Movie Age (1927)

PAGE 8 MOVIE AGE Publix Books Tiffany Color Classics In Class A Houses Officials of the Publix Theatre Circuit thought so well of “Memories”, the first on schedule of the twenty-four Color Classics released by Tiffany Produc¬ tions, that they immediately secured this short reel gem for a booking in the Paramount theatre, New York, for the week commencing August 6. Later at the Tiffany home office word was received that “Memories” had been booked for the entire circuit of Publix Theatre Class A houses throughout the country. This, with other circuit contracts com¬ ing for the Tiffany Color Classics, fur¬ ther tends to substantiate the claim that Tiffany shorts are among the most en¬ tertaining and well produced on the market. The other Color Classics to follow “Memories” on the production schedule are: “King of Sports,” “Love in the Jungle”, “Scar Face”, “The Man Who Married the Moon”, “Footing the Bill”, and “Me and My Pal.” “The Valley of the Giants” Bought For Sills Richard A. Rowland, general manager and first vice-president of First Nation¬ al Pictures, Inc., has announced the pur¬ chase, as a vehicle for Milton Sills, the most famous of all Peter B. Kyne’s novels, “The Valley of the Giants.” It is regarded as a certainty that this splendid story of the Big Tree district of California will afford the star one of the finest characterizations he has ever had. A1 Rockett, West Coast production chief, has assigned the production of the film to Wid Gunning, who has just com¬ pleted “Hard-Boiled Haggerty,” with the same star. Much of the film will be made in the Big Trees of Sonoma or some other nor¬ thern country of the state. It will be on an elaborate scale and a cast of the most excellent quality will be chosen to support the star. U. Buys Story, “Fallen Angels” The Arthur Somers Roche story en¬ titled “Fallen Angels” which is now run¬ ning serially in the Red Book Maga¬ zine has been purchased by the Univer¬ sal Pictures Corporation for immediate production. Edward Laemmle has been assigned to direct this thrilling story of the underworld. “Pieces of China” Is New Pathe Release “Pieces of China,” a six reel trip through the ancient Celestial Empire, is being released by Pathe. This produc¬ tion was made for the Oriental Pictures Co., o<f San Francisco, by Isaac O. Upham, an authority on China, who has made sixteen trips through that coun¬ try. Ten thousand miles of China’s most fascinating scenery is shown in this pic¬ ture, which takes one from San Francis¬ co to Hong Kong and thence through the principal cities of this land now the scene of rebellion and warfare. The scenes swiftly change from pictures of entire families dwelling in tiny boats to the magnificent estates of the mandar¬ ins. The great wall of China is trav¬ ersed for miles and miles of pictorial beauty. Recommended by Nat. Board The National Board of Review in its Photoplay Guide of Popular Entertain¬ ment Films, includes in its September list the following Paramount pictures: “We’re All Gamblers” with Thomas Meighan; “Soft Cushions” with Douglas MacLean; “French Fried,” a two-reel comedy; “Nevada,” starring Gary Cooper; “Topsy Turvy” a Krazy Kat car¬ toon and “A Short Tail,” one of the two-reel dramatic featurettes. “Soft Cushions” was starred as being of ex¬ ceptional merit, and “A Short Tail” was likewise starred and recommended to the exceptional Photoplay Committee. Producers Deny Wilson’s Charges of Mediocrity (Continued from Page 7) JOSEPH SCHENCK— “It is easy enough for those not engaged in actual picture making to make positive state¬ ments, such as Mr. Wilson. They see pictures subjectively as those who would view a ball game from the sidelines. “I believe quite emphatically that pic¬ tures are at the peak of their artistic worth.” B. P. SCHULBERG— “There never has been so little mediocrity as at pres¬ ent in the entire industry, or so little tolerance shown by executives for me¬ diocrity or the conditions which bring it about.” JACK WARNER — Pictures are im¬ proving in quality every day; believing in new ideas, the company has elevated from the ranks of its organization 20 directors and ten writers and always is on the outlook for new faces.” Cast For “Stop That Man” Word has been received that Nat Ross has completed the casting of “Stop That Man,” the George V. Hobart story to be released by Universal. In addi¬ tion to Barbara Kent, who is the featur¬ ed player, the following will appear also in the production, Eddie Gribbon, Wal¬ ter McGrail, George Siegmann, Joe Gi¬ rard and Warner Richmond. Has the Industry Forgotten Pictures (Continued From Page 6) interested in who owned or made it as in its quality and serviceable phases. Of course we have a lot of good look¬ ing people in the Motion Picture busi¬ ness and we do sell some personality. But personality is secondary to quality in production. Both can go and should go together, but dependence on person¬ ality or past reputation alone simply spells failure. The picture must be “The Thing” in Motion Picture theatres, secondary to nothing else whether it be personality, presentations or any other elements. No matter how we view it, present practice from a Motion Picture produc¬ tion and exhibition standpoint is funda¬ mentally unsound. Some of the bigger theatres are following this plan however, and seemingly unable to make even their own pictures pay, reach out in semifrantic fashion for artificial stimulants. Vaudeville, presentations, concert elements and all of those things are ex¬ cellent in theatres dedicated to those purposes where the motion picture is in¬ cidental and only a minor part of the program. But in Motion Picture thea¬ tres we should sell the picture to the public and resort only to those stage aids when absolutely necessary and not rush into this line of procedure just because some other theatre owner is doing it and none making a fair effort to prop¬ erly exploit the picture. The Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America have in process of formation a comprehensive program nation-wide in character which will prove a powerful aid to theatre owners in intelligently and effectively marketing the picture and entirely satisfying the public. As it is now, many are attracted to thea¬ tres through the prominence given to presentations and side issues, who find these elements dull without interest as compared to the picture on the program which received little or no exploitation. More definite announcements along this line will be made in the near future.