The Washington times., 1915-02-15
PHOTOPLAYS AND
PHOTOPLAYERS
Demands of European
Patrons Influence
American Film
Producers
N GARDNER MACK.

The reason cheap melodramatic
methods are SO freely used in the
making Of films In this country Is
that the people of Europe demand
them!
This surprising statement was
made few days ago by the repre-
sentative Of very well-known film
concern during the course of a con-
ference with the photoplay editor Of
The Times. He was asked why the
producers found 1t neces essary to in
dulge in such very cheap tricks in
the production of plays-to make
melodramas out Of things that were
not In the least melodramatic.
He unwittingly let the cat out of
the bag! The films that are being
exhibited to some 10000 900 Americans
every day are really made for tho
benefit of Europeans-and a consid-
erably smaller number of Europeans
at that.
He explained that in Europe the
audiences that 60 to the motion pic
ture exhibitions do not contain the
educated people who see the films
here. And, therefore. It Is necessary
to make Aims that will appeal 10
lower intelligence.
1t is the foreign business, there
fore that dominates the making Of
pictures here. In order to get into
the foreign market the American
manufacturer must cheaper the
story of his picture and the way 1t Is
acted; he must create impossible sit
uations, and so twist perfectly
good plot that it will contain the
maximum raw material for thrills.
Unless he does this. declares our
informant, his films will not be able
to sell in Europe. In America. he
continued, the name of the manufac-
turer and the stars in the plya go for
something. But in Europe these
names are unknown, and the fi!m
stands solely on its merits as a pic
this film man freely admitted.
This raises very curious question
in the mind of a person who has
seen quite a lot Of European Aim:
Why don't some Of the big Euro
pean manufacturers 60 after the
business in their own countries?
In other words--why do they con-
tinue to put out such good. logical
picture plays instead of the cheap.
ufacturers insist are necessary to
get them trade in Europe?
OF course. there are many Euro
pean manufacturers who are unrep-
resented in this country-whose films
we never see. But the firms that
have made the real money In Eu-
rope, the firms that have gained
fame and prestige all over the world.
confine themselves to the production
of real pictures.
We can discern in the French and
italian films a great deal Of panto-
mime frills that we do not fully un-
derstand-or perhaps want to UNDER
stand. But there can be no fault
found with the stories that are act
ed or the logical sequence Of events
they provide.
objection will naturally be made
to this statement on the ground that
We really see the Aims of very few
European manufacturers. That Is
perfectly true. The Pathe. Gaumont,
ITALIA. Cines, Hepworth. and one or
two others are about all that come
to this country-or that We see in
Washington.
We know that Germany. for in
stance. has producing companies,
hibited in this country. Spain has a
producer or two. and It is understood
that Russia has few-none Of
whom are known on this side Of the
water to any great extent. And 1t
may be that they are all producing
the kinds Of films that our American
friend claims his company must meet
In competition.
But the fact remains that with
10000. 900 American people going to
the Aim shows daily. in this country.
it would seem that a large enough
clientele is presented for the making
up Of an exclusive service. However.
the facts are stated for what they
are worth-and our Aim manufacture
ing friend really believes that his
concern and all the other American
manufacturers are doing perfectly
right. This probably explains the
popularity Of the French Pathe. the
Cines. italia. and Gaumont Aims
here. G. NJ.