." The corporation admits that it did acquire theatres throughout the United States but " solely for investment and for reasonably forwarding its business," with the result that *' competition has not been thereby lessened, but has been increased, and that a monopoly has not been created but has been prevented." The answer takes the same line throughout, viz, that whatever has been done by the defendants in the way of consolidations or absorptions of producing and distributing companies has not been for the purpose of restraining trade and has not in fact been promotive of monopoly. Famous PlayersLasky Corporation answers in identical language with that used by Zukor & Lasky. The Southern Enterprises, Inc., and Stephen A. Lynch deny everything improper alleged against them and emphatically question the authority of the Federal Trade Commission in the premises. Both the other answers also question the constitutional right of the Commission to proceed against them. It is understood that the action of the defendants going so far as to raise a question not only as to the constitutionality of the Commission's proceedings in this instance, but of the constitutionality of the Commission itself, is likely to result in extraordinary interest being attached to the ease. Amer. Releasing Acquires "Toilers of the Sea' " " Toilers of the Sea," Victor Hugo's picturesque romance, has been filmed in Italy by R. William Neill with a cast in which American players predominate and has been obtained for distribution by American Releasing. Last October Mr. Neill, his technical staff, and a group of players including Lucy Fox, Holmes E. Herbert and Lucius Henderson sailed for Italy under the auspices of the Community International Corporation. The arrival of the completed film is the first news of the success of the enterprise to reach the motion picture industry. Mr. Neill and his staff and players remain in Naples to undertake three more pictures of the series outlined prior to their departure. Arrow Representative on Tour of Middle West Thomas A. Curran, special representative of the Arrow Film Corporation, who has been in New York for the last few days, conferring with W. E. Shallenberger, president of the Arrow Film Corporation, left for an extended trip on which he will visit the leading exchange centres in the interests of the new Arrow product. Mr. Curran's first stopping point will be Louisville, Ky., from whence he will go to St. Louis, Mo. Scenes from the William Fox production starring John Gilbert in " The Madness of Youth," directed by Jerome Storm. Paramount Appoints Exploiteers for the South Paramount exploiteers have been assigned to all of the five Southern exchanges of Famous Players-Lasky Corporation including the Southern Enterprise office at Oklahoma City. Harry C. Swift, one of the veterans of Claud Saunders' staff has been transferred from Cincinnati to New Orleans. Alex W. Hicks has been sent to Charlotte, Jack Hays, for two years manager of one of the " Light • nin' " companies, to Dallas ; and George W. Gambrill to Oklahoma City. Oscar A. Kantner has been conducting the exploitation activities of the Atlanta office for several months. The vacancy in Cincinnati caused by the transfer of Swift to New Orleans, has been filled by Ralph (Buster) Thayer, formerly manager of the Century theatre, Baltimore, and the Cataract theatre, Niagara Falls. The Paramount exploitation staff now num J bers thirty-four men. Three New Stories Bought by Goldwyn for Screen Goldwyn announces the purchase of the ? screen -rights to " The Day of Faith," Arthur Somers Roche's new novel; "Wild Oranges,"! written by J oseph Hergesheimer ; and " The I Rendezvous." bv Madeleine Ruthven. "The Day of Faith" will be directed by I Tod Browning, recently signed by Goldwyn. The story is based upon the thesis that if man j kind could be made to believe that everyone is perfect the world would be regenerated. The direction of the other two subjects has 4 not as yet been decided upon. Scenes from the Edward Belasco production titled " Her Accidental Husband," which appears on the C. B. C. schedule