New-York tribune., 1921-01-02
Are We Downhearted? NOT
Is the Unanimous Reply
OF Motion Picture Men

Each year since pictures began to be
filmed the producers have issued the
statement fewer and better pictures. {"
but no one regarded it seriously or
took 1t to mean anything iii particular
OF course, the pictures are better each
year. but they never seem to be any
fewer" and If they are this next sea-
son 1t isn't because there is any finan-
cial depression in the film business.
me stores that havs been circulated
IN regard to "Lo the poor actor" and
director begs bread for wife and
kiddies" and film business going to
the dogs" seem to have had their in
ception because of that phrase fewer
pictures" Fewer pictures" meant
se"er people employed. which argued
sAeA Of funds! Some people are always
seAdy to believe bad news. Excepting,
- course, about prohibition. Nobody
believed that-and see what happened!
But. according to the biggest produ-
GERS, who ought to know something
,--ut it, the film business has never
been more solid and more prosperous.
In event OF a financial depression 1T
is the small producer, who probably
has his entire fortune in one picture,
who is hard hit. The big producers
can weather the gale with never sail
reefed. Approximately fifteen features
week are released. This is not over
production when you consider that
there are $1,000 or more theaters and
=. least 1000 FIRST run" houses.
At the Goldwyn Office the following
assurance was given: Contrary to the
sN~port recently circulated investigation
IN the motion picture industry tel.ds to
show that there is g sturdier attempt
at sterilization than ever before. En-
pioyees are not being discharged at q
rate that is abnormal Directors are
not being let out. Producers are
issuing financial statements where
they never have before. This shows
healthy financial condition. In regard
TO fewer pictures, Samuel Goldwyn has
wired from the Coast:
There is no longer any room in the
industry for the mediocre picture. The
public has been educated beyond a
Willingness to accept photoplay mere
ly because it carries the name of star
or the trademark of a we'll known pro-
ducer. 1t is my belief that by this
time next year production will be less
than 1t is to-day, but pictures will be
better. Our experience is that it is
more profitable to make one great pic
ture than twelve ordinary ones. The
exhibitor would rather run great pic
ture for a week than mediocre one
FOR day. Every resource of the Gold
wyn producing organization will be de-
voted to the end of making each pic
ture work of outstanding quality"
And listen to Carl Laemmle, presi-
dent Of the UNIVERSAL After denying
that the Universal intended to de-
crease production from 25 to SO per
cent, he added: "As a matter of fact
our production w. be increased by
about 10 per cent over 1920. ! have
just returned from Universal City. and
I have found none of the unemploy-
ment which some of the New York
newspapers declare exists in other mo-
ton picture centers. Our regular spe-
cial program will be the same as last
year-that is, fifty-two pict <s, with
six stars making eight pictures each.
and four productions with special casts
"Our short reel program is being
increased by another two-reel comedy
release, and all in all we expect our
production to be increased consider
ably over last year. Some New York
newspapers have printed the report
that Erich Won Strohem is out of work.
AS matter of fact, he is employing
nearly 5000 players at present. In
stead of two companies working at
Universal, as has been stated, we have
fifteen companies at work. | am not
in sympathy with and have found no
basis whatsoever for the extensive talk
which has been going on recently in
the photoplay industry indicating that
conditions are abnormal and that there
is danger Of depression and poor busi-
ness. I am very much of the opinion