Variety (Dec 1927)

Wadn«sday, December 7, 1M7 PICTURES VARIETY FILM CRITICS' SECOND SCORE FILM CRinCS' BOX SCORE I Score as of Noveniber 30 (Batid •!! pictures r«view«d sine* Jun« 4, 1027) I K*y to abbreviations: PC (pictures caught); R (right); (wrong); O (no oiMnion oxprooaod); Pot (poroontago). W PC. Riohard WaHs, Jr. ^Herald TribttM") 36 Qoorge Gerhard ("Eve. World ") 38 John 8. Cohon, Jr. ("Sun") S2 Botty Colfax* ("Graphio**). Rogina Cannon ("American"). .100 Quinn Martin ("World") Si Harriet Underhili ("Herald Tribune"). 84 Wiilolla Waldorf ("Post") 5f Mordaunt Hall ("Times").. 81 Donald Thompson ("Telegram") 75 Joseph MoClliott ("Mirror") 70 Irene Thirer ("News")..... ••».. 84 Jeffery Homesdale ("World") 17 (Miss) Alison Smith ("World") IS R. 24 25 62 81 88 81 44 80 41 36 88 39 7 8 11 10 24 IT 82 18 84 16 28 82 fl 28 8 I o. 1 8 • 8 10 12 18 13 12 7 18 22 2 T .694 .658 .884 .609 .580 .564 .884 .509 .506 .480 .471 .464 .412 485 (WGAOO i* France* ICnraor) LOSAliaELES . PC. Loueiia Paraana CBxainlnav^). ;^.. 8t Jimmy Starr <^itecord")..,>.cVv*«.... 20 Eleanor Barnee ("News") 42 Sadie Mossier ("Record") 22 Edwin Bohallort (*'Tlm«ir)«V.^>«.^...* 81 "Exprees" (combined).•V»>i»««i>.,,^. 42 "Haraldi? <oopbi^)«MM>*••••••••••• 88 IBADE PAPERS . * ' PC. Vanoty • •'. »» ..188 "namson's Ropacti^. •••»•.•••••••*'•.. 32 "M. P. World...... 62 88. P. ^lo^MfS ...«•.•.........•.•...... 85 "Film Daily". ....••••»•••« t..* . 97 ''88«- P». TafOay**• ••,•«,••■•■•• •'.••* • ^v*-!* 8S, AVERAGES ON 133 PICTURES LOWER Chansea in Ratinga Eaat, Middle Weel and ComI— > RidMurd Jr^ Afai88 Leada New York Re- 4 FIRMS INTERESTED WITH PAR. ON eOHEROrS SOUND DEVICE M.-G.9 F. N«9 U. A. and P. D. C. Sharing Experiment ExpoiosoB—Fifiaro Should Bo No RoBtrielion aad One Installing Process to Cover Exhibs ^ ^ - ^ First of Coast Critics TRAD£ PAP£i(S IJi Variety's second film critics' box scoro ia baaed on 188 pioturoa and shows, three former leaders repeat- in« in their respective flelda. These are Richard Watts, Jr. ("Herald Tribune"), of the New York dailies, Carol Frink ("Examiner") in Chi- cago, and Variety amongst tbe trade papers. A new paoo-sotter ts I.ouella Parsons ("Examiner"), who has increased her percentage 81 points, to jump from fifth to first place In the Loa Angoloa aactan. A general lowering of percentages ia noticeable as regards the Man- hattan reviewers, with tha axcep- tion c: Quinn Martin ("World"), who leaps from 16th to sixth place on the strength of a 248-point in- crease, mainly dua to Uartla allml- nating no opinion reviews. Watts, in his repeat lead, haa lost 68 POtOla to register at .694. Variety haa acaln oha«lMii: At (CaBttniied on page 8) HAYS AND B'NAl BRITH Result of ''Kings'' Outcry— M.P.P.A. Pictures Bearing on Jews Go Fjrst Befpre Board As a result of the antagonism ot Jewish leaders to "Kings of Kings," Pathe-DeMille picture, Will Hays has arrived at an agreement with the Independent Order of B'nai Brith. Produotlona tfaaUng with Jewish subjects or characters will hereafter be submitted to the Order for approval prior to r elaaaa or dla- tributlaa by maaihafv at Om M. p. p. A Negotiations were carried on be- twaen Hays and Ho'h. Alfred M. t!dhen, president of the B'nai Brith, an Intornatlonal Jewish fraternal order with headquarters in Cin- cinnati. ■ - John Flinn. representing Pathe, ex-Governor Milllken o? Maine. Hays' aide. Cohen and Hays were liresant at tha first conference. Hays and Cohen met the following day for the final agreement. Loew*s Orders Cuts In. All Departments A notifleation Is said to* have been issued to all departments of Ijoew's that cuts in costs muat im- meiliutely go into effect. This order Is said to affect tha jastcrhead of each department, in- cluding the production dept., thai engages stage attractions for the I.qew's presentation houses. John McDarmott Back I^os Angeles, Dec. 8. John M'T)ermott. screen writer, has r«»turned to Hollywood after a three-month vacation abroad* Vita Kidding Big Sport Events as Radio Reported Los Angeles, Dec. 8. Bobby Bums Berman (B. B. B.), cafe master of ceremonies, signed to make six Vita phone recordings of burlesques on national sport events as radioed. The first one, the Tunney-Demp- sey count gag. Is already completed with Berman working in front of a prop "mike.'* Bryant Foy and Murray Roth ara writing (urthar material. JUSTICE DEPT. DEYES INTO CU'S FIUI ROW Investigation Aftermath of Op- erators' Strike—Non-Members of E. A. Were Refused Films Chicago, Dec. 6. Chicago's film row has been un- der investigation by the Depart- ment of Justice. Every exchange manager has been questioned, to- gether with Jack Miller, of the Ex- hibitors' Association, and the Chi- cago Film Board of Trade. Tha Invaatlgatlon Is an aftermath of the operators' strike, some time ago, when several theatre owners, not mambars of the E- A., were re- fused plctiaras by an allaged agree- ment CENSORSHIP AS PLANK IN NEH N. J. ELECTION JOHNSONS WALK OUT ON OWN HUNT FILM Dispute Orer Handling —Next Trip With Geo. lOEW-mx ] m Washington, Dec. 8. Local manni;er.s are wondei ing a.s to the Capitol (Loew). New York, and the local Fox bookings. Acts playing the Capitol are Jumping di- rect to the Fox here and reverse. This in spitf* of Loew having the Palace here in opposition to Fox. Gov. Mooro Staurts Moto, Republicans Agreeing— M. Pe X a Will Fifbt Governor MoOfO, of New Jersey, denouncing film producers for fail- ing to keep promises of clean pic- tures as far as his state is con- cerned, has not only started move- ment for tha creation of a New lar- sey Board of Censors but will make censorship a plank of his party's (Dem.) platform in the coming elec- tion. State censorship seems prac- tically certain since both the Demo- cratic and Republican parties have detarmlnad to pttt nattar into politics aa a promlaa to tha public. Before a gathering last week Gov. Moore said that the film pro- ducers had failed to keep faith. He named a number of pictures In which objectionable scenes had not been eliminated despite promises, and among tha featnrea waa altad "The Way of All Flesh.- The legislative body meets the end of this month when the cen- sorship plan la to be framed. Motion Picture Theatre Owners of New Jersey, advised of the move, plan opposition. The exhibitors contend that ainca New Jarsay the- atres are served from two zone«i, Pennsylvania snd New York, the pictures have already been cen- sored by the boards of these atataa. Bnt \hr New Jersey officials do not seem to agree with the Judgment exercised by New York and Penn- sylvania. Backers of the African explora- tion tour by Mr. and Mrs. Martin Johnson, undar auiiileaa af tha Smithsonian Institution, which took four years and 200,000 feet of fUm at an approximata axpenditura af 8400.000. hava daailiai anttiaat daal- ing with the picture people for gan- oral distribution and release. According to authentic report J. PomavaTt one of tha mHllonalra backers, advised against negotiating with any film comp«iny on the grovada that ttk9 lattar would try to taka moat of the praflta. Many other members <^ ttof jpraup agraad with Pomeroy. Tha SmMwanfaM haya antmatad cutting and titling to free lance workers. An attempt has been made to build a story around the flbliii* Expressing disapproval at the at- tempt of their backers to cut and market the picture themaelvea, the llMHi jraliMana liaya walkad mc, refusing to have anything fwrther to do with produatlaa at talaaaa of the film. .aMfnUn^ ii Trip It la miMratboi 8tat» inatfad, the Johiisons have signed to head an- other exploration party into Africa Wita George Eastman. This jaunt wm start early in January. Elaat- man is 74 and this will be the sec- ond such trip he has undertali^n in two yeara. Executives in ^arga of the Smithsonian film are meanwhile looking for a house on Broadway. The pletwa la a^ieduled for ahow- ing In around three weeks. ' In the footage taken by Mr. and Mrs. Johnson tbe Institution is in- tfliiiiiig iBMiy iMval ahota; anough to make a popular production with the proper handling and necessary exploitation. Closeups of an ele- phant Iwiil Iffa considered Exparimeata -lif^'^^Bait' Paramount, an 4 mm^' izatlon device fW i|Mta|!aa^ ing made under arlNjaliements bo* tween five of the big distributing organizations. Each of the firms are equally ahartag axpailiw«» With all to have the privilege «C using the sound device when it is perfected. The five companies are Paramount, M-G-lf, First NatioMi Viiltad tists and P. D. C. Pomeroy is working In conjunc- tion with engineers of General £lec« trie, tha hitter organlsattMi finding full co-operation with expectatioa of supplying all alactrloal aquip-i ment. Tha flhn eompiniaa UtH that sound synchronixatloa for effecta and musical accompaniment should be made available to all producing orgmnlsatlona thraoth ana ilaadiM machine. The idea Is that this would not restrict circulation and will also eliminate the necessity of exhibltoi% InataUing three or fdur dl«8Mt da- vioaa for varioua arUtiW '"Wings" Raaponaibia Distributing officials in the east fully realise the importance of sound affaeta to put orar a big pic- ture. The compaalaa faal that Pomeroy's effects, used for "Wings,* are aa good as any similar devica now on tha market, and that ona mora yaar of aspartmanttet WOI give them a superior machine. At the start, the machine will ba raatrictad to aound efTecta and mu« slcval accompaaknent, and sat M talking pictures. The compantea will watch the trend of tha "Ulklea* biiara awltching into this aagla. WANTS 10-REEL COMEDY Sennett After Releasing Terms for "Goodby Kiss"—Film . Not in Paths Contract tlonal while a scene of six or aaran liona ia reported a standout. ENGLISH DISTRIBS VS. EXHIBITORS COWHNE Mass for Jules Mastbaum A mass at St. Patrick's Cathe- dral, New York, wlU ba held for Jules Mastbaum thia (Wednesday) morning nt nine a. m. John Mcivcoa made tbe arrange* menta. In Battle Forthcoming, Com- bine May Break Up—Produc- ing Threat Feathery Los Angeles, Dec. 6. "The Goodby Kiss," super come<ly personally directed by Mock Sen- nett, will not ba relaaaad tlirough Pathe. Sennett la negotiating with releasing concerns and is h<rtding out for the highest bidder. It la aald Bennatt wahta tha prioa of the negative cost in adfSSWi Ma sharing terms to follow. This picture was not included In tha oontraet that Saaaatt haa with Patha. Ho Agurea that as this la a 10 reeler. and a personally direct- ed Mack Sennett product, one of tha bigger compantea should releaaa it aa a special. Sennett Is aow cut- ting and editing th^^plOtllCf. fMl around 18 reels. < , / Tx>ndon. Dec. 8. Film distributors held a meeting yesterday (Monday) ragarding the exhlbtior's booking combines and agreed not to do business under the conditions imposed. Exhib leaders aay tha diatrlbutors will not keep to tfcis, but aa com- Wne admits it can only reckon on 800 bookings at the mOSt to itart.^a romplnte nnrprt^w^. it Is cerUin distributors will all re- fu!^e to Hijpr»ly films nnd the exhlb combine will break up. There are strong r^imors that the exhlbltoro ara preparing to produce In case no films are available. I.,fif k of studios and directors here makes this a doubtful out.** Alexander Let Out by U—Says So Himself Chicago, Dee. 8. I... W. Alexander, man;ig*^r of I'nl- versal's Chicago offices, has been relieved of his post. In an inter- view with Alexander, ho told a Variety r'^port^r that he had not resigned, as rumor had it. Alex- ander was the only man In the en- tire Laemmle office under a writ- ten oontr.K t. The letout came as His first notice came when H. M. Il'tb'l, his hUcff^^sDr. liiri'l'il lilm •t If'tff'r (lir'^'ftlnK birn to turn over biii keys at 5 o'clock Monday. No friction had oerurred previously fi»'fw"cn t'ni\f'r ."^tl nnd Ale.\.m<lor. IfM ii is !)♦•».rj in l.'niversul « emL>loy fur ilie 12 yeura*