Evening star., 1928-05-13
FLASHES

~ uRING motion picture con-
clave In Washington recently
one heard q great deal con-
H. cerning the idealiSm. the art
and the culture of the movies.
Also, IL one were a good listener. Ee
heard considerably more concerning
the various quotas of the companys S
Salesmen and how they were to 'whoop
things up in order to reach a certain
figure on the right side of the ledger.
Probably no effort was made to stress
the sales move and place the culture
element below it, but to the out
-lcoking-in 1t appeared that the
conventions first object was to put
vim and vigor" into the chaps who arc
selling motion pictures to the exhibitors.
In looking back over the years, it Is
rather difficult to find that the photo
play has advanced toward idealiSm, art
and culture. The primary object Of
the producer. no matter how much he
may talk. is to make pictures that will
sell Culture is a secondary considers
tion: if there is an evidence OF 1t N
production. so much the better. The
Gay of Art in the movies is not at hand:
Culture and Idealism are far over the
horizon There are a few earnest sous
working toward higher grade of pro-
duction--but they must certainly turn
out photoplays that open the purses ii
the exhibitors.
4 ND, while speaking of the missing
"A elements of the movies, one turns
TO the list of pictures scheduled for pro-
duction by this same company. Among
those for the coming year are listed
such titles as THE Saturday Night
Kid" Three Week Ends" Apache
Love-" The Perfumed Trap" "Ths
Hard Boiled Angel" Tahiti Nights. "
High Society,"" '"The Sawdust Para
Living Together" Loves of an Ac-
treSs," and The Confessions of
Chorus Girl"
These pictures may be better suited
for public screening than their titles
would indicate-but they are certainty
a far cry from Art, IdealiSm and Cul-
ture in the movies.
Perhaps the first move toward higher
and better things would be few titles
which would. at least, conceal the ma
ture of the films themselves. A highly
cultured title-writer, tall-domed gen.
tleman of the writing game. might
make the first step toward that far
horizon.
\
THERE are q few directors who. If
l. given leeway, would no doubt fol-
low the lines of art and culture in the
movies, but these men are not givel.
much chance. And, when looking at
the matter from the viewpoint of the
producer who is forced to foot the bills.
the policy is safety first" For IN
stance, Erich Won Stroheim thinks Of
art first and rarely gives thought to
his expense account. In making The
Wedding March, which will be released
within a few months, he ''overshot"
the picture to such an extent that the
great trouble seems to be in cutting it
down. There is no getting away from
the fact that he made q gOod picture
a picture which would cause great
deal OF comment among the photopley
pense.
Won Stroheim might be termed a
leader among the real art directors. but
the producers are afraid of him. David
Wark Grifith. If he were allowed a
free hand, would also inject the art
element in the movies, but he, like
Won Stroheim. is now working for the
producers. and his expense account IS
watched.
The day Of art in the movies is COM
ing. but 1t may be some distance of.
= II
I MY DAMTTA, said TO be one of the
most beautiful women OF Europe
and one Of the most popular aof the
young continental screen stars hasAar-
rived in this country TO join the Holly
wood colony. She has been selected
by Samuel GoIdwyn to play opposite
Ronald Colrnan in the picture to fol-