Variety (Oct 1927)

10 VARIETY PICTURES Wednesday, October 5, 1907 SIR OSWALD PANS US (Continued from page 3) ium full of early English scenes which are a joy to travelling Amer- icans—magnates of your American picture industry, if they will look at the picture at all, will require it to be cut and carved about In an extraordinary manner in order to make It conform to so-called Amer- ican essentials, until the picture ceases to be recognizable as either British or American and is only fit to be thrown on the scrap heap." The titled Englishman takes a ■hot at Hollywood with the com- ment "it cannot concentrate Into' Hollywood the soul of the Ameri- can people. Look at the Hollywood pictures critically. Be their char- acter and the skill in their execu- tion what they may, what do they express? Nothing but the monoto- nous, hectic, small soul of Holly- wood itself." Sir Oswald arrived on the Ma- jestic Sept. 21 and broadr 1st his apeech a week and a half later on Oct. 2. In the intervening 10 days, the foreign showman may have been very active In trying to dis- pose of British product over here and may have not been so success- ful at It. Second Thoughts Registered It is understood that Sir Oswald made some last minute revisions of his speech on the Saturday before the Sunday broadcast. What these changes were is open to conjecture. By the National Broadcasting Co.'s (WEAK) rule it is Imperative all speeches be submitted in written form, not for censoring as much as a desire to be careful of the matter that Is sent out over the largest American broadcasting service's wires. "I'm here principally to study the picture situation," aaid Sir Oswald Stoll, British film man, at the Plaza yesterday. "It wouldn't be true to say that I'm trying to place product in this market at this time, because selling British pictures In America brings one up against a stone wall. "You are tremendously prosper- ous, of course, but It seems to me that, like all business in a state of flush prosperity, I think the picture Industry doesn't always take (notice of where It Is going." Sir Oswald spoke over the radio Sunday night. Llsteners-ln asso- ciated with the American picture trade got the Idea from some of his observations that he resented the lack of interest here in product Xrom Encland. The titled showman said he was seeking to understand the American attitude in an effort to aolve the problem of Introducing British product, rather than trying to crash Into a direct sales campaign. The text of Sir Oswald Stoll's speech follows: "What the Romans did with armies Americans are attempting to do on a greater acale with motion pictures and finance. The aim is no doubt magnificent; but la It wise? It was because Rome had conquered the world that the de- cline and fall of Rome took place. My argument might be projected across a very wide horizon, but 1 trill limit it to motion pic tures. May not the last state of the American motion picture Industry be worse than the first, if those who aim at control of It should succeed in wiping all other pictures oft the screens of the world? Would not the American picture industry Itself then decline and fall from within, because its pictures would have lost their savor from lack of variety, which is the spice of life? "Lack of variety in the under- lying Ideas of motion pictures can- not be atoned for by expensive Vaudeville acts being added to pic- ture programs. Vaudeville itself had to get supporting acts from every country before It found secure support in any country. More daring sexuality in pictures, more lavish expenditure on pictures, are not antidotes to the creeping paralysis of monotony. The novelty of the pictures was the true founda- tion of the industry. Technical skill came after. Early American pic- tures were puerile to a degree al- most comical. Yet, in their day, these plclures took the woi 1.1 by •torm. They scored and continued to score, by their novelty. British pictures and many foreign pictures today are far In advance of any early American pictures. Therefore It Is not too much to claim that they would score In America by reason of the amount of novelty that they contain for the people of the United Elates. The growing mo^oton American pictures must have made non-American pictures distinctly novel wherever exclusively Ameri- can pictures have been regularly shown. "Why should these more novel pictures be denied to the American public? Why should those who are supposed to have the Interests of the American picture industry at heart exclude from the screens of America pictures from anywhere? In doing so they are calling a halt to American progress because It was facts and Ideas from every- where, brought by many people from many lands, which provided the nourishment for so rapid a growth of the American people Into a great nation. How different it would have been if the facts and ideas peculiar to other countries had always been excluded—America would not even have been dis- covered ! Cites Historical Film "There exists a fine British mo- tion picture of the Roman period in Oreat Britain. It is given dramatic interest by the story of Boadicea, the British Queen of the Iceni, who led the revolt against the Romans. It was produced under the careful supervision of authorities in his- tory. It does not contain crowds so large as a picture like "Ben- Hur," but it is probable that the entire population of Briton was not much larger than the "Ben-Hur" crowds, at the time A. D. fl, when the action of the Boadicea picture took place. The Boadicea picture contains crowds large enough to serve historical accuracy. It is at- tracting large modern crowds now wherever it Is being shown In Great Britain. Nevertheless the American public is supposed not to want to see it and they are there- fore to be given no chance to see It. "That the American public do not wish to see a picture of this char- acter I am sure is not true. Travel- ing Americans who are a fair sam- ple of the American public take the keenest possible interest in all an- cient subjects set before them with authority. They do not wish his- tory to be discarded merely because it will not lend Itself to the latest fashions or respond to special ef- fects of technical devices appropri- ate enough to modern conditions. "In August this year I was in Stratford-on-Avon in what Is called Shakespeare's country—during the Shakespearean Summer Festival. Of the crowds that contributed to the success of the season I was told that 75 per cent, were Americans. I observed that Americans were the most diligent frequenters of the performances of Shakespeare's plays and that they probably contributed more than 75 per cent, to the Fes- tival Theatre takings. "Enemies Within" "Is it to be supposed that the American public generally, of whom that fair sample was so ready to spend time, energy and money to make themselves better acquainted with British life and times, man- ners and customs, past and pres- ent, are not ready to receive with open arms pictures of such profound historical Interest as one depicting the scenes and events of the period of Boadicea? I believe—and I say It wilhout the smallest desire to give offense—that the unconscious enemies of the American picture industry in which such vast sums of American money have been sunk are the people in the Industry who cause the exclusion of British and other foreign pictures from Ameri- can screens. "I believe that ultimately It must prove fatal to the American Indus- try to limit American screens al- most exclusively to American Ideas, or rather to Ideas that are not American in a national sense, but belong only to the limited group of Americans who aim at monopo- lizing the production, distribution and exhibition of motion pictures. Hollywood's Soul "When I was at Stratford-on- Avon I went over the house where Shakespeare was born. 1 went with several parties of Americans. Not one member of any of those parties made the suggestion that the birth- place of the poet ought to be brought up to dale by an installation of all the latest modern domestic Improve- ments; not one American present offered to defray cost of such an act of vandalism. The quaint old house — antiquated but eloquent — was taken for Just what It was by every American there. It was treated with the deepest Interest, almost with reverence. ' "Now mark this contrast If a BETH CHALLIS Held over third week, "Branford," Newark. "VARIETY" says: "Beth sings her numbers delicately with a clean sense of fun, and gets over so strong that she stops the show for an en- core. Then does a ballad and goals them."—AUSTIN. Miss Challls also appearing night- ly at "Sliver Slipper," New Y'ork, Exclusive Okeh Record Artist. British motion picture is brought to America to be sold—a picture full of quaint scenes the like of which do not exist and never did exist In America—a picture full of early-English scenes which are a joy to traveling Americans—magnates of your American picture Industry, if they will look at the picture at all, will require It to be cut and carved about In an extraordinary manner in order to make it conform to so-called American essentials, until the picture ceases to be recog- nizable as either British or Amer- ican and Is only fit to be thrown on the scrap heap. "That Is not the way in which the American public who travel widely would treat British and other for- eign pictures. That American pub- lic would like to see British pic- tures as they are, not as they never can be. When one sees traveling Americans so deeply impressed by English villages, country towns and historical buildings dating back centuries and when one remembers how the actual scenes of the past, cast in the same mould, animated by the same spirit, may be made to live again in moving pictures, one can but protest. In all humility, against the grave wrong that is being done to the psychology or mentality of millions of Americans who are not free to travel abroad and yet are denied the chance to view pictures which could bring this old world as a new world before them. "The principle is bad. To take from a people the chance to realize truth by comparisons—to force their minds Into fixed and narrow grooves—is hardly playing the game with Providence. In the nature of things, It must retard what the poet Tennyson calls "that one far- off divine event to which the whole creation moves." "Kree exchange of motion pic- tures Is necessary for their own welfare and for the welfare of all countries. It would teach the world for the good of mankind that every nation has a living soul, which lives on though Individuals perish. "The souls of all nations cannot migrate to Hollywood at the bid- ding of short-sighted picture eco- nomics. And what of the soul of America alone? America lias great powers of concentration. It can concentrate into a single building a working population of 10,000 people, the number to which a whole State should be limited, according to Plato, the Greek philosopher, w ho still Influences modern statesmen. "It can concentrate Into Wall Street power to control, In Invisible ways, not always for good, the life of every American citizen. But it cannot concentrate into Hollywood the soul of the American people. Look at the Hollywood pictures critically. Be their character and the skill In their execution what they may, what do they express? Nothing but the monotonous hectic, small soul of Hollywood itself. That Is far from being in truth the great soul of your wonderful, spiring country and people. In DOHERTY WITH HEWSREEL Dan Doherty. In the publicity de- partment for Fox, has been trans- ferred to the news reel desk, under the supervision of Truman Tally, ttpoh request by the litter. ORPHEUM REPORTS DEFICIT OF $65,758 FOR SIX MONTHS Quarter Million Surplus for Period of 1926 Turned to Loss in 1927—Stock Near Low Ebb at 25— Paramount in New High Move, 110% Progressive weakness in Orpheum on the New York Stock Exchange was explained yesterday when Its Income statement was published yesterday, showing deficit for the six months ending June 30 of $65,708, compared with a profit to surplus for the same period of 19*26 amounting to $296,537, common divi- dends at the $2 rate considered in both cases. The stock of the circuit sold yes- terday in New York at 25 within a fraction of its low of 24% recorded in a brief dip several weeks ago. Last spring the quotation was as high as 85, moved up to that point, It was believed at the time, by a pool operation. Wise stock with advance information of the com- pany's business has been coming out gradually all the way down. Players in the amusement stocks were try- ing to figure a relation between the Orpheum's gloomy showing and the drive against Pathe recently, when the film Issue, associated with the vaudeville interests, gave way to 20 under vicious attack. Paramount's New Top Paramount went further to justify predictions of Its partisans that It was In for a vigorous upturn. It was at a new peak for the move- ment yesterday at 110%, but halted there and gave ground below 109, representing a pause from Its too rapid advance and probably some profit taking by out and out specu- lators who got in around 103 where it held for some time. Fox responded to publication of favorable news In Its statement showing improved balance sheet position and encouraging reports of profits on a good scale from Roxy and from release of such pictures as "What Price Glory," which now go into general exhibition where the quick returns begin to show. The Fox stock is making friends among those who looked askance upon Its prospects when it was under clique pressure during the summer. The operation In Warner came to a sudden halt around 30 and quo* tatlons eased up several points with dealings fairly active yesterday close to 28H. Warner Is said to have a good statement in prospect, although what that would mean to the Intrinsic worth of the issue Is a question. The stock Is so obe- dient to the will of Its manipulators that its movements mean very little. Last summer it Issued an Income statement showing a deficit of more than a million, and right on the heels of that began Its astonishing move from 12 to 70. Under the cir- cumstances a declaration of improv- ed condition wouldn't mean much. A curious state of affairs was re- vealed In last week's dealings. While the Warner stock advanced from around 22 to 30, the concern's notes on the Curb were up sharply. Pathe bonds also were weak, falling nearly 3 points. Low Down on Op. Orpheum actually earned for the six months reported 87 cents a share on its 549,170 shares of common, compared to the $1 it paid in divi- dends for the half year, or an excess of disbursements of 13 cents a share. In 1926 for the first six months the new amounted to $1.63 a share, or an excess of profits over disbursements of 63 cents. Com- parison of the two years follows: M27 1926 Gr receipts ...$8,123,796 $8,509,579 Other lnc 703,888 940,389 •Surplus. tor UM week endinir Saturday, October 1: 8T0CK EXCHANGE High. u 17514 109 7414 2314 6W4 <•■■■, as 114% 124* 43* 12 OS MM 4S14 at ino* Ulfili 10014 I M , low. 41* 12814 08 BO 2014 **% 614 2414 92 I i r, 20 4 58 08 20 a* lot »2'4 80 luuc and late. Hls-h. 6.300 American Seat (4) 431s 8.000 Kastman Ko«k (8) 172 100 First NaUonal pref. (81 100 10,000 Fox class A (4) 7l>% 23.100 Madison Square Garden (1) B.".*4 9.400 I..HWS, Inc. (2) 6,">44 3.300 Motion Picture Capital 8'4 2.300 Orpheum (2) 28\ 48.400 rar.-Famnus-Lasky (10) MSU 400 do., pref. (8) 121% 4.r.no Pathe Exchange (1) 24 4O0 do., common 3 000 Fhubert (5) 81 Vi SO Universal Pirtures 1st pref. (8).. 99 19.500 Warner Brothers , . a< CURB 17.ROO For Theatres 20 Low. 41"* 18714 ion 8754 63S, 62*4 2«* 9.90© Warner Brothe BONDS $8,000 Keith «s, 1046 83.000 Um Ss •s.ono rathe 99.000 Warner ll-others 81is (Gere*,,. 20>4 100 10414 or. 93'j, 44 8014 98 mt 18 IS*. 99\ lonf MS 90 La ft. 41-» nut 10O •mi* MM K<% 7% 2li% 1 IB*. 121% 2:04 4»» 27'4 20 1011 99% 101 91V1 m Net °*?V4 + H ■4'srvi |f + 14 - u + * 41 -214 - 14 +,* 3"4 •F-jt-dividend. Lotiv bonds ex-warrants sold 147.000, 100>4, 99V4, 100. 414. ISSUES IN OTHER MARKETS All Quoted for Monday Over the Counter New York Quoted In Bid and Asked Paler .... Boxy. CI. A. (See note) (3:Vi).. .. .... t'nlt do .... t'nlt do De Ports! Pliono .... Technicolor Philadelphia 1»8 Stanley Co. of America 8.V4 Chicago 220 Balnbnn * Kat* 00', St. Louis 5 Bkouraa Bros Asked 40 11 « « (81 ■ Class A Roxy represents the pref. stock alone. The first unit Is the preferred, carry- ing it* gift of one-third »haj-e o[ common, and a second unit c.uoted la the common per ■hare. Helene Costello Bride Los Angeles, Oct. 4. Helene Costello, screen actress, was married to Jack Reagan, scion of a wealthy family In Washington, D. C, Sept. 29. The ceremony was held at the Costello home in Bev- erly Hills, with only members of the family present. >. The match was the culmination of a romance of 10 years ago In the Kast, when both were children. Miss Costello Is the daughter of Maurice Costello. veteran picture actor, and a sister of Dolores Cos- tello, film st: VAN DYK REPLACES PAT0N Los Angeles, Oct. 4. Stuart Paton, directing "The Dogs of War'' starring Ralph Forbes for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, was taken oft the picture after a week of shooting. W. S. Van Dyk was signed fk finish the picture. Lorraine Eason Gets Lead Los Angeles, Oct. 4. Lorraine Eason will replace Jo- sephine Borio In the feminine lead In "The Swift Shadow," FBO pic- ture starring Ranger, the doc. un- der direction of Jerome Ptoim.