The Moving picture world (January 1921-February 1921)

398 MOVING PICTURE WORLD January 22, 1921 Germans Due to Finish "Anne Boleyn;" Fantastical Film Wins Public's Praise (Special to Moving Picture World) Berlin, November 21. SINCE the last report little has changed in the external position of the German film market. The question of the hour, on which Germany's film market depends, the importation of foreign films, has not advanced a single step. The Federal Ministry of Economy (Reichwirtschafts Ministerium) which has the distribution of the allotted part of imported films, i. e., 15 per cent, of the entire German productions, to the different groups and firms, awaits the proposal of the film industry. An agreement cannot be reasonably expected too quickly because the German film industry varies so greatly in its different interests. Not only do the film renters and exhibitors claim a share of the contingent, but even the producers are of the opinion that the importatio.i of foreign films means a loss of a part of the domestic market, for which they must receive a compensation in the shape of a certain percentage of the imported films for trade purposes. Ebert Views "Anne Boleyn" The last month has been more or less a month of preparation, while in former years the season was in full swing at this time. In October the Union was still working at the completion of its mammoth film, "Anne Boleyn," which in regard to length, decoration and co ts, is the largest ever produced on the continent. Even President Ebert, a number of government representatives and members of Parliament witnessed the shooting of this film, especially the mass scenes. Guided by the general manager of the Ufa, Mr. Davidson, and Dr. Strauss, the chairman of the board of supervisory directors of the Ufa, the gentlemen visited the new property the Union and Messter had acquired. This day was one of great events. Over 5,000 extras populated the large fields, and Ernst Lubitsch, Germany's foremost director, supervised this throng, which participated in the coronation procession of Heinrich VIII and Anna Boleyn. The executives of the Ufa, Messrs. Bratz, Grau, Jacob and Somlo served as guides for the guests. The film will be shown in Berlin December 3. The leading role is played by Henry Porten, who is without an equal among Germany's most favored film stars. Praise for Fantastic Film "The Golem," a fantastical play, was completed last month and shown at the Ufa Palast at the Zoo on October 30. Even the newspaper critics, who in Germany are far from lenient with their criticisms, called this film a work of art and boasted especially of the great art of Paul Wegener and the power of imagination of Polzigs, the architect of the Rheinhard Schauspielhaus who had erected a fantastical town of the middle ages. The film, "The Golem and how it came into this world," was shown a few days ago to an especially critical audience — the bankers of Germany, who had an assembly in Berlin. The Decla also had invited guests for the day to their studios in Neubabelsberg to show them the preliminaries for the big film, "The Judge of Zalamea." Mrs. Ebert, wife of the president, who before had had the opportunity to inspect the studios of the Ufa during the filming of "Sumurun," took advantage of the moment to see the Decla studios. "The Judge of Zalamea" was shown in the Marmorhaus in Berlin on October 29. Historical Subject This film was directed by a young Berlin stage manager, Dr. Ludwig Berger, who enjoys a splendid reputation in theatrical circles. Although the film is not without faults, it shows very strong and thrilling action and beautiful scenery. The scenario was worked out by Dr. Berger from a drama of the Spanish poet Calderon. The acting also, especially that of Albert Steinrucks, who played a leading part in "The Golem," and a young Berlin actress, Anna Straub, is remarkable. The Gloria Film Company has at the same time completed it's big film, "The Conspiracy of Genoa," and although it will not appear until early next year, I have had the opportunity to see it almost complete. If the season does not bring any unforeseen surprises of which I am not informed, "The Conspiracy of Genoa" will without a doubt be the most picturesque film of this season. The director, Paul Leni, in former years was an artist of renown. Asta Neilsen also will appear in an especially large film this season. She has herself rewritten the old legend of Hamlet. Although this film is not completed, I also saw a greater part of it and believe that it is one of the best which will be shown this season in Germany. Besides this, Asta Neilsen plays the leading role in a Maxim Film, "Mate Hoik," in which Paul Wegener is her partner. This includes the preparations which the producers of Germany have made for this season. D.1ISY ROBINSON Heading the cast in "Partners of the Tide," •which is Ir<vin V . Willats second Hodkinson release State Righters Must Pay Tax, Government Contends Buyers of state rights are considered as exhibitors in the collection of the film tax, according to a decision of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Washington, D. C, which has ruled that the five per cent, tax shall apply in the case of state rights buyers. The decision of the bureau, it is declared, is based upon the fact that nothing in the present form of lease prohibits the buyer from exhibiting the picture himself. This contention is opposed by the law committee of the National Association of the Motion Picture Industry, which says that state rights buyers purchase only for release to exhibitors. The law committee is now endeavoring to have the bureau change its attitude. It is possible that this may be brought about by changes in the form of lease, whereby it will be stipulated that the state right buyer is not himself to exhibit the film but intends to rent it to exhibitors in his territory, from whom the five per cent, tax will be collected. Film Company Files Suit Suit has been filed in the New York county clerk's office by the Adolf Philipp Film Corporation, of 11 East Fourteenth street, to recover $6,715 from Frederick T. Van Beuren. The film corporation charges that it paid the defendant $5,200 rent for a studio, and that subsequently it found 3 oortion of the premises could not be used for the purpose they were rented, making it necessary to expend monies for the fitting up of the studio, bringing the sum expended with rental up to the amount sued for.