Variety (September 1922)

- 46 PICTURES "V ;■ ■ • 4 Friday, September 29, 1022 KANSAS CENSOR BANS - SCREEN COMEDY COP Formal Resolution Adopted Also Puts Damper on . Booze Joke . Kansas City, Sept. 27. By a resolution passed by the Kansas State Board of Motion Pic- ture Censors, the motion picture comedy cop is doomed in that State. The resolution: "Any burlesque of an officer of the law, or any scene which would tend to create disrespect for any law, Federal or State, or mitigate against its proper enforcement, ahall be eliminated." Under this ruling, according to the members of the board, exhibit- ors are forbidden not only from .showing pictures making fun of po- licemen, but are barred from pre- senting any film which makes light of the prohibitory laws. Mrs. J. M. Miller, senior member of the board, speaking of the board's action, pointed out as an example of the influence of the screen the respect in which the Canadian Mounted Police are ,held by Juvenile patrons of the movies. "Their appearance on the screen invariably is greeted by applause from the children," Mrs. Miller said, "and the reason is that they have always been pictured in a way tending to create respect for them. This is far from the case in the matter of - policemen. There Is really no difference in showing dis- respect to the uniform of a police- man and that of a soldier or sailor. Of late there have been numerous scenes, particularly In comedies, making a joke of prohibition. These will bo cut from now on." FIRST NATIONAL FRAMES PLAN FOR FOUR PRODUCING UNITS Richard Rowland Has Worked Out Details Which Will Be Acted on at Chicago Meeting Next Week —Protecting Against Desertions JOHN B. ROBINSON'S UNIT John It. Robinson, the director who completed the Mary Pickford production of "Tess of the Storm Country" is In New York. >He is organizing a production unit of his own and completing the arrangements for the financing of the company. The indications arc that the As- sociated First National is going to enter the producing field. Hereto- fore, the organization has been solely an exhibitor organization for the distributing of pictures. Recent development with certain of the producers insisting on tremendous exhibition values being placed on their product have started the ex- ecutive committee figuring on pro- tectionary methods whereby the organization Will bo entrenched •gainst hold-ups or the deseition of any of the producers now releasing delivered, through the First National ex- changes. I Monday there is to be a meeting of the executivo committee of First National held in Chicago. At this meeting one of the principal topics will be the existing franchise and sub-franchises, and at the same meeting the advisability of entering the production field will be gone into. Within the last few weeks an ex- haustive plan of ^production has been prepared by Richard A. Row- land, which is to be submitted to the meeting. It is understood the plan advises the immediate organization of a producing unit which is to start work in the east. This is to be followed by the formation of at least three additional producing units to operate on the coast. Row- land's insight into producing was gained through his association with Metro as the president of that cor- poration, which was in both the producing and the distributing field would place him logically at the head of any producing department that First National might, decide to develop and maintain. There has developed of late a certain amount of feeling between the First National organization and Joseph M. Schenck over the produc- tions of Norma and Constance Tal- madge. The contract under which the Talmadgo productions are now being delivered fall for four addi- tional productions from each of these stars to the First National. It originally was for six productions each, and two of each have been FOX AND U. CLASH OVER "UNDER TWO FLAGS" Reported Trying Same Tactics On U. in Regard to Produc- tion as With Griffith William Fox and the Universal are said to be battling regarding the production of "Under Two Flags," which the latter company has just released with Priscilla Dean as the star. The U. picture*^ playing the Strand, New York, this week. About six year8 ago Fox made the same story with Theda Kara. It is on the question of foreign rights that the two companies have split. Fox with his productions holds the copyright for English dis- tribution and is trying to compel the U to pay a price for the rights to release abroad. The situation is Under the present conditions, it is believed that after the contract is completed Schick will throw his lot with the Metro people, which is becoming considerable of a factor In the field through the acquiring of a number of important outside producers and directors. With First National, Sehonck's Orphans." contract calls for an advance of I The Universalis appealing to Will $350,000 on delivery of negative on' 11 - Hays to havtf him act as the the Norma Talmadgo productions,' ]| head of an arbitration committee to he receiving the shore end of a' P<> OV€,r lho question and to render 76-75 split until the First National * decision gets back tho amount advanced. On ANTI-CENSORING PLANK ASKED OF PARTIES Committee Attending Conven- tion at Syracuse Hope for Democrats A delegation of the New York State M. P. Theatre Owners, headed by Charles O'Reilly, president of the organization, and S. Ii. Berman, sec* retary, is in attendance at the Democratic State convention in Syracuse today. Wednosday they wero In Albany to appear before the Resolutions committeo of tho Re- publican convention. The purpose^ of tho lobbying in tho conventions is to have both parties if posBiblo, placo an anti-censor- ship plank in the platforms for the coming elections. There was little hope expressed in regard to a pos- sibility of obtaining this concession from the Republican party, but it was felt the Democrats might in- clude such a plank in the platform, adopted at tho Syracuse convention either today or tomorrow (Satur- day). • Attending the conventions with Messrs. O'Reilly and Berman are Bou Blumenthal and Will'am Brandt, of the T. O. C.. C. of New York City. It is possible that tome simlliar as the one existing between Fox and D. W. Griffith over tho" 8ort of a trade might be made he- foreign rights to "Che Two tween the oxhibitnrs and tho State committee heads for cooperation in the coming campaign in return for consideration of an antl-consonhp plank. SCREEN ACTRESS WOULD END (►•YEAR APPRENTICE CONTRACT "Mary Astor's" Father Asks Court to Annul Inden- ture to Harry Durant—Latter Agrees to Make Girl Star—-Shared Salary Justice Philip J. McCook has re- served decision ' on an application Cor a temporary injunction restrain- ing Harry .Durant, theatrical pro- ducer, from interfering with the employment bymoving picture con- cerns of Lucille Langhanko, 17- ycar-9ld "Mary Astor" a*s she It known in the movie world, who was indentured for six years to Durant, a friend of the family by tho girl's lather in November, 1920. According to the statements made to the court by Edward G. Marks, counsel for the girl's father, in tho letter's capacity as her guardian, Durant was to give her instruction in histronic art, and to prepare her to become a film star. The terms of the indenture were that she was to get $100 per week when she be- came an adept, and any excess over that salary should go 25 per cent, to Durant and the balance to her- self. Work was secured for her with the Famous riayers. and the task of instruction begun. How- ever, other offers for the girl's ser- vices were made—one by the Dis- tinctive Productions, Inc.—but they were confronted by tho Indenture contract with Durant. The father of the girl contends Durant misrepresented matters to him, and that he never secured any positions for his daughter; in fact, the only work procured for her, it was claimed, was through the in- fluence of the father, and that Durant was building upon the fu- ture possibilities of the young woman's becoming a success, Philip Wittenberg, counsel for Durant, stated that the picture stars of today "are not actors Or acfresse.i. ),nt are plastic luuti moulded in" ihape by ihe ideas of the director." He said Durant,was willing she should receive work from other concerns, but as Durant had advanced large sums of money to the girl's father, he should bo made to livo up to his part of the contract. AMERICANS IGNORE ENGLAND'S OFFERS Screen Players Themselves Solve Problem of the Producers The new problem facing film pro- ducers of competing salary offers to American screen stars by British producers appears to be solved by the actors themselves. Frank Zeit- lin, former F.nglish legitimate agent, snd now representative of London film Interests, sailed Sept. 23 for home after several months on this side, where he made attractive of- fers to a score of leading American screen players. He went bark without signing a .single "name." It is reported he failed even to secure a favorable Interview looking to a future en- gagement In English pictures. The American Stan took (he attitude that their future in the A Held was assured now, and they were making headway at home. They did nor cars to talk or* ai nee that Might dim their prom- inence with the home Cans, Keit' ; u d< pai | I, i. •■' rh.it he would i•«' urn in a U vv moi to continue his ■ orj : ■ . ly,n up Am< r; ,i i his 25 per cent the amount he re- ceives applies to the $250,000 that he is to get on tho long end of a 75-25 split on the gross obtained after the $350,000 is repaid. After Schenck gets his second $250,000, both he and the organization split 50-50. With a distribution cost amounting to 27 per cent, this means that the attractions will have to gross $850,- Q00 each before the First National gets a chance to break even. On the Constanco Talmadge productions the same arrangement applies ex- cept that the initial advance on negative is $300,000, with the second payment $200,000. These two stars are about the strongest attractions In the way of box office attractions that First Na- tional has on its list at this time. If Schenck should dccldo to withdraw after his contract is completed It would leave the organization short on star names. Another producer who, seemingly, is ready to step away from First National after he delivers two addi- tional pictures that his contract calls for. Is Louis B. Mayer. There are two additional John Stahl spe- cials to come from his studio to the company. After that thero is no further connection. In the light of tho contract which Mayer has al- ready made with Metro to delivers to them the productions directed by Fred Nlblo. It seems quite possible that he is preparing to cut away from the organization with which ho first started as a producer with the Anita Stewart productions. In ad- dition to Stahl and Niblo, Mayer has Reginald Barker under contract, and that director has just completed "Hearts Aflame," for which no re- leasing arrangements have been made. First National and two other releasing organizations are reported as in the field for the picture on tho strength of the reports on it from the coast. Niblo is now on his first produc- tion to be released through Metro. Instead of it being "Captain Apple- jack," as first announced, it is to be "The Famous Mrs. Fair." with "ApprejAck to follow as the second feature to be released under the new contract. At the Chicago meeting at which t*ie new proposition of First Na- tional joining the ranks of produc- ers is to be dlscus.scd, Ilow'and will not attend. The advisability of this PHULyS MIDNIGHT SHOW Philadelphia, Sept. 27. Tho Stanley Co., of late weeks, has been starting its week's bill at the Savoy at midnight Sunday, opening at 12:01 a. m. While it has not attracted any especial business or attention, it is said the Stanley Co. thought if might be a good try and at the same time give a little box ofllec pressure to the Savoy, which has needed it. LINDER RETURNING Tar in. Sept. 23. Tja Revue •Suisse du Cinema, a Swiss trade organ, publishes an in- terview with Max Under while so-» journing at Lausanne. "I wanted to executo a big cos- tumo film in France," explained Max, "but the French studios are so badly equipped,.compared with the American studios, so I am re- turning to tho United States to put my plans into execution there, and I feel quite sorry. I don't want to do any more ultra-comic reels." FILM PRODUCERS RUSH BIDS FOR B'W A Y STAGE SUCCESSES Belasco Disposes of Rights to One Play for $75,000 —Urgency of Demand Brings Tenders for Cur- rent Hits with String On Release Date A rush on the part of screen pro- ducers for the film rights to plays within tlie last two weeks Indicates that thero must be a great lack of good screen material. In addition to the plays that were produced last season producers are trading right in on the new productions of the current season and making offers. In tho matter of new productions, as one producer's representative in New York put it this week, It is better to step right in after the opening of a play, if one can figure picture values and make a bid for It before it establishes itself. Through this a price can be obtained lowei than the screen producer would have to pay after the play is a hit. Time Limit Fixed The bidding has been so spirited on picture rights that tho Hcrcen producers, are taking the rights to productions with the understanding that they are not to release until certain dates in the future. Such was the case with the Famous Play- ers and Sam H. Harris In the matter of "Nice reople," the film of which was shown in Boston in violation is seen through the fact that the 'of the release date agreement and question will K e argued out before was withdrawn when the theatrical an unbiased gathering. While if Rowland was present It might he construed that he was urging the venture. Just what the trend of tho dis- cussion on franchises is to be is not • -.I. hut the distribution pJlOSJ of the First National la to be thoroughly gone into \\.-'.< the pos- dbility of a new methcif <>f dis- tribution worked out befov< end of the meeting. Phil Abrahams in now purVhaalng • nt w ith ihe New \ , | "First National. producer threatened action. Tho rights to "Captain Apple- jack" were sold by Sam Harris last week wlUl the understanding that it was not (o be released in New York untu next year. There was a hitch in tli..; sale that for ;i liim !■ •'• .i tho Louis B. Mayer organization by Maurice Revcnes who'acted as agent for Sam Harris. When the sale was announced the American Play Co. stated that it, as agents for the author, had not been consulted and they offered It to the Warner Bros. An arbitration meeting was held on the question with the agents finally agreoing and the Mayer sale was confirmed. The price was in excess of $50,000. $75,000 for Belasco Play Because of the hitch which tied up 'Captain -Applejack" and the fact that the show started a new business spurt at tho Cort theatre while the adjustment of the Con- troversy was pending, the release date on the picture was altered so that it cannot be shown generally about the country until after March 1, 1923. Originally it was to have been released in New York by Oct. 1, and generally throughout the country by Jan. 1. Therefore, in- stead of this being tho first produc- tion directed by Fred Niblo that Mayer is to releaso through Metro, tho pleturization of "Tho Famous Mis. Fair." which ho also secured, will be substituted. This week the Belasco office is re- ported as having disposed of on" of the plays held by tlyun at a price around 176,000. The title of the play and the purchaser Were hot dis- closed on Tuesday when the deal M ;.aid to have been consumated. .•is though it would wind Up in the courts. Several weelts ago FjouIs U. Am Independent stag" producer with .1 production that he opened Mnyer announced thai he had the I one house under one name tin. ; <■:■■ rights to film the play. 8ev ral du; son and Which after meeting with later it was stated tl^.it he had not secured the rights and there was n possibility that the Warner Urota. would acquire the Property. Originally the deal was made'with very mediocre success, was moved to another house under nno-thcr title, is said to have turned down throe offers for tho screen ji i' s Immediately aftel Ihe*0p4hmg. '