The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-02-18
MENTIONING THE MOVIES
''POlikushka" Worthy Of Moscow Art
Theatre.
BY PROTECTOR.

The Moscow Art Theatre is finish
ing its second year of sensational
success upon the American stage.
There is no reason why this motion
picture, made by the same sterling
artists from Tolstov's immortal story,
"Polikushka," should not meet with
equal success.
Of course, the type of 'critic' who
predicted failure for the Russian art
lists because they offered neither bed
room farce nor leg show also hangs
crepe on the reviews of this film.
Thus one New York daily wrote,
Gripping Russian Film with a Kick
for Highbrows, not for tired bust
ness mans evening nor the happy
housewives" And "Photoplay,'' one
Of the better grade Of fan journals,
calls it "a we'll made picture but
morbid and sad. No chance of a
pleasant evening of laughter here"
The assumption is that the Amer
lean public is condemned forever to
artistic diapers and that it can never
hope to digest anything stronger
than the "pap" of program pictures.
The success of pictures like "Anna
Christie" shows up this bunk and
the same is true of "Polikushka"
wherever it has been shown. In one
of the five movie houses where it
has been run the manager reported a
thousand dollar jump in the weeks
receipts, directly attributable to the
picture. Thus the "box Office verdict"
backs up the serious critics on Labor,
Liberal, Daily, and Foreign Language
Press in the praise of this Russian
film.
This picture is conceived with Won
drous realism. One is transported
right back into the sad, sordid lives
of the suffering Russian serf, one
feels with PoliIxushka, the miserable
stableman, the degradation and hope
lessness of his lot.
The tragedy of Polls life is the
tragedy of the workers turnout the
world, and working class audiences,
as well as the art loving public gen.
orally will rally to the support of
this film. When first shown in this
country leading commercial dis
tributor asked for special showings
to q selected audience Of critics, but
insisted it was much "too good for
the mob" "The mob" are getting
chance at the picture which is
being booked directly by the Russian
Artflms Company. Labor organiza-
tons in some cities are helping in
getting the picture before the public.
Bookings have already been made in
Washington, Philadelphia, Boston
and Cleveland. An attractive propo-
sition is made to interested parties by
the Russian Artfilm Co., 8O4 Wa
bash Ave-, Chicago, Ill.
When Law and Profits clash, Law
takes back seat with the minimum
amount Of grace needed to save its
face. There is a Federal Law pro-
hibiting the interstate transportation
of prize fight films. It was passed
to prevent the showing of the famous
Jeffries-Johnson fight films on the
theory that the sight of black boxer
beating white one might result in
stimulating the negro's sense of race
dignity and at the same time incite
hundreds of murders by the white
savages which inhabit some parts Of
these United States. The law is still
on the books but fight pictures are
being shown every day in almost
every state. The process is simple,
the first man showing the film is ar.
rested and fined. He pays the fine
out of the proceeds of the picture
and then keeps right on rolling in the
coin.
In Germany novel principle in
taxation on movies has been intro
duced. To encourage attendance at
the showing of a certain film enc
government has made a great reduc-
ton in the amusement tax. The kind
government encourages" pictures
that are good for the people"
The size of the movie business can
be glimpsed when we read of a re-
cent days receipts on one single Los
Angeles "nickel show"-$5,241. A
Frisco house made record of $4.513
the same day.
od+ 4 A
Good thing this is not charged to
Russia. The Second Presbyterian
Church of Auburn, N. Y, has been
bought by theatrical interests for
$4,000. They will spend 5000, 900
into turning it into vaudeville and
picture house.
The theatrical union, Actors
Equity Association" has started ne
gotiations with the producers toward
the end Of establishing a closed shop
and the 48-hour week in the film
industry. Frank Gilmore, Of the
Equity, said that 1000 out of the
5000 principals playing important
parts have been lined I'D in the
union, and that these players were
seeking some sort Of standardized
conditions. At present only hand
full Of stars were properly treated
due to their position, while the lesser
known principals were helpless be-