Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-28

4 of the motion picture
industry. the Exhibitor!
~ World Herald. points out
one of the grave dangers con-
fronting the producers-the ne
cessity of quality production at a
time when the sound pictures are
en- trial. The great popularity OF
the sound productions, in a word
may possibly spell their doom, for
the rush to supply constant de-
mand easily results in a certain
amount of carcleSsneSS in the
studios, thereby placing inferior
sound pictures on the market. 1t
is also pointed out that the ex-
hibitors themselves are almost
forced to equip with the very best
sound systems. No matter how
good the picture is, no matter
how perfect the studio work, a
poor reproduction system may
''kill" picture.
There is a great rush and tur-
MOL around the Hollywood pro-
duction plants. Every manu-
facturer is trying to get ahead OF
his neighbcr and competitor. This
was a condition which appeared
with the first popularity of the
silent picture, and then matters
settled down to normal. It will
be many months until production
affairs are Strengthened out with
the new sound and color films,
but the quicker it happens the
better for all concerned-pro-
ducers, exhibitors and patrons.
y Y
THE 10 leading motion picture
- directors of the past year, &C
cording to newspaper critics and
from a compilation of Film Daily,
are: Ernest LubitSch, George
Fitzmaurice, Frank Borzage, Clar-
ence Brown, Lloyd Bacon, Cecil
B. De Mile, F. w. Murnau. Will
liam Wellman, Raoul Walsh and
Frank Lloyd.
This is the result CT the fourth
annual poll of Film Daily. Di-
rectors named on the honor roll
Irving Cummings, Josef Won
Sternberg. James Cruze, Sam
Taylor. William c. De Mile, w. s.
Van Dyke. Harry Beaumont, Jean
De Limur. Malcolm st. Clair
Lewis Milestone, Allan Dwan
Frank r. Capra, David w. Crit
fifth, Jack Conway, Paul Leni
Erich Won Stroheim. Monta Bell
Roy Pomeroy, Charles Brabin,
Paul Sloane. King Vidor. Herbert
Brenon, Victor Fleming, Roland v.
Lee, John Ford, John G. BlyStone,
Henry King and Archie Mayo
This latter list takes in about all
the active directors of the past
year, according to this viewpoint,
and those who did not get their
names among the big ten" at
least get an honorable mention
for their efforts.
IT will be interesting to watch
the speaking stage this Winter.
Here and there one reads of the
downfall" Of the stage on &C
count of the sound photoplays.
All sorts Of remedies have been
suggested to aid the failing health
of the stage. from major opera
tons to simple calisthenics. Word
from New York is to the effect
that the stage producers are pre-
pairing for big season; many
new plays are in the process of
borning. and many stage stars
have signed healthy contracts.
However, in looking over the lists
of newcomers in Hollywood. it
seems that nearly all of the stellar
lights of the stage are living in
Beverly Hills or vicinity, driving
new and high-priced automobiles
and visiting the motion picture
studios regularly each day.
Anyway, the stage intends to
make a grand comeback, and we
can sit along the sidelineS and
watch the sound movies enter the
scrap for public patronage. The
latter entertainment medium. de-
spite all sorts of criticism, is in
the ring for finish battle, the
! promoters loaded down with mil
lions of dollars of Wall Street
cash. And there may be a few
more mergers within the months
between now and the regular Fall
ppenings Of the legitimate thea
tiers.
ITULLY MARSHALL, pioneer
- screen actor, who was made
zone Of the defendants in a mil
1ion-dollar lawsuit instituted by
the Actors Equity Association,
says: Equity is snatching at
Straws In an attempt to stave off
the collapse Of its campaign to
gain recognition in the motion
picture field"
Marshall was named with War
11er Brothers.. Inc, in a suit by
Equity for alleged damages and
a court order to restrain him from
carrying out contract. Equity
, charged that the actor had vio-
lated his agreement with the as
| ISOLATION in signing a contract
with Warner Brothers, producers.
I THE proceedings instituted
| against me by Equity" Marshall
says, II consider absurd. It is in
| conceivable that any organiza-
ton can have absolute control
over the livelihood of members. I
went to Warner Brothers and re-
quested contract"
{ y X v
A MEXICAN sound films have re-
ccived what seems to be a
death blow in Germany. A recent
court decision handed down in
Berlin grants a permanent in
junction against the use of West
ern Electric reproducing appara-
tus and favors the so-called
United European system. The
Americans took prompt action
after the decision of the courts.
sending mechanics to cut of
Western Electric apparatus in all
l.. 1 l.