Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1929)

December 1929 Motion Picture News 17 Protection Hits Government Snags; Three Actions Filed in One Year "Hell's Heroes" Hollywood.— While the industry was watching Universale preparations for "All Quiet On the Western Front" and "The King of Jazz Revue," Carl Laemmle, Jr., it now develops, sneaks through with an apparently unpretentious picture that will command plenty of consideration as one of the fine productions among 1930 releases. "Hell's Heroes" is the picture — a talker remake of Peter B. Kyne's story, "The Three Godfathers." It is another splendid demonstration of what can be done with characterizations in talking pictures. The picture has a definite and universal audience appeal in a gripping and humanly intresting story that brings forth both laughs and tears. Charles Bickford, Raymond Hatton and Fred Kohler are featured as the three bad men who find a new born baby in the desert. Each gives an outstanding performance. The picture is practically all outdoors and a type that will please everywhere WALTER R. GREENE Of 8 Anti-Trust Suits Filed Since June, 1928, Trade Was Victor In One — 5 Await Trial And Two Pend Kent To Check On European Markets Marking his first trip since he and Leopold Friedman closed their deal with Ufa on behalf of Paramount and M-G-M four years ago, S. R. Kent, general manager of Paramount, sails for the Continent on December 14. He will spend Christmas in Paris with Robert T. Kane, visit Berlin and Central European countries and end up in London prior to his return to New York toward the end of January. "I haven't been over there in four years, and it's about time that I should," he told Motion Picture News. "This trip, held to four or five weeks, is for the purpose of educating myself on the Continental markets." Paramount Production Boom On Way After Jan. 1 f Hollywood Bureau, Motion Picture News) Hollywood. — B. P. Schulberg's return to the Paramount studio from a ten week European vacation will start the production wheels humming about the first of the year. A heavy schedule then gets under way. U. A. Sound Chain Planned For U. K. Joseph M. Schenek, accompanied by Wm. Phillips, former partner of Seligman & Co., and now interested financially in the Schenek enterprises, sails for England on December 14 to launch plans for a chain of eight sound theatres in Britain. The theatre project will be confined to England. Washington. — Protection and clearances as practiced in some quarters of the industry today do not meet with the Government's favor, it is indicated in a summation of Federal activity in motion pictures for the fiscal year which ended on June 30, 1929. In a report, Attorney General William D. Mitchell lists six actions filed in one year. Three of them concern protection and involve West Coast Theatres, Inc., and eight distributors, Balaban and Katz and thirteen distributors and the third, West Coast and ten distributors. In that fiscal year six anti-trust suits were filed. With the complaints launched against Fox and Warners in New York last week, actions filed against the industry in the last eighteen months total eight: U. S. v. Melro-Goldwyn-Mayer Dist. Corp. et al. Information filed March 24, 1928. northern district ot Illinois, charging a conspiracy in restraint of interstate trade and commerce in motion picture films in that defendant exchange managers agreed with the Motion Picture Exhibitors' Association (Inc.) and its officers to refuse to release, transport, supply and deliver motion picture films to any and all motion picture theatres in Chicago during the existence, in August and September, 1927, of a labor dispute between the exhibitors' association and the Motion Picture Operators' union. Pleas of not guilty were entered by defendants, and the case is awaiting trial. Hollywood. — After playing leading roles „ Y:s J-. ?ar.amc!u"t, Ff™°„us Las,k!' Corporation et al. • . J ■ , i t T7 • o 1 Petition filed April 27. 1928, southern district of New in two musical productions, VlVienne begal York, alleging a conspiracy in restraint of interstate has been signed to a term contract by First National. Miss Segal, well-known on the musical comedy stage, came west to make one production for Warners, and was then assigned to star in "The Lady in Ermine" for First National. Otis Skinner In Series For F. N. Hermann Starr, president of First National, has placed Otis Skinner under contract to appear in a series of five or six talkers. It is probable original material will be written for him. Skinner some years ago made "Kismet" for Robertson-Cole, the company which was the forerunner of FBO and RKO. Sign Vivienne Segal Savage Estate Is Sued Over Old "Madam X" Film Madison Corey, former general manager for the late Henry W. Savage, has brought suit for an accounting of the earnings of the first American screen production of the play, "Madam X." The picture was produced by Savage and distributed by Pathe. After a number of years the rights to the play for the screen were sold by Savage to M-G-M who remade it as a talkie. The suit is brought in Florida but hearings were held in New York this week, testimony being taken by commission. Services Held At St. Louis For Mogler., Slain Exhibitor St. Louis. — Local film colony turned out to attend funeral services for Joseph Mogler, operating the Mogler, Bremen and Excello, who was shot and fatally wounded on Monday while in the foyer of the Mogler, on North Ninth St. Lewis Completes Survey Of Arbitration System Complete survey of arbitration in the industry has been made by Howard T. Lewis, professor of marketing at the Graduate School of Business Administration, Harvard University, who has shaped his findings into a lengthy article for "Harvard Business Review," which authorized separate publication in a special bulletin now available. trade and commerce in motion picture films between 10 corporate defendants engaged in distributing motion picture films, the M. P. Prod, and Dist. of America (Inc.). an association of which all defendant distributors are members, and 32 Film Boards of Trade, by means, among others, of an agreement to enforce awards of boards of arbitration. The trial of the case was concluded March 25, 1929, and decision reserved. U. S. v. First National Pictures (Inc.) et al. Petition filed April 27, 1928, southern district of New York, against the same defendants named in the above case alleging a conspiracy in restraint of trade in motion-picture films, by means of understandings and agreements through the instrumentality of credit committees of film boards of trade, to compel the performance of all uncompleted contracts entered into by previous owners or operators of motion picture theatres. The trial of the case was concluded March 13, 1929, and a decision adverse to the government has been handed down. U. S. v. West Coast Theatres, Inc., et al. Information filed Sept. 28, 1928, southern district of California, charging a conspiracy between the West Coast Theatres and the eight principal distributors of firstclass motion pictures in the southern half of California to restrain interstate trade and commerce in motion picture films by limiting the exhibition thereof by independent exhibitors, through the instrumentality of a clearance schedule. Final disposition of this case awaits the outcome of case No. 33, infra. U. S. v. Balaban and Katz Corp. et al. Petition filed Dec. 15, 1928, southern district of Illinois, charging, a conspiracy between Balaban ;ind Katz Corp. and its subsidiaries and the 3 principal distributors of first-class motion pictures in the Chicago territory to restrain and monopolize interstate trade and commerce in motion picture films by limiting the exhibition thereof by independent exhibitors, through the instrumentality of a clearance agreement and long-term exclusive contracts. Awaiting trial. V. S. v. West Coast Theatres, Inc.. et al. Indictment returned April 19, 1929, southern district of California, charging West Coast Theatres, its president and ten of the major motion picture producing anil distributing companies with conspiring to restrain interstate trade and commerce in motion picture films by limiting the exhibition of first-class motion pictures m southern California by independent exhibitors, through the instrumentality of a series of so-called zoning and clearance schedules. Case to be tried in January. V S. v. Fox Theatres, Inc., Fox Film Corp. and William Fox. Petition filed in New York, on Nov. 27 alleges a conspiracy in restraint of interstate trade and commerce in that the defendants control Loew s. Inc. both companies together producing 40 per cent of the industry's pictures, according to the complaint, which seeks to set aside the control now held by Fox. Awaiting trial. _ U S v. Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc., Stanley Co. of America and First National Pictures, Inc. (of Maryland). Petition filed in. New York Nov. 27 alleges a conspiracy in restraint of interstate trade and commerce exists in that the defendants' domination of First National means controlling 25 per cent ot production. The Government seeks to set aside the deal. Azvaiting trial.