Paramount International News (1935)

paramount JnternatumcdQlews AfOSCOl!'. Here are f>hotographic interludes in the U.S.S.R. visit of 'ssrs. Carl York and David Nilsson, described in the accompanying article, top left are Messrs. Kiva (in charge of Moscozv film importation) , Fallos ondon Films, and United Artists), York, Choumiatski (head of Soz'iet n industry) , and Kennedy (R.K.O.j. It is interesting to note that the ne day this photo teas taken, M. Choumiatski recciz’ed the Lenin Order, fhest possible honor in the Soinet. At top right are the delegates in con’ss. Afessrs. York and Nilsson are fourth and third from the right in the mt roio. Bottom left is a reproduction of the Lenin Memorial, noiv being lit for a 1940 completion. It zvill be the largest memorial in the world, rl York is the last gentleman at the right. Ini the rejnaining photo are Nilsson, Miss Okounevakoy, Mr. York and Mr. Kennedy. Given Ijelow is Mr. York’s own personal account of his recent Paramount business trip into the U.S.S.R. (formerly Russia). This travelling correspondent also sent us a detailed account of day-by-day impressions and incidents which we are precluded from publishing only because of sjiace limitations. We are constrained to say, however, that it is a fascinating document, the reading of which makes us envious of Carl’s U.S.S.R. i>eregrinations. ’ARAMOUNT” A HOUSEHOLD WORD IN RUSSIA By CARL P. YORK dave just returned from the S.S.R. where I had the great asure and privilege to represent ramount at the Film Festival in ehration of the 15th anniversary of ' Soviet film industry. Being the first Paramount man to into Russia in the last 17 years vas very much delighted to learn 311 my arrival in Moscow that our npany is still known as the largest ;1 finest film producing company in ' World. Mr. Zukor’s great repuion and life work are very well Dwn to everybody, and Mr. bitsch’s appointment as Production CARL YORK found these safety tches in Moscow and brought ni back with him. Note how n the manufacturers in the ».S.R. employ the ‘mountain’ tif wherever Paramount is coned. Manager at our Hollywood studios was very favorably commented upon. Even in Russia Mr. Lubitsch is considered one of the World’s greatest film directors. One of the very first men who greeted me upon my arrival in Moscow was a Paramount News Reel cameraman, Mr. Boris Zeitlin. This gentleman is in charge of one of the Soviet News Reel production units and was very jiroud of the fact that he had been able to make such excellent connection with Paramount, the biggest producing company in the World. He also informed me that Paramount is the only jiroducer in America having a news reel correspondent in Russia and so far as he was concerned he wanted Paramount to retain this exclusive privilege. During my visit this gentleman received his first check from New York in payment of a story he had covered. He was a very proud man and in fact the entire Trade seemed to be very favorably impressed liy the connection made with Paramount on the news reel coverage. I told them that I hoped it would not he long before the Paramount News would be shown throughout the length and breadth of the Soviet Republic and I am quite sure that this time is not far off. Unfortunately the sample prints I was supposed to have screened during the festival were delayed in transit and did not reach Moscow until the end of the festival. I was therefore unable to screen these pictures until two days before T left Moscow. I am happv to state, however, that LEGDNG and THE PHANTOM PRE.SIDENT got a tremendous reception by the Trade, and had LEGONG been shown during the festival it would surely have received one of the first three (irizes. It might be of interest to Paramounteers to know something about the motion picture theatres in Russia. I visited (juite a number and found them crowded from 12 o’clock noon until 12 o’clock at night, d'he theatres contained no luxury or comforts such as an American audience is accustomed to but a great deal of showmanship was in evidence. P'or instance, in the motion picture theatres that I visited, a reading room was connected with the theatre where ncws|)apers and magazines could be read while waiting for the show to start. Another room was the concert hall where a large orchestra played popular and classical music for the amusement and entertainment of the audience. A small lunch counter, where sandwiches, beer and water could be had at a few Kopeks, was also connected with the theatre. In c\ery grocery and t<3bacco store 1 visited, and I visited quite a number out of pure curiosity, 1 found matches i)iled up in great iwramids, inside the store as well as in the windows, hearing the label attached hereto. According to what I heard these Paramount matches are just as popular in Russia as Paramount jiictures are in the rest of the World and there is no question in my mind, from what I could find out, that these matches have received their great name l)ecause of the wide-spread I>opularity given “Paramount” through our jiroduct. Thus my first trip to Russia was un(|uestional)ly one of the most interesting experiences 1 have had. 1 made many friends among the peoide in the Trade. They were all a very si)lendid type of men and women whose chief interest in life seemed to be good i)ictures. The entire Trade asked me to convey greetings and cordial regards to the Paramount comrades throughout the World. CATANIA, ITALY Here is the colorful entrance foyer to Paramount’s shipping station at Catania, Italy. Signor Mario Francisci is office manager here, and in the display at the back of the counter he has two large Paramount trade marks which unfortunately were of colors which did not reproduce well. He is reserving the large semi-circular space for a large trade mark. NOUVELLES INTERESSANTES A PARAMOUNT A ceux de nos lecteurs qui assistent a la premiere Convention Internationale Paramount a Paris tenue sous I’egide du vice-president John W . Hicks, Jr., nous envoyons nos cordiales salutations. Nous savons (juc vous allez entendre la plus grande serie des declarations Paramount dans notre histoire. A ceux de nos lecteurs qui ne sont pas presents a cette Convention, nous promettons de leur donner un rapport fidele, detaille et illustre dans notre numero du mo's prochain. Cc numero sera aussi dedie a la Convention Americaine de Paramount qui aura lieu vers la fin du mois. C’est maintenant unc nouvelle definitive pour les autres douze divisions, que MM. York et Graham sont, ce mois-ci, en tete de liste. Au moment ou nous allons sous presse, il reste exactement deux mois comi)lets au cours descpiels vous autres membres des douze autres divisions pouvez atteindre I’ohjectif que vous vous etes doime [lour emporter cette part convoitee des 5.000 dollars. C’est le plus grand concours de notre histoire et nous nous attendons a une fin en coup de vent. On nous telegrajdne de Hollywood que PARIS IN SPRING (Paris au Printemps) cst la meilleure production musicale (pie Paramount ait tournee en ces dernieres annees. Vous ne pourriez recevoir de meilleure nouvelle que celle-la. Pareillement, nous recevons des rapports enthousiastes sur THE CRUSADES, dont la prise de vue est maiutenant terminee. M. DeMille edite en ce moment ce film aussi rapidement que possilde et la nouvelle dn lanccment du film sera donnee bientot. Quand vous lirez ces lignes, Jau Kiepura sera en route pour Hollywood. Les i)lans i)reliminaires pour son premier film indiquent que ce sera bicn definitivement un enorme succes mondial. Chaque jour nous parvienment des echos sur I’execution de THE BIG BROAI)Cy\ST qui sera d’un interet uni\ersel. Notre studio se rend i)arfaitement compte de nos Iiesoins en fait de films musicau.x et, certainement, on n’epargne aucune i)einc IKjur enrichir ce film de musique. fVEM. Lubitsch et Herzbrun nous ont informe de plusieurs facons de I’enorme importance de recevoir sans retard des rapi)orts precis et fideles sur les reactions que nos productions provociuent a I'etranger. Ce n’est que d’apres ces rapports qu’ils peuvent comi)oscr les nouveaux films quo nous avons a lancer. En consequence, nous sommes occupes a preparer un nouveau rapport sur les projections, rajiport qui de toutes manieres sera aussi important que les rapports financiers et personnels. Quand cette forme sera complete, nous nous attendrons a connaitre les appreciations de tons ceux qui aitpartiennent a votre bureau. M. Hicks se ])ro]iose de faire une declaration precise a ce sujet dans un avenir rajiproche. Les resultats de notre api)el pour une meilleure mise en evidence de notre “marque de fabrique” sont certainement encourageants. Nous ne devons jamais oublier les millions de dollars et les efforts sans nombre de])enses a faire de cette marque I’insigne cinematographique le micinx connu dans le monde.