Motion Picture News (May-Jun 1925)

!une 20, 19 2 5 3UJ5 News' Staff Man on European Survey L. C. Moen Goes Abroad on Important Tour of Investigation of Film Conditions in England and on Continent LK'. MOEX, of the editorial staff of the Motiox Picture News, sailed for • Europe on Thursday of this week, via the S. S. '*De Grasse," for an extensive tour of investigation of film conditions in England and on the Continent. In view of the increasing importance of the foreign market and the growing international nature of the film industry, the News believes it advisable at this time to make a first hand survej' of the changing conditions in France, England and Germany, the principal film capitals of Europe. If found advisable, tlie investigation will be extended to include Belgium, Austria or other adjacent territory. Developments of the highest importance are pending in Europe, both as regards tlieatres and i)roduction, and it is believed by those close to conditions on tlie other side that the coming year will see vital changes in the present line-up in both fields. While in Europe Mr. Moen will endeavor to approach the situation from two widely separated angles : first, that of the European producers, distributors and exhibitors; and second, that of the American companies operating in Europe, either in their own name or through affiliation with local corjioratioiis. These two groups hold widely divergent views on many topics, but it is felt that the only fair way to appraise the situation is to obtain the plans and belie'fs of both the American and European concerns, rather than either group alone. The survey to be made will include production in some measure, inasmuch as the volume of European production bears an important relation to the number of playing dates available for American pictures. The principal effort, however, will l)e directed along the line of theatre building and ownership, both European and American, inasmuch as developments in Europe at the present time closely ai^proximate those in America as regards producer-distributor ownership of L. C. Moen, of Motion Picture News, who sailed for Europe this week on a tour of investigation. (Photo by Garo, Boston) theatre, booking combines and the circuits. Working out from Paris as a central point, Mr. Moen will visit the important film centres, using the Handley-Page, Junker and other commercial airplane services in order to cover the utmost possible ground in the available time. He will be aided in his investigation by European film trade journals, distribution and production executives, American representatives, heads of exhibitor organizations and others intimately in touch with basic conditions. Foreign exhibitors, executives and others who wish to get in touch with the News representative during his stay in Europe may do so through the American Express Company, 11 Rue Scribe, Paris, France, from w here mail will 1)0 forwarded to him throughout the trip. Immediately upon his return to the United States Mr. Moen will prepare for Motiox Picture News the most comprehensive analysis of European conditions as tliey affect the American film industry that has yet been presented by any trade i)aper. I'iiis material will a]>pear exclusively in the News. Mr. Moen's selection for the survey of the foreign field is partially in the nature of a reward for faithful and' appreciated services. He came to the News four years ago from Babson's after an extensive and thorough experience in various branches of the film industry, to assume charge of the Exhibitors' Service Bureau. In this position, which has always been rated as one of the most important on the staff, he has proven eminently satisfactory and in addition has freely given of his talents from week to week in the preparation of the other departments of the magazine. His talent for observation and his ability to relate on jiaper, clearly, that which he has seen, makes him an especially desirable man for the assignment and the News is confident that the articles he will write upon his return will be well worth the attention of all branches of the industry. At various intervals the News has published special articles concerning conditions in Europe, notably Germany and England, but this is the first time a member of the liome ofiBce staff' has been sent abroad on a special mission. If the trip is successful, as it seems positive it will be, it is planned to continue the practice at such periods as is practicable and necessary to keep abreast of foreign conditions. No definite number of weeks for the News survey has been allotted to Mr. Moen but the time will be sufficient to accomplish ])ractieal results. Increased Production in Germany Ufa Announces Thirty-Three Productions for First Half of Season; Many More to Come WHEN, some months ago, import regulations in this country were settled in such away (dealt with at length in one of my last articles) that each renter may only impoi-t an amount of foreign productions exactly eoiTesponding to the footage of German films handled by him, — when this new regulations were published, it was easy to prohesy that, in view of the strong demands of this market and its more than 3000 halls, a big boom in Gennan productions would have to result. And that's indeed what has happened. Activity in German studios has considerably increased and is certainly ever so much larger than it was last year. Ufa naturally heads the list. This concern, by far the biggest of all Gei-man film companies is announcing (and busilv producing already) as many as 33 pictures By Heinrich Frankel of Berlin during the first half of the season; and before the year ends there will surely be many more to come. — Some of these productions are of a highly ambitious chai'acter and are sure to tuni out even bigger than "Nibelungs," "Last Laugh" and some other renowned productions of the past. Naturally American readers will be mostly interested in the forthcoming productions of those directors who are mci or less renowned alreadv' in the States. Fritz Lang (of "Nibelung's" fame) is busily producing already a very big modern production, called "Metropolis." The story has naturally again been M-ritten by Thea von Harbou, the producer's wife. F. W. Murnau, producer of "The Last Lausfh" has finished already a very big (modern) adaption of "Tartuffe." Carl Mayer, author of "Last Laugh" has also written the scenario, and Emil .Tannings has once more been starred in the latest Murnau production. At the present moment this greatest and most widely renowned of the German actors is playing lead in what will probably turn out one of the biggest and most ambitious of this year's Ufa productions. Author and director of this film which will be called "Vaudeville" is E. A. Dupont, probably the finest of the younger set of German producers. He is generally expected to rank among the world's greatest in a very short time. In this film Lya de Putti is co-starred who, by the way, is expected to go to America next year. Dr. Eobison, producer of "Warning Shadows" (which has enjoyed a very strong success in England) is just embarking on a very big production, adapted from "Manon Lescaut." Here too Yy.i de Putti is going to play lead. (Continued on par/f 3037)