The Film Renter and Moving Picture News (Jan-Feb 1923)

’ possessed men of vision. February 10, 1923. THE FILM RENTER & MOVING PICTURE NEWS. 21 CELEBRATING PRODUCTION OF “THE PRODIGAL SON.” Stoll Film Co.’s Dinner at Trocadero. BRITISH PICTURES FROM ALL POINTS OF VIEW. N Monday, February 5, the branch managers and repre O sentatives of the Stoll Film Company, Ltd., met in London for a special: convention. The business part of the proceedings was followed by a dinner at the ‘Trocadero, the arrangements for which were in the hands of Alfred Lever, who selected a menu which gave the utmost satisfaction. Jeffrey Bernerd (managing director of the Stoll Film Company, Ltd., and joint managing director of Stoll Picture Productions, Ltd.), presided, and among those present were: Mrs. Bernerd, E. Temple Thurston, Alderman Trounson, W. Gavazzi King, BE. E. Lyons, Alderman Curry, Mr. and Mrs, A. E. Coleby, Maurice Elvey, George Ridgwell, Mr. and Mrs. Lever, W. P. Kellino, Sinclair Hill, Stewart Rome, Henry Victor, Miss Edith Bishop, Mrs. Hayden Coffin, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Hanbury, John Jacobs, Norman-Wright, Mr. Woolf, Pearkes Withers, Mr. and Mrs. Hood, Ernest W. Peall, Mr. and Mrs. Gillette, Mr. and Mrs, Fredinan, and a large number of members of the Stoll staff, as well as many representatives of the trade and lay Press, exhibitors, and others interested in the industry. Finance and the Film. Alderman Trounson, chairman of the C.E.A., proposed the toast of ‘‘ The Prodigal Son.’’ Heo said he wished to state how delighted he had been with the film. They were making an epoch that night. Neither Mr. Bernerd, with all his boldness, pertinacity, and perseverance, nor Mr. Coleby, had, twelve months ago, i. their wildest dreams any hope that they would have created a film. of the character which had been submitted to their inspection the previous evening. He congratulated both the producer, and those who assisted him, on having demonsirated that America was not the only country that He congratulated all concerned on the magnificent way in which the film was produced. He (the speaker) determined long ago he would never lose an opportunity of encouraging the production of British films. The Americans made this business for us up to a period, but he did not want England to have to go to any other country for goods for home consumption. | With the production of films like this they could feel that they were on the way towards making great productions that would satisfy the home market. There was every reason why they should encournge the production of these great films. He had always preached the doctrine of the community of interest. It involved the realisation on the part of the renter of certain fixed principles. And one of these was to make living human work within reasonable limits of the charges for the goods so that the exhibitor could gct a return for his money. There was no question that the super film had come to stay, and it had had an effect which some of them did not dream of. It was having its reflex in the provinces, where the super film was bringing in thousands and tens of thousands of people who had never dreamt of going to a kinema theatre. Otherwise their receipts would have been much lower. Producer’s Thanks. : Mr. A. E. Coleby, who was cheered on rising to respond to the toast, said: ‘‘ You cannot’ expect me to be very quick because I am rather overcome. “I cannot do more ‘than thank you all for your very great kindness towards me, both last night and to-night. There have been many difficulties to overcome in the making of pictures in England. It has been a very great thing to be able to achieve any success at all. All I want to say is that I want to thank those who helped me right from the top to the bottom, from Sir Oswald Stoll and Mr. Jeffrey Bernerd, down to Mr. Grossman, and still further down, if I may. say so, to the small boy who holds the numbers on the stage. Jiveryone has worked with a will that has enabled us to make the successful effort. As far as ‘The Prodigal Son’ is concerned I hope it will be able to achieve what the actual ‘ Prodigal Son * was supposed to have achieved, that is, come back with £200,/00, and perhaps a little bit more. I hope to have that £200,000, because I can see so many gentlemen looking at me very keenly who want to ‘ touch ’ a little of it. I only want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kind words aud kind deeds towards me during the production of this picture. I want to thank the chairman for his magnificent help, and everybody else. I don't wish to individualise, I am speaking collectively. There could have been no film if I had not received the assistance that has been given me.”’ Stewart Rome also suitably responded to the toast. An Opinion Confirmed. Mr. Alfred Lever submitted the toast, ‘‘Our Guests.’’ He said he must pay a personal tribute to Mr. Coleby for the excellence of his work. He first saw the film screened under conditions that were the reverse of encouraging. It was in Oxford Street, and the opinion he then formed had. been amply borne out by those who had seen the picture since. They were fortunate in being able to welcome that night men from practically all parts of the United Kingdom. They had among them exhibitors from Glasgow, Yorkshire, Lancashire, South Wales, and the Midlands, all of whom had come up to do honour to Mr. Coleby and his picture. He believed they had not been disappointed in the result of their visit. He thought they had registered that night another milestone on the road of progress in British kinema-photography. They were looking forward to great results from this picture. Mr. Coleby had produced a4 screen classic, aud they were there to celebrate the event. An Exhibitor on British Films. Mr. IE. Lyons, who responded, said he had always encouraged British films because he believed it was right and proper that our theatres should show such films on their screens. He was not prepared to decry the value of American films to British picture houses, as they owed to them 90 per cent. of the films they are able to show to our public. At the same time it should be stated that some of the earlier successes of the films shown in this country were British films made by the London Film Company. During the war our American cousins were able to take steps to improve their films, while the British producer had to wait until after the war before he could resume the work of making films in this country, and get back to his stride. Recently, the greatest films produced, with one or two exceptions, had been British films. He knew a theatre in London which recently showed a big film at which the takings were not far behind those of the greatest American picture that had ever been made. Good British films, properly presented, would