The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-11-01
GERMANY TO SEEK
us. MOVIE MARKET
Colossal Productions, Costing
Over Million, Filmed for
Release Here.
By FRANK &c. MASON.
Iateraational News Service stair
Correspondent.

BERLIN, Nov l.-German movie
producers are mobilizing TO inVape
the world film market. The great
general staff OF the associated rim
producers will not make a direct
frontal attack with waving banners
bearing the familiar old legend maze
in Germany" but have planned an Of
fensive OF quiet camouflaged penetra-
ton.
Everything typicaliy German Is be-
ing excluded from the new produc-
lions and the most rabid Hun-hater
will sit through the performance win
real pleasure and not the least sus-
picion that the source OF his enter
tainment Is the land OF his FORMER
enemy. In films of modern society
stories the creates care Is taken 10
create an atmosphere which might as
readily represent Washington, Lon
don or Paris as Berlin.
In indoor scenes there IL never
German sign or billboard to betray
the export salesman who Is charged
with selling the American. British
and French rights. The villain doesn't
drop his blackmail letter into some
handy Berlin or Potsdsm mail box;
instead n simple stage mail box is
constructed which might belong 10
the land OF anywhere. And when the
villain Is arrested In the last rec,
il isn't the picturesque. heimeted
Berlin bluecoat who fastens the hand
cuffs, but a nondescript policeman
who looks suspiciously like a Paris
gendarme.
SOME BIG PRODUCTIONS.
The big films, which are INTENDED
primarily for sale in America an
Europe, are historical stories-the
plots and locations of which are any.
thing rather than German. Millions
of marks have been spent In produc-
ing MADAME Dubarry," a story OF
the French Revolution; "Sumurun'
a tale OF the Orient. and Anne DO
century London. -,
How do you think America will
like this?" asked a director OF the
Universal Film Company OF Germany
during the filming OF "Anne Boleyn.
II was necessary TO concede tha'
aside from national prejudice. anc
based purely on an artistic STAND.
point. that America would be forced
to admit II was a pretty good produc
ton. In a class with Tho Birth OF
a Nation"
COST OVER MILLION.
Same Boleyn" cost moro than five
million marks to produce, which IL
more than one million dollars at th'
pre-war rate OF exchange. BY tht
most optimistic stretch of fmagina
ton the Universal company couldn'
expect that the seat sale In German!
would begin to repay the cost OF th'
monster production. The directors
readily admit this. but Echeerfuly re
ply that the profits on its expectation
/ will not only pay all the expenses
but will bring a handsome profit.
German films during the war ant
the first year of the armistice were O.
so poor a quality, both from the teen
meal standpoint and also Of scenario
and interest, that they would nav
bankrupted a movie theater IN al
American crossroads village. AightA
strides have been taken during TN
last year. and today the elaborate
historical films make even tho Ameri
can film connoisseurs express theiI
admiration. For the movie. Anne 30
Ieyn," q full-size production OF tho
front perspective of the Westminster
Abbey was built, with an old English
street as long as two big American
city blocks leading to 1t. Four thou
sand costumed "sups'' cheered Henry
VIII and Anne on their way to the
coronation.
U. S. MOVIES IN BERLIN.
America Is not making very rapic
progress in her nlm invasion or Ger
many. A New York firm has pur
chased the new Scala Theater in Der
lin, which has a seating capacity o.
5000, and which they plan to make
the most beautiful movie house II
Europe. The program calls for open
ing with Americas -f&vorite stars
such as Doug and Mary and Charlie
in the month OF January.
The German government granted
an important license for 10000 Zee
of film. German grain merchants ant
packing houses, who are anxious u
import foods and who have not beer
able to secure a government license
Immediately raised n howl which wa
heard over all Germany. They de
mand an investigation OF the film ii
cense and call on popular sympath!
to prevent what they name the i'm
portation of Injuries. while German!
is hungering and not permitted to gu!
food.