Variety (August 1923)

zfr-Q^'^y-'-.i-;^^-^^-: 77"'v^T' • *■*■":" v.'Kr.E'-TraJW^'aeam:, PICTUR ^ " ■''•^•■IWiirtaay, Aiiguit 80, 192) RUSSIA UFTS PICTURE EMBARGO ™™'*>!!!E*!!!,'™E!!!!? SWEDISH FILMS COME THROUGH t; Pepartment of Commerce Cables—^American Films Still Banned—German Products Seriously Threat- en U. S. Output—Official Censorship in Ireland and Denmark—Denmark's Film Entertainment 70 Per Cent. American /i^' ■| ■f^- i"^^ X:-' rW'*?^" ..' Vari*ty-Ci!pper Bur««u. Evana Bldg-, Wathinslon, August 29. Russia, where the ban on pictures kJta been lo existence since way ' lMu;k In 1919 has finally raised thiB •mbargo and permitted several flhns fircm the Swedish company, Svensk Fllmlndustrl, to come through and be shown throughout Russia. Th4 Swedish company has already sold the rights In Russia for the film "Mr. Arne's Money" as well as for "Mollen," "Klostret Sendomir" and "Vorejarlen," states the Department ot Commerce from cables received form Assistant Trade Commission- er Sorenscn in Copenhagen. The department does not believe that this win mean a sudden rais- ing ot the ban against American films and it^may be years yet t«(ore Russl* will permit the itnportation Of this nation's product That the Japanese control the film Industry In Manchuria Is brought out In a report to the de- partment from Consul J. W. Ballan- tlne In Dairen who states that the city in which he is located Is the center of exhibition of foreign mode film*. The consul states that there are three picture, houses which offer programs regularly, the Koto Kalsha, a film company of Osaka, Japan, the Naniwa Kwan, which is under the direct management of the Nippon Katsudo Kabushiki, a film company of Toklo, Japan, and the Takara Kwan, which is supplied by the Teikoku Kinoma Company of Osaka except for one picture which is obtained from Shanghai. The latter theatre pays at the rate of 260 yen monthly for a serial film of 10 reels. The Kagetsu Kwan and Denki Kwan are two other theatres ]n Dairen that are rented occasion- ally for picture showings. The seat capacity of these houues range from €00 to 1,000 and the admission scale runs from 60 cents t« IS ceata In American currency « German Films In England German made films are making Inroads In the Americas films as •hown In Sheffield, England, accord- ing to another report, this from William J. Grace, stationed at that Pnglish city. He states that Amer- Jea ouppllcs now about 80 per cent. Bf the film shown, with England saving 20 per cent.. Fiance 6 per cent, and the other nationalities be- ing represented with about 16 per cent. The German productions, however, are going ahead rapidly and this cohdition is due to a great extent to the lack of variety in the programs offered. The consul notes a large falling oft In attendance at the picture hottses due mainly to three condi- tions, first, the financial condition, secondly the failure to show the best films and last the lack of vari- ety In the films shown, the latter probably being the most Important. The chief fault In this direction should be placed on the bool<lng agent rather than the producer, be- lieves Mr. Grace, who has talked to Diaiiy theatre managers who slate that when financial conditions were rood no diflUcuUiea wtie exverl- enccd In filling the th*atre with a worth while picture. Irish Free State And now comes the ofllcinl cen- sorship ag.iln with the Irish Free State setting up tliis bane of the producer effective In November un- der a bin recently passed by the Dull Eircann. ' The bill provides I6r tn«—Kp- pointmcnt of -an odiiial censer with an appe.il l-oard consistinp of nine commissioners to whom nn appeal may be made from the dccipions of the censor. The expense of the whole thing is to be borne by the exhibitors through ccnsorsliip fees being collected from them. Fines ,a^e. ,Ijr|DV|idcd for s^9^illg of picr ^ures not ofTiLially ccosorcd. These fines will run ns hi^h as t2r>0. and t2l for each day the offense ii; continued. All decisions are left In the censors' hands, nothing betng defined as to what he could or could not censor. The appeal board will be subject to regulations Issued by the Minister of Home Affairs. American Film in Denmark I The films produced In the United States have practically taken con- trol of the Industry In Denmark, the local production having decreased to such an extent that there remains but two companies i>roduclng in that country, the A/S Fllmfabrlkken ''Denmark, St Kongensgade 12, Copenhagen, and the A/S Nordisk Fllme Company, Vlmmelskoftet 45. Marlon Letcher, Consul General In Copenhagen,u-eports to the Depart- ment of Commerce that these com- panies claim an output of about 15,- 000 meters, or approximately 60,000 feet of film yearly. Imports from the United States have close to tripled In the last year, while those films made In Germany and England have decreased In a corresponding ratio. There is a film censorship oBlce that reports that during the year they had censored some 770,000 meters (a meter being 39.37 Inches) of motion picture film, and while this office does not sepa- rately record foreign and domestic films. It is estimated by subtraction that of th^ above amount 770,000 meters of It was foreign made film. The Consul General atates that now about 70 per cent, of The films shown are of American manufac- ture, the remaining being German and Swedish, with some little Eng- lish, Italian .and French films be- ing shown. These films are handled by the 21 domestic and foreign film distributing and exchange compan- ies In Denmark. There are four theatres with a seating capacity of 1,000 persons and over: two tljeatres seating 800 to 1,000; 40 theatres eeatlnjr from 800 to 600: and 241 houses with ca- pacities running to SOO persons and under. The American fHms are practic- ally all sold for the three Scandina- vian countries collectively, the pur- chasers later re-disposing of them to the exchanges in individual coun- tries. It was the advent of the American film that brought about the now universal system of han- dling pictures on a royalty basis. The only motion picture maga- zine published in Denmark is the '.'Kinobiadet" located at Copen- hagen. Note:—The censorship laws, Tnl- port rates, general conditions of the country and other statistical data for practlcallyjsvery country of the world can be secured from the Va- riety-Clipper Bureau, Evans Build- ing, Washington, D. C. CRITICAL OPINIONS BY NEW YORK DAILIES Variety weekly will give a digeek eif the opinions ip the , New York dailiee of the new picture* presented in the larger Broadway theatre* or a* spe- cial attraction*. With pictures and the lay critical opinion a* expreM*d by the dailiea' reviews, the pub- lished opinion may or may not be of value locally. A* a rule the lay reader* want to know what the etory i* about and the plotur* distributor or pro- ducer to use such extracts as he may believe favorable for the advertising matter. Usually a feature is often sochibited In other citie* befor* Broadway aees it, and the trad* ha* a direct lin* on it* box-office powers. "Daytime Wive*" "Daytime Wives" (P. B. O.), at (he Central, was swooped down upon by the dallies. Almost universally they condemned it. The "American" (Grena Bennett) gave if the benefit of a doubt, while the "Mall," al- though reviewing the film, would not express an opinion. (Miss Bennett of the "American," is also the pa- per's music and opera critic.) The Eleventh Hour" Without exception the early re- views this week of "The Eleventh Hour" (Fox), at the Cameo, said fair. To the reviewers it recalled the serial days, and all agreed the picture will satisfy those who delight In mechanical thrlBs. To the Last Man" "To the Last Man" (Paramount), at the Rialto, brought tittle praise from the daily reviewers.' The single hope was expressed by the "Ameri- can "(Dale), which said it was "rough stuff that landed," while the "Times" stated it is "the sort of a picture that causes many yawns." For a trade expression Variety (Sklg) classified the picture by say- ing It is there. The Cheat" The consensus in New York Mon- day morning was far from compli- mentary to this Paramount release as the dallies read. Some Included an emphatic slap at the star herself, having the "Herald" title it as amongst the "dullest, cheapest and most asinine": the "American" (Dale), "Miss Negri Is surprlatngly bad," and "Tribune," "A dreadful waste of time." The exceptions to the rule was the "Times," who fa- vorably reported Jt a* "Far above the average." MISS MINTEE'S VALUE' Los Angeles, Aug 29. The Paramount office here asked the HiHstreet management to re- lease them from the contract for the Mary Miles Minter picture, "The Drums of Fate," contracted for that theatre some time ago The picture is the current attrac- tion. ^The release was asked because of the alleged Increased rental value through the publicity recently given the star. DAVID SELZNICK'S C0.\ David Selznick, youngest son of Lewis J., has entered the producing field for himself with a company known as the Aetna Mctures Corpo- ration, with offices In-New York. The new company has started on its first release, "Roulette," by Will- lam McJIarg. S. K. V. Taylor is directing the production, in the cast of which are Edith Roberts, Mau- rice Costello. Norman Trevor, Mary Cnrr. Effle Shannon and Flora Finch. The Aetna's productions will be lelca.-jed through the Selznick Dis- tributing Corp. RODEO VO(iUE BRINGS WESTERNS TO FORE Coast Studios Reported Pre- paring Cowboy Subfects— Fewer Costume Plays Screen players arriving from the weet coast report a change In tastes for future releases. The western aubjects appear to be in for a revival, probably uue to the growing popularity of the rodeo as an outdoor event thnoughout the country. Tex Auetin's promotion at the New York Yankee Stadium gave the wild weet featunt a tremendous amount of advertising and the pic- ture producers are quick to take ad- vantage of it The fashion is rather new and a vast amount of picture material has been completed, so that the revival of western* 1* not expected to show in the release list until well Into the fall. However, the producers are given to playing follow-the-leader, and once the wild west fad gets a start they are all likely to go to It. One of the results which is begin- ning to appear Is the small number of costume plays scheduled for shooting. Leah Baird's Mother Dies I^s Angeles, Aug. 29. The mother of Leah Caird died last WMk. i TALK AGAINST ONE ANOIMi i .,■••;>?♦*'*■ t-^ Author* Attack Producers — Those Sdling Least Find Most to Grumble At—H. C Wells Terms Producers "Fools"—English Notes. ., Iiondon, Aug. 21. The authors recently made at- tacks on the film producers. T^ey were rude most of them, their rude- ness being gauged by the popularity of their works from the film pre- ducer** point of view. H. O. Wells described the despots of tbe studio as "utterly damned foola," despite his "KIpps" made quite passable entertainment when filmed. Marie Corelll had a wail to the effect that "the author and origin- ator of the story to be filmed does not matter," and various other peo- ple frothed at the mouth over the iniquities of the arch-fiend behind the megaphone. Some of the others, those who are not having such a bad time with __ Wardour Street paid royalties, found ]er8"much"and'he matterTso'much the Ignorant klnema folk quite hu-, «that the Jury in a case he recently man. Now the' directors have played the return match and their opinions on the authors have been given prom- inence. Maurice Givey, of StoUs, has found W. J. Locke's works to be not so much stories as themes and he has come to the conclusion that is the medium >ln which films must be ex- pressed. That Is a pat on the back for the creator of "The Beloved Vagabond." H. O. Wells, he ac- knowledges to be a genius, but he Is also an extraordinarily Irritable gentleman. Ian Hay and Gilbert Frankau seem to belong to that class of author who sells his book at the highest possible price and then refuses to bother, to advise, or help in any way. He ends by say- ing he has found it Is the authors whos^ books aefl least who grumble the most. Denlson Cllft has It that Wells Is only "partially right"; he then goes Into a catalog of the films he has personally i>roduced here and mod- estly acknowledge* that while his films from great authors such as Clemence Dane, Stephen McKenna, and A. S. M. Hutchinson were be- ing made the creators of the stor- ies expressed their pleasure and sat- isfaction. Which la quite a nice little bit. of persona] publicity for Cllft, and quite comforting for the authors who will now know lie at least is not cross with them. Several cth^r producers of vary- ing grades have taken part in the return match with the authors but the two quoted, the one an English pioneer and the other an American who has made good with every pic- ture he has made since, coming liere, are the pick of the tunck. The battle may go further; It ta to be hoped it will, for when the great one* enter the lists the littlings of the earth can get some entertain- ment. However, the fight goes, whether the producers bring the au- thors to'heel or whether they re- main the "utterly damned fools" H. O. Wells has found them, the fact remains that on the completion of a screen adaptation ot a novel the author Invariably writes to the pro- ducer saying what a wonderful film has been made and how delighted he Is. Such letters are generally pub- lished. ' They are Indeed good ad- vertising matter, while not seldom the producer has his own little cor- ner somewhere or other in which he tells an Interviewer what a fine help- ful fellow the author has been, and how he could not possibly have completed the picture without his enthusiasm In the cause, loving help, and kindly guidance. A genius, judging by his name he fs all-British but he does not harp on this In his advertisements, has discovered the royal road to film stardom and being philanthropic he Is offering fame and fo»tune to all and sundry at a very moderate charge. For three shillings you can have his full postal course on cinema acting. God sent mugs to keep these people alive, but the Burpri.sing thing about It is that the tutor should have succeeded In get- ting the most reputable general theatrical p.Tper In Great Brit.iin to publish his advertisements. The Leahy-Talmadge stunt has led to a crop of schools, a»d com-. p.anles but the latest "The (!;inema Co-Optimlsts" (Cine Co-Opa.) will require some beating. U to tl>e bright idea of the Malfry Film Com- pany (enquirlea fall to find anyone who knows anything about this firm), who la organising the Co-Ops In order that "all those who have helped to raise the klnema Industry Into the foremost position which It occupies to-day may share In the prosperity thcy have helped to build up." Apparently the Malfry concern is well among the helpers who are to share the. prosperity for fhey want £10,000 to form the Co-Ops. Subr ecribers for ai£' share are entitled to become members on payment of a yearly subscripition of ten shill- ings and sixpence. After parted they will be engaged for "crowds" and acting parts when possible, and they will share 20 per cent, pro rata of the profits. They can have as many shares aa they like. Only one of the namea attached to the pros- pectus of the optimistic charity mat* 4 brought for libel against an even- ing paper believed in him so much that .they stopped the case and re- turned a verdict for the defendants. The new Davis klnema. the Shep- herds Bush Pavilitfn, was formally opened by Sir William Bull M. P., Atig. 16. The orchestra Is under the direction of ttouis McLean and Q. Maclean, while G. T. Pattman la In charge of the organ which Is in- stalled under the stage. M. A. Dolin, Mile Thornton-Berry, and verlshka provide the vaudeville element. Ideal wOI probably handle thd Hepworth output In the future. George Cooper, whose contraof with Quality expired some week* ago, haa been approached with » view to producing a film starring Pearl White. If this eventually comes off the picture will be made in Paris, Gaumont will handle the last ser- ies of two-reelers made by George- Cooper for Quality. There are six of them, the scenarios being mostly adapted from original magazlnd stories. George.KIdgewell has started on "Beckett" for Stoll. The cast in- cludes Sir F. n. Benson in the title role. Alec Hunter, Percy StandlnK Clive Currle, Harry Worth, Sidney Paxton, Bert Darley, Knightoli Small and laobel Klsom as the "Fair. Rosamonde." The film has prac- tically been cast from the mcmbem Of the Klnema Club without havlnr resource to the monopolist agentai which la a atep in the right dlrec« tlon, ^ On the completion of the two pic-i tures she is playing In for Graham Cutis, one being a screen adaptation of Michael Morton's "Woman to Woman," the other an original story with the tentative title of "Tb* Awakening." Betty Compson will join the Stoll organization. "She wftl play Nell Gwynn in "The Rojciil Oak" to the Cromwell of Henir Ainley. The part of King Charle* will probably be played by GeraM Ames. — I t Is. working on a new a Walter West Is. working on a ne racing film, "High Stakes." The cast, as Is usual In all West features, is headed by Violet Hopson, the chief support coming from James Knight, Warwick Ward, and Mat- jorle Benson. Although one of the usual racing features made by this producer some original settings are promised In the production. CABANNE'S ATTACHIVIENTS Alexander Beyfuss' Checks Fioure in Two Suit* Two attachments we're filed in the New York Supreme Cour*. this week against the William Christy Cabanne' Motion Picfuro Trust. Ltd., by Jack V. Keenan and Frank O. AUman. Kcenan, a brother of Frank Keenan, claims $1,106.40, and Altman $2,950. A matter of chocks and "money obtained for personal use under ab- solute mlsrcpresen' itlons by Alex- ander Boyfuss," figure In both cases. Reyfuss was secretary and general manager of the Cabanne corpora- tion, Aj total of $8v050 Is alleged ewlnp both plaintiffs and Russell Evans, who has filed aupportlng affidavits.