Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-01-12

MAAfARONECK, n. Y, Jan. 12-The
entire movie Industry is in the process
Of Il thorough reorganization which will
place 1t on the strongest basis 1t has
ever known from the standpoint Of both
the producer and the public. David Wark
Griffith declared in an interview today.
According to the famous producer, the
apparent slump in The motion picture
business is due to three factors:
First, complete readJustment affecting
every one from the high salaried stars
to the unskilled laborers employed about
the lot"
Second. manufacture Of bigger pictures,
to run several weeks, replacing the one
night stands and thus producing more
films with smaller personnel and less
mechanical outlay.
Third. creation OF a surplus OF pic
production that resulted from the war.
Griffith emphasized that there had
been no appreciable falling off in attend
ance at movie thenters and that In
creased cost Of production had been
more than offet by greater receipts.
Comparing his latest big picture with
The Birth Of a Nation" which he pro-
duced Ave years ago he presented rec
ords to show the following:
New York showed receipts of s13, 800
compared with .376 for his latest pic
ture; IN Pittsburgh, Pa, $4,000, com
pared with S21 ,G46, and in Chicago, $1S,-
600. compared with SO, 343.
So. 500 600 FROM
SINGLE PICTURE.
"One picture alone has had a gross
Income Of $500. 900" Griffith said. II
happen 10 know that Douglas Fairbanks
made more money on his last film than
any other and that Charley Chaplin,
who is supposed to have lost on his last
venture. really made $500, 600"
Griffith was asked what he thought
about reports that the "one candle power
movie star" is on the wane.
Il cannot qualify as an expert on cellu-
loid astronomy because | never went in
for It," he replied. But | do know that
with the rapid Improvement Of the quail
ity 81 motion pictures the individuality
OF the actor Is becoming submerged, a.
in the case OF the greatest stage produc-
words to the films; The plays the
thing
"Of course there are a few real nlm
stars whose personality never could be
dimmed I refer to Chaplin, Fairbanks,
Mary Pickford, Charles Ray, Lillian
Gish, Norma Talmadge and Nazimova.
In the past Il has been the custom
of some producers to seize upon some
curly haired boy or big eyed ingenue
and feature them to death just because
they were GOOD TO look at. Naturally
there will always be some demand for
that type Of pictures-the matinee idol
has never wholly lost his popularity.
Discriminating people, however, are de-
handing we'll written, produced and
acted pictures, regardless of whether the
cas- Is "a full OF stars as the Milky Way.
II predict that within ten years, pos
slbly half that time. people viii be pay
ing 81 each to see one motion picture
running two and half hours, as they
do now FOR the best stage plays. The
smaller pictures will occupy a position
analogous to vaudeville.
"The period OF rcad1ustment probably
viii he governed somewhat by the fact
that producers now like to have six or
eight months elapse between manufac-
mre and showing of their pictures, TO
allow for proper distribution and adver-
Using. The present so-called slump may
not be Obviated before next summer or
fall. But to illustrate the confidence
that real fnanciers have in the future
Of the industry, may say that group
Of Zig men is planning to spend So $50,
600 In making one picture, the book
rights acne to cost S60O,000
ut is superfiuous for me to say that
some Of the reputed salaries of movie
stardom are purely legendary. 1t is
true that many actors are still making
exorbitant demands--and are being
turned down."
Griffith concluded by saying that from
now on American producers must expect
serious competition from foreign con-
Germs,