Moving Picture World (Jan-Feb 1927)

February 12, 1927 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 47 i IOUIS B. MAYER arrived in New York this A week right on the heels of the record-breaking run of “Flesh And The Devil” at the Capitol, which in four weeks is reported by Major Edward Bowes to have grossed nearly $250,000, a truly amazing figure. • A S the producing head of Metro Goldwyn Mayer and the motivating spirit behind all its extensive and ambitious picture-making activities, it must have been with singular satisfaction that Mr. iMayer noted the box office success of this remarkable attraction, which is listed merely as one of M-G-M’s regular program features. by (he way Louis B. Mayer Reaches New York As “ Flesh and the Devil ” Finishes Record Breaking Run at the Capitol Combine of M-G-M. and United Artists Opposed Last Year by Chaplin May Be Announced Any Day Now Carl Laemmle Offers $ 5,000 in Prizes To Writers Offering Best Published Ideas Of Help to Motion Picture Industry Jean Sapene On Laemmle Award Committee effected by the arrangement np HIS condition clearly means a difference of from three to five million dollars in the gross business which United Artists hoped to do this year had its full quota of sixteen pictures come through from its producers and the deficit created naturally demands heroic measures to keep down all expenses to the minimum. • IT is pointed out, that with M.-G.-M, looking after the physical distribution of United Artists pictures, leaving the selling and exploitation of them solely to United Artists, as at present, this condition could not arise and a saving of possibly as much as a million dollars a year would be for United Artists. T ONG ago Louis Mayer discarded all formulas tor picture making and set himself solely to the task of making “ good entertainment putting into each production made under his supervision every box office element that could be conceived of by himself, Irving Thalberg, Harry Rapf or any of the members of his able staff— before beginning actual camerawork. • THE result of this policy is evidenced in the outstanding number of screen successes which have come from the M-G-M studios during the past two years and a half, beginning with the “Big Parade and that many surprises ai e still in store during the present season, such as ‘'Flesh And The Devil” has proven itself to be, there seems scant reason to doubt. R ESUMPTION of the rumors this week that an amalgamation between United Artists and M.-G.-M. is imminent, whereby the latter will take over the physical distribution of the former’s productions, while no statement has yet been forthcoming from any of the principals, has given rise to much speculation in the trade. T HAT some such an arrangement between these two companies is almost inevitable, all who are at all familiar with the situation will agree, just as it is certain that it would have been brought about last year, had not Charles Chaplin and his counsel, Nathan Burkan, then persuaded Joseph M. Schenck, much against his will, to call it off because of the objections raised by exhibitors to the proposed combine. • TV/fR. SCHENCK did so with regret, as he later publicly stated, and only because of his personal regard for Chaplin, although convinced of the economic soundness of the plan and the substantial benefits it would bring not only to the companies involved, but also to the exhibitors doing business with them, in the saving effected. • T ENDING color to the reports that a combine between the two companies along these lines is again being considered, is the fact, unofficially but none the less authoritatively stated, that a drastic financial retrenchment by United Artists has been ordered by Al Lichtman since his return from the Coast, where he went to confer with Mr. Schenck. • 'T'HE reasons for this cutdown of overhead are obvious, when A it is realized that the United Artists organization is geared to handle no less than sixteen productions, whereas it now has only ten at the outside to sell, three of which are but mediocre as attractions and one — Chaplin’s ’’Circus” — not yet completed. 'T'HOSE who are in a position to know, declare that no -*• further reasons than the foregoing are necessary to show that the reported impending combine of United Artists and M-G-M is a logical and economic necessity as far as the former is concerned, while its many advantages to the latter cannot fail to find favor with the Loew officials, so much so that an early announcement that the deal has been concluded may be expected. • C'' ARL LAEMMLE, president of Universal Pictures Cor^ poration, in establishing the Laemmle Award, so-called, consisting of $5,000 in annual prizes for writers on newspapers, magazines and trade journals in all parts of the world, who may publish original suggestions in any way useful or helpful to the motion picture industry, has done a very constructive thing and one which should be productive of real service in the film’s development. • T F it does nothing else it will stimulate thought about the A motion picture among many minds, whose special training ought to give their ideas a particular pertinence and distinctive value. • \/fR. LAEMMLE has selected, to act as a board of decision 1 1 to make the awards, headed by Will H. Hays, a number of distinguished newspaper and magazine men, among whose names we note that of M. Jean Sapene, publisher of Le Matin, Paris. • JV/I" SAPENE is also head of the Socicte des Cineromans, 1 -*■* the leading producing organization in the French film industry, and his selection by Mr. Laemmle to serve upon this committee is a friendly and courteous gesture, which augurs an increasing entente cordiale between this country’s motion picture activities and those of our former ally. • T'HE selection of M. Sapene also makes the committee who will dispense the Laemmle Award more fully representative and international in its personnel, which is surely most desirable, inasmuch as Mr. Laemmle wishes the fund to be open to writers abroad as well as in America. • jV/f AKE a note, by the way, of Sapene’s name for future 1 reference — he’s a big timer.