Evening star., 1930-03-30
YELL, it has happened!
I information arriving at
I this desk is to the effect

this desk is to the effect
that "I Pagliacci" is to
be produced for motion picture
patrons. An independent COM
pany, Audio- Cinema, comes into
the field of established producers
and prepares to give us the f1rst
movie grand opera. Il PagllaccI'
is now in production at the Edison
studios, New York City, and 1t Will
be fltted with the Western Electric
ldea of sound reproduction. The
singers who are under contract to
hurl their voices by the disc route
to the four corners Of the movie
world are Fernando Bertini, tenor;
Alba Novella, soprano; Giuseppe
Tnterrante, Nina Fucile, Mario
Vale, baritones-and these are
only a few of the big cast. The
musical direction comes under
Conductor Carlo Peroni.
The screen production of this
particular opera will be closely
watched by American and Euro
pean producers. It is the first
step. an ambitious step, toward
bringing to the photoplay palaces
the highest form of music. But, as
has been mentioned before in these
columns, the reproduction devices
of today may not be entirely
worthy of the effort. They are
being improved all the time, but
they are new-too new for the
best results. The grand opera
produced on the screen of the fu-
ture-Within the next five or SIX
years-will not resemble the first
efforts of the pioneers in this par
ticular field.
THE coming of sound pictures
= has Just about done away
with the independent producer.
That is, the producer who was
known as a "f1y-by-nighter," who
produced a picture or two and
then disappeared. The reason
for this is the enormous cost OF
sound production, and here is a
little estimate, prepared in Holly
wood: The price of the story
starts at $1,000. From $500 to
$75O is the cost per reel for sound
recording. Royalty on music be-
gins at $3.50 per reel. The rental
for sound stages is 5000 per day,
and $750 per day is required Tor
rental of sound equipment. Then
a large technical staff is neceS-
Sary: and, of course, the cast,
which is not the least of the ex-
pense. And so one can readily
see why many of the smaller in
dependent producers have left
HOLLYWOOD. The cost Of sound
production makes the production
game a gamble, unless there is a
big and wealthy company back OF
the picture.
. UMORS are flying thick and
Az fast around Hollywood, and
especially around Universal City.
The latest report is that Joseph
Schildkraut, Glenn Tryon and
Myrna Kennedy are leaving the
company, and in the directorial
ranks Harry Pollard and Paul
FejoS are going to other positions.
It is also reported that Carl
Laemmle, IT,, who has been head
ing the production unit, will be
shorn of most of his powers, with
an advisory production Statt de-
Gliding studio affairs.
+ y + X
THE Wampas organization of the
= Pacific Coast, best known for
its selection of baby stars" of the
year, has ceased to do the picking,
and no selected list is being sent
out for 1880. However, Richard
Watts, jr., writing for the Film
Mercury, picks his own list of
babies in the film world. He
starts of the list with Joan Ben
nett, and following her are Nina
Mae Mckinney, Armida, Sally
Eilers, Joyce Compton, Jean Ar
thur, Dorothy Jordan, Joan Peers,
Dorothy Lee and Miriam Seeger.
Miss Bennett is given her top
place on account Of her poetic
1oveliness, cool intelligence and
quiet humor." Nina Mae McKin-
T1ey was the Negro star of Halle
lujah," and on account of her
spendid acting, Mr.. Watts pre-
diets that her problem will become
a difficult one for the producers,
because she has a stars ability.
Armida is the little Mexican girl
who almost stole the picture,
General Crack" from such a
seasoned actor as John Barry
more. According to Mr.. Watts,
''Armida turns out to be the fas-
cinating person Miss Lupe Velez,
her countrywon1an, thinks herself
to be-" Miss Eilers has beauty,
grace, personality and charm,
combined with a modicum of act
ing ability" Joyce Compton did
her best work in 'The Wild Party"
and Jean Arthur in "The Saturday
Night Kid" Dorothy Jordan came
to the front in Devil May Care;
Joan Peers has the ingenue role