The New York herald., 1921-11-20


because of any affection inspired in
the sister republic by the United
States doughboys who gallantly
smoked French cigarettes overseas.
IT is all a matter of reciprocity, aside
from any little favors we may show
Marshal Foch. That Is evidenced in
the arrangement by which United
Artists took the French photoplay IL
Accuse" by Abel Gance, with a daunt
less resolve not 10 vince nor cry
aloud If they didn't make cent out
of it, but to take what shekels Fate
might send along.
The object was TO be assured by the
French Government. which is in
terested in the promotion of films in
that country, that American photo
plays chaperoned by United Artists
could be poured out in France through
Allied Artists, which is the Gallo in
carnation of United Artists. without
being blocked by wild gesticulations.
In view of the contemplated tariff
legislation in this nation against for
eign films. United Artists feared that
the French might retaliate with curses
and a protective tariff also, and they
didn't wish the French to say They
shall not pass" to American movies.
AS matter Of fact protective tariff
on films by the United States seems
now likely to be scrapped even before
any warships. 1t is at present lying
low in committee in Congress. where its
condition is said to be very bad, and the
last moment is expected at any time.
That is because the menace of the for
eign films has deteriorated terribly the
last few months as a source Of agitation.
1t simply refused to get a grip on itself
and threaten. Most of the Gevman feat
ures, even Passion" which had all the
force of novelty, have died the death.
This has been true particularly outside
the large cities, for in the small towns
they still take the war very mucn to
heart.
One of the French productions which
seems to be on its way here is our old
operatic friend. Tristan und Isolde"
which gave Wagner big IDEAS you
know already. 1t was formulated on
the films under that name by Louis
Malpas in the big plant at Nice which
the French erected with a magnificent
belief that art transcends illumination.
For all their knowledge of cinematogra-
ply, the French made q Aim foundry
containing several studios and costing
100000 francs without any provision
for electric lighting equipment One
can't bother to look up the value in dol
lars OF this big dark room at present
exchange-and, anyhow. by the time
this appears the rate will have changed.
But you can see IL was a very costly
mistake, judging by the ciphers alone
English films are making slow head
way here, If any one cares to know
Cecil NJ Hepworth. probably the biggest
figure in the British cinema industry
who landed here recently and has been
listening to American advice with a
good show of patience. has noticed that
m connection with one of his own films
but probably isn't saying anything about
II. His picture, "Alf's Button" was
: taken into its exclusive circle by First
{ National advertised by that organiza-
ton in various trade journals and then
: Withdrawn from public gaze as quickly
las Charles of Hungary. Perhaps more
advice had tricked around.
Famous Players-Lasky now has COM
pleted two pictures starring pola Negri
made by Famous itself with it's own
Berlin organization, and the public here
. will soon be able to observe how this
: fascinating Continental star has had her
smile transcribed TO the screen under
strictly American manipulation. The
{. first of these to be relea sed here will be
: called THE Last Payment" but is not
: 10 be considered part of the German
: indemnity for that reason
The difficulties encountered by such
skilful titlers and adapters as Katherine
, Hiiliker in naturalizing foreign photo
: PLAYS on the American screen are all
: too little appreciated by the public here.
but fortunately the adapters get good
= round sums for their work, which do
y much to reconcile them to Iife's hard
Z ships. Their chief trouble Is a sort of
. retribution on scenario and continuity
{. writer's for their own rnalpractices in the
earlier days of the movies, when a con-
tinuity man in laying down the law In
! script for some noted comedian. would
blandly write: AT this point the come
: dian makes wise crack and sets every
one laughing"
Now the adapters are forced to think
a up the wise cracks. and the consequent
: anguish Of spirit and beating of brow
: mas drawn them closer al never before
: to the comedians who had to do 1t. The
I. German pictures are the main cause of
: tribuation IN this respect. for often they
= have long scenes without a subtitle
+. which simply must be broken up by cap
F. tfons so American audfe1ioes won't grow
: restless while waiting for a line to read
= aloud.
: Frequently n German character will
I. be seen to gay something to a group
/. about him that starts the others in
> roars of laughter. and IL is up TO the
!. titler 10 dig down in his brains and be
. funny TO order without the slightest
: idea OF what IT'S all about Even II
: the ndapter could lip read the charac-
ters and translate his words they would
. generally be found to be something
: quite serious, such as Marks have
fallen again."
In desperation one adapter. observing
man In the picture look at his wrist
slipped in caption In which the man
said 1T Is now IL o'clock" Az a
natter of fact, no watch was on the
, wrjst. ard the character simply picked
the time off his cuff.
Another handicap is the lack OF close
une. for foreign producers did not con-
ssder 1t the high art II is esteemed here
ynen a portrait is given displaying
every wart and mole on n characters
face. A resourceful adapter who didn't
have close up OF noted Continental
star at a certain point In a picture. but
who eensed that an American audience
AT this point would demand 70 see
whether she was wrinkling her nose or