Moving Picture World (Jul 1921)

1SS MOVING PICTURE WORLD July 9, 1921 E?iglis/i Story ( Continued from page 181 ) localisms in the picture text. These are but poorly understood at best and for that reason create confusion in the minds of English audiences, cause lack of comprehension of the explanatory passages and often serve to rob a production of any interest whatever. To just what extent our films are destined to suffer, if cause is given for sustained criticisms such as the foregoing, is problematical and difficult of appraisal. It is well to know that any attitude of tolerance toward these faults, however unintentional they may be, which exists in American audiences, is totally lacking over there. During the war the British public was more indulgent — means for amusement were drastically curtailed and the people went to the picture theatres with the sole purpose in mind of being amused and diverted, no matter how, and scarcely cognizant of whether or not the films were good, bad or indifferent. In other words, they were glad to go to see anything in the nature of a distraction and were not disposed to be severely critical of their own or any other country's film productions. Today all that is changed. Great Britain is dependent upon the United States for more than three-quarters of her film attractions and there is time and disposition to pay greater attention to details which have previously been overlooked or allowed to go unchallenged because of greater and much more serious problems pressing from another quarter. Weight of Public Opinion Scattered throughout the United Kingdom are more than 4,000 picture theatres and the number is steadily on the increase. The number of people who patronize the pictures is growing rather than declining and this forms a weight of public opinion to be reckoned with in any scheme for catering to the popular taste. If this taste, supported by the press, decrees that American films are undesirable because they fail to render the proper sort of amusement and entertainment, a noticeable falling off in box office receipts will be the result. As a corollary to this situation manu facturer’s agents and cinema theatre owners will in time be forced to yield in favor of that judgment which represents the largest influence upon the source of their income and profit, and furnish the motion picture patrons with the kind of films they most approve of. The British fail to understand, and certainly will admit no justification for, the production in our studios of pictures AT a meeting of the Motion Picture Tradepapers Credit Association, Inc., of which Moving Picture World, Exhibitors’ Trade Review, Motion Picture News, Inc., and Exhibitors’ Herald are members, held on Friday, June 24, the question of the publication of copyrighted photographs in advertising or reading matter furnished to the tradepapers for publication, was considered, and the following preamble and resolution was unanimously adopted by the association : Whereas, several actions have been commenced against the members of this association and other trade papers by one Lumiere, photographer, to recover damages for alleged infringements of copyright of photographs made by him; and Whereas, these photographs are furnished to the trade papers by producers, distributors or individuals for publication in advertisements or reading matter without having appended or attached thereto the copyright notice required by the Copyright Law of the United States ; and Whereas, the various trade papers, members of this association, desire to protect themselves against such proceeding and the consequent penalties and costs of defending such action; Now, therefore, be it resolved, that all members of this association refuse to accept for publication any advertising or reading matter containing photographs copyrighted by any photographer, unless the trade paper which is requested to publish the advertisement or reading matter is furnished at the same time by the ad containing careless or erroneous portrayals as outlined above. The thing is accepted in the nature of an insult to their intelligence and these productions meet with a reception all the more hostile because of a feeling that with due attention the objectionable features of these otherwise admirable examples of the filmmaker’s skill, could be wholly and easily eliminated. vertiser with a release in writing from the owner of the copyrights against any suit, proceeding or damages for the publication thereof ; Further resolved, that where any member of this association is requested to publish any advertisement or other matter containing a photograph which has been so cut or trimmed that the evidences of copyright are not apparent, and by reason of such publication, said trade paper is or may be subjected to loss or damage, or incur expense in the defense of an action of any kind, the advertiser supplying such photograph will be held liable for the amount of such loss damage or expense; Further resolved, that Mr. Harry G. Ivosch, attorney for the association, be directed to send a copy of this preamble and resolution to all producers and advertisers in the various trade papers ; Further resolved, that a copy of this preamble and resolution be published in each of the trade papers, members of this association. “Ten Nights in a Bar Room” under the direction of Oscar Apfel for Blazed Trail Productions is a modern screen version of the old tank drama that has probably played in every town in the United States. The picture has been developed in such a manner, that it is neither an argument for or against prohibition —simply a big film production of an old-time play. Easy methods of testing the normalcy of infants are pictured in Selznick News, issued from New York June 21. Dr. Steinhardt, baby expert, is shown making the interesting tests. Tradepapers Credit Association Acts to Avoid Difficulties With Copyrights PROMINENT AUTHORS WHO ARE HELPING TO ROLL THE FILM WORLD ALO.\G ITS ' Interesting way by writing stories for Goldwyn. Prom left to right they are: LeRoy Scott, Alice Duer Miller, Katherine Stalin hurt, Rupert Hughes, Rita Weiman, Anzia Yczierska and Gouverneur Morns