The Moving picture world (May 1922)

May 13, 1922 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 169 In the Independent Field B9 ROGER FERRl The Passing Week in Review CONGRATULATIONS to the Weiss Brothers on their victory in the suit instituted against them by Horace Goldin involving the novelty two-reel film exposing the illusion known as "Sawing a Lady in Half." The Weiss Brothers were put to considerable expense, but they fought the limit and their efforts have borne fruit. The Weiss Brothers typify the better class of distributors in the independent market. They are setting a remarkable pace, but they will keep up with it, for there is not in this whole industry a firm that is more live, any more energetic or aggressive than this one. Congratulations, too, Harry G. Kosch, the attorney, who gave such a splendid account of himself during the trial. LAST January we stated that the current year would be a test of the survival of the fittest. That prediction is coming through, for glancing through records sent in by correspondents for the month of May we noticed the passing of a few of the shady firms in the Middlewest and five in the East. The passing of these firms is the best thing that could have happened. We are housecleaning now. Let's be fair about it. Let's not do any unnecessary worry, but at the same time let us stop kidding — briefly, let's get down to brass tacks. THE invasion of the independent distribution field by Export & Import Films Corporation in this country is indeed gratifying and certain to bring mutually satisfactory results to distributor and exchanges. The firm heretofore has specialized in the foreign trade, but some time ago it acquired the distribution rights to the serial, "The Jungle Goddess," which it has had no trouble in selling. Now the firm announces their acquisition of "The Curse of Drink," but information in our posession has it that this concern has other big features and short subjects which it will distribute direct to State rights buyers this year. AMERICAN independent distributors are seriously considering establishing their own foreign distributing agencies. The Warners, Arrow, Equity and several others already have foreign departments, but independent productions on the other side have been so successful, financial and otherwise, htat ti will occasion no surprise if the bigger countries take care of their own foreign distribution. THE practice of certain exchanges of selling exhibitors on product they have not yet acquired and then using these exhibitors' contracts to force the distributor to sel should be stopped immediately. No few cases of tangles resultant from such illegitimate dealings have come to the attention of this department. What good these exchanges expect to derive from such a transaction is more than the intelligent film man can understand. Surely, it does not gain the good will of the duped exhibitor. THE investigation into the activities of a certain clique of stock promoters masquerading as independent producers and distributors is near an end. Startling developments have resulted from this investigation, and the trade is due for a severe shock when those involved are made known. We expect to have a complete report on this important investigation by the early part of June. Data collected by the investigators is being verified and checked up. IN response to an ediotrial published on this page last week, this department has come into the possession of five letters from successful producers of etablished reputation of doing big things and turning out equally big productions. These have informed us that they will ofifer their pictures on the State rights market. The time is not ripe to announce the names of these producers nor what they will offer, but suffice to say that when the announcements are made they will make no few folks sit up and take notice WE have received such excellent co-operation and support from the trade in general and so many wonderful letters from exchangemen and exhibitors that we would amiss our duty if we did not take this opportunity of expressing our appreciation and thanks. We, indeed, appreciate every co-operation that has been given us and also to thank those who have been so kind as to write us, making constructive suggestions, and in other ways making this department serve the purpose to which it has been dedicated. We are ever at the service of the independent man. We have striven to give him a combination of trade paper and newspaper. We have maintained a service bureau that has given considerable information. We want you to know that this is your department and that we will always do our utmost to give the independent the information and co-operation he desires. So don't be a stranger. Let us hear from you. HARRY WARNER of Warner Brothers is a thinking man. He and his brothers have built a remarkable organization that has yet to give the trade a flivver. In fact, every picture has been a winner. Their officials are wide-awake, with the result that they have injected into the business an originality that has brought them much attention. This week Mr. Warner made a statement, a statement of sufficient interest to warrant the serious consideration of every person in the business, and for that reason it is reproduced below in full. The statement follows : What exhibitors need more than other fields for a livelihood. From more anything else at the present time is the whole-hearted co-operation of distributing organizations. Without the complete help of distributors the exhibitors are handicapped in securing greater patronage for their theatres. For upon exhibitors rest the foundation and success of this industry. While producers may bring forth wonderful box-ofiice features, they must not ignore their one invaluable business ally— the exhibitor. For if they ignore the theatre owner they undermine the very structure of business success, and in the final analysis they can not long survive. Our policy is dedicated to the service of the exhibitor, the making of box-oflice pictures, and a fair and square business policy. We do not believe in the beautiful press book. I do not hesitate to state that it is used as a blind to hoodwink the unknowing exhibitor. And if he is continually hoodwinked, his busines'^ enterprise is doomed. Certainly, if exhibitors are forced out of business, then the producers and distributors will have to seek my eighteen years of experience in the industry. I can see in the vista of future possibilities one of the greatest eras of prosperity that has ever been seen in the history of the business. I do not know what other producer-distributors think of exhibitor co-operation. But I can state definitely for the benefit of exhibitors that in dedicating ourselves to the purpose of producing only the biggest box-office attractions, we will also constantly endeavor to help exhibitors put our pictures on the money-making side of the register. If distributors will pledge themselves to co-operate with exhibitors, to extend every possible aid with each and every attraction, then they will be rendering a truly great service for the maintenance of the vast chain of theatre enterprises. And upon their maintenance and success, rests the success and longevity of producers and distributors. Our hat is in the ring. The others should follow for the stability of their own organizations.