Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1921-02-26
germany SENDS
over MOVIES
Hopes to Capture u. S.
With Her Stories on the
Screen
BIG PRODUCTIONS
ARE PROMISED
BY HOWARD MLELIAN.
Managing Editor OF the Intcrna-
nonal Cinema Trade Review.


Managing Editor OF the Interna-
uonal Cinema Trade Review.
NEW YORK. Feb. 26-Germany's
invasion OF America is getting under
run Roadway
Her weapon is the motion picture
camera. her army is made up OF
movie writer's. directors. actors
yes and statesmen.
The cnly foreign country whore
film production is approaching the
American standard is Germany.
While the war was going on, Ger
many developed her motion picture
industry. forseeing that some great
agency must be pressed into service
10 regain her standing with the rest
OF the world. SO the government
helped to develop the motion picture
as that agent.
In 1919. the first year after tina
war; 941 films were produced in
Germany. Then her motion picture
statesmen came to New York with a
set OF film masterpieces.
Italian, French. English and
Swedish producers had tried to pen
citrate the American market, but
without avail.
The first German masterpiece
Passion" was hawked about Gel
luloid Row" in New York for
weeks.
Though Passion" was pronounce
ed a masterpiece and the price was
lower than American films of the
same standard by half. exhibitors
feared TO purchase because OF war
time hostility.
Finally, however. an organization
Of American motion picture theatre
owners purchased Passion" and re-
leased IL in New York.
il broke all box Office records.
When the news OF PASSIONS
success reached Europe. film produce
ers began 10 swamp America with
pictures.
Today there are thousands OF
German. Austrian. Italian, English.
French and Swedish pictures on the
market, but buyers arr looking for a
second Passion" And so FAR
haven't found il.
Germany's success in America is
due TO her film producers policy OF
making only massive spectacles for
foreign markets.
The next big German picture tc
be shown in America will be "su.
murun,' the exotic Oriental pla,
starring Pola Neeri. featured in
Passion" This will be followe,
by Carmen" with the same star.
Sumurun" IS a masterpiece O
spectacle production. The scene
We're an taken in Germany. mostr
IN Berlin, and the director is Erns
Lubitsch, called the ID. w. Grimu
Of Germany who directed pas
sion."
Immediately after the close OF IN.
war the German government Is sai,
TO have offered ID. w. Grinith ga,
100000 a year II he would go TO Ger,
many and supervise the motion-pic
ture industry. He refused. and Ger
many is pitting Lubitsch aeains
him.
But spectacular productions ar,
not the only kind OF films being pu
out by Germany. Every industry /,
Germany - automobile. dyes. arri
cultural implements. toys. etc.-ha
been filmed and these short reels ar
being shipped 70 all parts OF IN
world and offered gratis to theate
owners.
The idea Is 20 preach the doctrin
of made In Germany"
Meanwhile Germany has nut a
embargo against all foreign films. IN
GLIDING American. limiting them {
IS per cent. OF the total numbe
shown on German screens.
France is backward with her pic
ture productions. Financial interest
in France do not support the new il
dustry and today 30 per cent. OF III
pictures shown on French screen
are American.
In Great Britain, the America
picture still holds supremacy, bl
prominent Britishers like Lor
Northcliffe. Lord Beaverbrook an
Sir Thomas Upton, are backing Brit
ish-made pictures. and this year wi
see IS per cent. OF the British screen
showing British pictures. whereas j
1919 and 1920 British screens show
ed nearly 100 per cent. OF America
pictures.
The lord OF the manor at Aodline