Evening star., 1930-06-15


the movies, sailed for Eu
rope aboard the Leviathal
Wednesday, does not mean tina
we are to make any entanglini
alliances. Also, the fact tha
Chief Justice Hughes was aboarC
the same ship, has nothing to dC
ing to his statement to the ShiI
reporters, intends to look over The
movie situation in England
France, etc., with the idea, per.
hapS, Of aiding the circulation
and, incidentally, the sale Of
American pictures in other lands
Various complaints have arrived
concerning some of the American
pictures, and one London newspa-
per felt called upon to give list
of definitions of slang terms used
by the Americans. This would
have been appropriate, except
that the definitions in many in
stances were wrong. Perhaps Mr.
Hays will Straighten out this mat
ter, explaining American slang
so that the BritiShers may be
able to follow our gangland and
backStage productions. All this
of course, is in the line of specula-
ton.
THIS will probably be the last
- word of "Ingagi," the picture
which recently thrilled Washing
tonianS. Not long after the local
showing of the film, which was
supposed to represent life in a re-
mote section of Africa, whispers
were heard to the effect that the
picture was not authentic-that
the thrilling parts we're made in
the neighborhood of Hollywood
and that the whole thing was a
hoax, aside from the fact that it
was rather good entertainment for
the blaSe movie-goer.
Now, 1t has been discovered, the
picture was one of the biggest
money makers in movie history.
It crossed millions at the various
box off1ces-and yet it cost only
$4,000 to manufacture. For a
time 1t was Endorsed by men and
women high in public life. Then
few scientists began to air their
doubts concerning its authentic
ity. This started a rumpus, and
the big chain organization which
was featuring 1t, dropped it like
the proverbial hot potato.
The really comic turn to the
whole matter of "Ingagi" came
with the first doubt of its authen-
ticity-and merely through vac
cination marks. 1t will be-re-
membered that the producers
were picturing a very remote and
uncivilized section of Africa. The
natives were supposed to be about
as wild as human beings could be,
but the directors slipped up by
showing native women with vac
cination marks. To the keen n-eyed,
this fact cast doubt about the
origin Of the film, and the latest
investigation, 1t Is claimed, shows
that the picture was patched up
from some old African films, with
insets made in Hollywood. Also,
several other Photographic tricks
were utilized, until the picture
really became a thriller. The old
lion used in one part of the pic
ture is about the gentlest beastie
around the Hollywood studios.
And that's the end of "Ingagi,"
although 1t was a mighty inter
esting picture to watch and Won
der over.
MOTION PICTURES NEW, INC,
has issued a comprehensive
volume, known as "The Blue
Book" which gives in detail the
histories Of all persons connected
with the motion picture industry
In America-producers, directors
and players. 1t Is a handy VOL
ume OF biographical data and
especially valuable as a reference
work.
WHEN the sound picture came
into being a short time ago
1t was announced by the various
studios that they would not dis
continue the production of silent
films. However, in looking over
the production schedules for the
coming year there are no silent
pictures listed. This shows that
the day Of the silent photoplay
has passed entirely-that il will
never return.
During the early days Of sound.
the producers were forced to rush
into production with new ideas,
but they were rather doubtful
about the future of sound. They
were afraid that sound, like Eski-
mo pie and bicycle bloomers.
might be fad of the moment;
that they would be forced to 60
back to the reliable silents. How
ever, the success Of the sound pic
ture has been one of the miracles
OF the age, and the producers are
now satisfied to confine their
product to one line.
First National announces this
week that 50, 3,500,00 has been ap-
propriated for the future produc-
ton Of talking pictures. Studio
facilities are to be tripled. Other
manufacturing organizations are
following along the same line,
limiting their work to sound pro-
duction. The day of experimental
tion is left Behind, the silent pic
ture goes to its place in the attic.
NEW YORK audiences have
turned thumbs down on the
motion picture revues, leaving
the producer and exhibitor in
somewhat of a quandary for the
coming year. There are a num-
Der Of big musical pictures listed
for manufacture during the next
few Months and the YouSicol coy,,