Variety (Nov 1928)

Wednesday, November 14, 1928 PICTURES VARIETY EXPENSIVE LONG JUMPS 15,06000 l^et of FikDr^^^^^ Off in Foreign ExprlS% U. S. Distrib$inNinelonthsofi928 Washington;.Nov/13 ■ Another drop in, film exports has been recorded for the nine rnonths. elapsed of the current year. That drop is in excess of 15,000,000 feet according to figures from the motion picture section of the Department of Commerce. Fobtiige of postlives for current year is set at just above 153 million feet as compared with tl^is time in 1927 with 163 million feet. Checking geographically it is dis- clpsed that every section of- the woirld imported less. . footage of American films this year; than last \vith the best market'still rem.aihing in Liatin America. Even there a drop of 3,000,000 feet is recorded. Europe dropped a like number of feet. Far. East twice, as rnu(^h. . It was in this latter section that Con- gress was urged to send another trade commissioner as the drop was anticipated. Canada dropped 2,000,000 feet dur- ing the nine months in comiparison while the first four individual mar- kets, though maintaining the same relative positions as in 1927 dropped accordingly. Australia went from 21 million to 18 million; Argentina from 17 million to 15 million;. Eng land from 10 million to eight rhil lion. Only increase noted, and that less tha^'"500,000 feet, was in Brazil, actually the third best market, even topping England. Germany and Mexico moved up ,ln the individual market replacijig Canada and leaving Spain as .the eighth market. , Though France held its own dur- .ing the 1928 period departmental officials expect a considerable drop next year because of " the, no w ex- . istent restrictions that are just be ing applied. : Commenting it is stated: "Viewed from the standpoint of our de creased exports for the "first nine months legislation ■ has already proved sufficiently drastic and wide spread as to constitute a drawback to the continued development of pur .. foreign trade in motion pictures." 22 Par Dialog and Sound Features Listec i,03 Angeles, Nov. 13, Within 60. days, Paramount west ^ast studios will have completed or started production on 22 feature .length sound pictures. Ten of these will be air talker and the balance dialog and sound effects. ) The all" talking picture^ include "The Doctor's Secret," "The Cum my,',' "Tong War," "Close Har- mony," "Drums of Oude," "The Genius," an untitled Wallace iBeery, "The Concert," "Darkened Rooms," and three others yet untitled. ■ Pictures Including dialog, and Bound are "Shop Worn Angel," "Wolf of Wall Street," "Four Feathers," "Innocence of Paris," "Two Shall Meet," "Sins of the Fathers," next Jannings picture, "Manhattan ^Cocktail" and "the Canary Murder Case." Construction of Paris four new . sound stages is expected to be com- pleted by Jan. 1. 13 and Friday Los Angeles, Nov. 13. A coincidence prevails at the Pathe . studios where two 6t their current productions have 13 principals In each cast arid both started shooting on a Fri- day. ■' ■ : ^, With no intent of defying superstition, one of the pictures has already suffered a bad streak of luck starting with William Boyd'getting his head split and later breaking two ribs, while at the same time five other members of,the cast received minor injuries durin_ the filming of the war scenes. Added to this, Hovyard Hig gin, director, is confined to his; home with illness, making it .necessary to hold up produc tlon until recovery of the ill and injured. The other picture, so far. Is running along, smoothly.. Niblo Mentions Slight In Sound Film Making Lios Angeles, Nov. 13. There is. danger that In paying so much attention to recording arid producing dialog, the industry is losing sight of the chief factors that have made the picture the great entertainment it is-^primarily finely photographed youth and beauty, at tractive sots, spaciousness and charm of scenery, and composition —declared Fred Niblo. . The director is preparing for his first talking picture, and spoke as a critic rather than a maker of vocal productions. One of the outcroppings of sound pictures that particularly has struck Niblo is the palpable sacrificing of photography for sound. He cites the instance of one of the recent Jtalkers in which appear- two worinen of great charm but who on the screen, in his language, "look like the wrath of God." Another matter the director rheri- tioned was the not uncommon prac tice in dialog sequences of cutting oft a player's arm or even his shoul der. Fox May Discontinue Send- iiig Broadway Talent to H 611 y w o o d for Short Terihs;—Legit and Vaude People for Shorts Mostly in East-T—Fox's Three-Reel Feature^ "Napoleon' Showing Talkers in Small Towns, with 3-Hour Installation 1R O X Y A L L - S O U N D ? From Usher to Command Chester L. Stoddard, starting as usher In the Chicago Theatre, Chicago, has- been appointed di^* rector of Public personnel and a member of the home office executive cabinet. Stoddard began with the & K. houses in Chicago' June 1, 1925. "Jazz Singer" Repeats After Silent Showing " " Chicago, Nov. 13. Great States' Irving in Blooming- ton,-Ill.y-will-shortly--replay--i'-The- Jazz Singer," this time with sound. The silent version was In the . house only a month, ago. Sid's Suit Los Angeles, Nov. 13. Sidney Olcott, director, leaves this week for London to prose- cute his case against Eritisjh Lion Film Company for breach of con- tract. Ca.se to be called in December. "EVANGELINE'S" LEADS Los Angeles, Nov. 13 Edwin Carewe expects to start on '^Evangeline" with Dolores Del Rio Dec, 15 at Tec-Art studio. No one has been chosen for the part of Ga brlel. The adaptation, prepared .by Finis Fox, is completed. L. A. to N Y. Arch Reeve Jessie Wadsworth Carroll Peacock —-EirltzL Ridgcway..._ Vilma Banky Lucieri Littlefleld =^1"-Sawtcl lie——— Herman Wobber Jacob Wilk. ■ •• Al Ijewis. - • ■ . Georgette Corneal \^ Sam Behrendt Felix Young, Roy Pomeroy. Sidney Olcott. N. Y. to L. A. Virginia McGee. Bringing Broadway to Hollyvvrood s proving uneconomical to film producers. Time is the biggest factor with round trip carfares and salaries dur- ing the trips, beginning to pile into several millions a year. , But time, more froni the angle of snapping up sparkling acts in their leisure moments, converting them within a week or two into talkers and getting them on the screens before competitors, is be- ginning to change production geog- • ■ phy, ,)art.julany at the Fox homo office. One of the leaders in talker pro- duction, and most active in hand- ing out Hollywood contracts to Broad way ites. Fox la reported con-, vinced that New York Is the place to catch and make the big acts while they are hot. Thus Fox, it Is also heard, con- templates working his B4th street sounii sets overtime and . also re- I converting studio space in the 55th street building on which recently about $10,000 was spent establish- ing departmental offices. Wihfield Sheehan Is due here Dec. I with; the: expressed purpose of pushing plans for what, It is said, will mean 100 per cent Increase In talker short subjects for the com- pany's future schedule. The ma- jority of Fox shorts in the near fu- ture will be made In New^ork. It is gathered. The significance of the Increase, in one, two and three i-eelera Is indi- cated in a Fox house organ off ,the- press. this week. This contains a report of conditions purported to be existent on the road. One Foxite ex- plains the meaning by referring to houses in cities and towns which are low-run on talker features. This source sees such theatres relnvlg- orated and meeting competition by all-short talker programs, contaiu- infe big names. 3-Reel Feature Fox salesmen, It Is understood, will' make a play for such houses, endeavoring to sell them on the all- .short.p£Ogram. Such a policy in the Roxy'' herefollowing ; .'''rhe~ Red Dancer" Is understood by Foxites to be the handwriting of this intent! With Its new and temporary pro gram a three-reeler will be the fea- ture for the first time in. the history of any big film house in the Broad- way territory. "Napoleon's Barber" is now scheduled^ to get that play In the Roxy. . .. "What also Is a dominating factor in influencing Fox to produce In New York, despite tfie. Jt.OOO.OOO Hollywood sound layout. Is, conceded to be the activity of other talker producers In New York. Again It la declared that Fox, as well as his nearest competitors, have so intensively gone into the talker end they are beginning to realize that the vocal apparatus of the average Hollywoodlan, especlal- ty the hlf,'h-"pTicEd- stars;-ls not-so far below par compared to the high 1 y_ trainedjlegit yoIce, when It cornea to recording on film or disc for long length productions. l'"rom. what .can now be gleaned, [although final word for Fox will not bo. forthcoming until the arrival ol! hla production chieftain, few legit performers from now on will be sent to the we-st coast Fox lot.. Fca I ture work will be concentrated in Hollywood and these will Include many of the three r<>elers, but the 1 signing here of act* and of per MAXING IT SOFTEE Natives In a small town in Wisconsin aire bringing their ow-n cushions to the local 500- . seat cinema. The seats are old-fashioned and in bad condition. IND. PRODUCERS SOUND-BARRED BY HIGH COST LoS Aneeles, Nov, IS. Lack of sound, recording equip- ment and the uncertainty of the sight and sound market Is foVcing many of small Independent produc- ers on the coa.$t to hold up. Pro-. cluction for further developments.. " So far only one sound-studio is u?ing Western Electric equipment that the independents can rent and the fee for the use of this studio is .said to be around $2,500 a. day. Added to this, a royaltjf of '$2,000 per reel is assessed for the privi- lege of using the equipment. One , producer figured It would cost around $45,000 for synchroniz- ing a feature where It would only cost $15,000 to make the silent ver- sion. , With this condition t<i face, the indei)endents will have to" stay out of the sound field until some cheaper process can be found for them to work with. Buffalo, Nov.. 13. . : A plan to road show a talking picture program through the small towns of Western New York haip. been announced at Buffalo by the C, F. S. Road Sliows, inc., . under the direction of C. F. Savage! The outfit will exhibit In picture houses In the smair towns oh a percentage basis and offer a' full length talking subject as well as sevoral shorts on each program;^ Transportation will bo by motor' truck and a type of installation which can be appended to any pro- jection machine. It will require only two or three hours for wiring and installation. It Is claimed. It is reported that small town ex-- hibltors are.falling for the idea and that , a score of places have been booked for showings. Bernheim Now Ass't to Welch, Gen. Mgr. for U Log Angeles, Nov, 13. Robert Welch, general manager at Universal, has appointed as his assistant . Julius IJernhelm. The latter has just returned from six months In Germany, looking out for the Laemmle Interests there. Berhhelm, until three years ago, was genei-al manager at Universal City for two years. Welch has a contract with Carl Laemmle for the general managership post which haM almost three years to run. • New Orleans. Nov. 13, . A company Is In formation her© to present talking pictures In small towns with travelling equipment. Installation experts are authority Cor its feasibility. According to planis, the projection . apparatus will be. trucked from one small town to another in towna not large enough.to supp(?rt a per-, manent wired theatre. From accounts; seveh of the out- standing nationally adyei-tised talk- ing devices will he selected. Thejr will be played In each town for a v^eek with a changed bill nightly. Gotham's 1st Talking Shorts, Bristolphoned First three talking shorts to be made by Gptham will go Into pro- duction this week ait the Sonora- Brlstolphone studios, Waterbury, Conn., under the supervision of Sam Sax. May Copeland, Trlnl, and th« Four Nightingales wili be recorded, Harold Shumatex directing, Herman Heller, formerly head of the Vltaphone orchestral synchron- ization, has been appointed In charge of the musical department for Gotham. Tennis Challenge Lo.s Angeles, Nov. 13. Winners of First National studio's ifitrawiTural teimis tournament In- cluding Gregory. La Cava, John Mc- Cprmlck, Jerry Webb, and George Folsey, have challenged Para- mouht's crack tennis team Including Frank Tuttle, William Wellman, Oliver H. P. GpLrrett and John Monk Saunders to a match to be. set at an early date. TUENBUII., ASSO. PROD. Los Angeles, Nov. .13. Paramount as.slgned Hector Turn- bull ad an associate producer for Its west coast sound department fol lowing a new policy, establLshed by the studio, requiring executives In this department to work in close harmony tor the making of all fu- ture sound plctui-es. TurnbuU's first will bo "The Dummy" to be directed by Robert Miltonv-—: — ■.——— 20 Shorts on B'way More talking ohorts on Broadway this week than ever before with at least 20 to b© on view by Friday when two Paramount movleton* acts go Into Criterion. Metro adds four talkers to th« list today (Wed.) at the Astor. Other- houses playing, shorts ar« Warners, four; Paramount, one; Strand, two; Gaiety, one, and th« Bmbafjsy and Colony, two each. THICKENING FRIENDSHIP That's the Way they Talk ol Darcey and Lit* .Grey Roy Darcey, film actor, opens next Sunday at the Orpheum, Loa An- geles, on a Keith route. Meanwhile Mrs. Chaplin (Llta Grey), is also playing Keith.yaudo in the West and headed ISaat. Reports are that friendship of Darcey and Mrs. Chaplin is thick- ening. It may indicate marrlag* bells. • Leads in "Reputation" 'Principals ..In . Tiffany-Stahl'.s "iicputatlon" will be Belle lionnett, J(/e K. Brown and' Alma.ISenn^itt. Albert It'iy will direct from .';tory and continuity by Frances Ilighr land. 25 ROliES Dff "SATAir* ' .^^ Los, Angelo3,. .NQ,v. .13._. formers for short dur.'ition Tor JI'il- lywood, I.s now practifinlly t>;riiiiri- ated for Fox. .' First National's ',Seven Foot- prints to Satan" Includes In Its cast .f)vcr L'5' p'rinV;ipal role.s, record for i/iat ytuMo, Latest a'Milions to cast aro Krurik Au.stin and D'Arcy Cor- .rii,'ij.n. Uri.-:Uf"<-r-.ssful .sr-arth of the cast- in;,' f.l/icf! to find a featnred'player fi,r p.'irt ■ of Tn-ii'l to- rfrtUlted ;•: .■-••I'-ftiori of Th(.;nia .McNeil, ixn < xM u.