Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-21

the travel and educational
Aim to become unusually
popular, and the coming
year will see a large number Of
these screen attractions. 1t is
estimated that at least lis trav-
elogue pictures are scheduled for
release during 1881. 1t is noticed
that, with feature attractions only
medium and below in entertain
ment value, the short subjects are
drawing considerable attention
from audiences, and the travel
films probably hold the top place
in favor. With the addition Of
voice and music, great many Of
them are well done, from the
audience standpoint at least, and
are more entertaining than the
featured pictures.
Among the new travelogue pic
lures to be released during the
coming year are IS expedition
features, dealing with scientific
exploration. This variety of film
always has been a box Office
attraction.
while one is inclined to deal
harshly with the producers who
are putting out poor pictures, the
men who head the studios an
nounce that they are in bad
way for stories. That is, they say
they could produce 500 good pic
lures In a year if they had 500
good stories. Therefore, having
400 bad stories and 100 good ones,
they proceed to make 400 bad pic
lures and 100 good ones. There
certainly is q lack Of good screen
material. Popular novels have
not been solution to the prob
lem. Successful stage plays have
not solved it. The product of
amateur writers has been a total
loss; the employment Of high
priced professional writer's has
brought very few good scripts to
the producers desks.
In many instances, the profess
sional writer's have been hired to
rehash their books and stories,
turning them into suitable, or
unsuitable screen material. Up
to the present time, the producers
are bit discouraged over the
results obtained by employment
of high-priced writer's. There was
a day when the scenario depart
ments obtained any number of
ideas submitted by the amateur
writers. The original scripts were
rarely used, but scenario editors
were able to utilize ideas, paying
for Synopses rather than full
blown manuscripts. Today manu-
scripts from amateurs are not
wanted in the scenario depart
mentS. Sound and dialogue have
killed all that. Many studios an
nounce that they return amateur
manuscripts without opening
them. Perhaps it would be a good
idea for the scenario department
heads to glance over the present.
crop from the young writer's. They
might receive an idea or two
something really newly looking
over a few thousand typewriter
contributions. At least the pic
lures could not be harmed much.
A CCORDING to present plans,
the National Capital Is going
movie. That is, Warrington, Is to
be exhibited in sound and picture
as one of the big moves in adver-
Using the bicentennial celebra-
ton. Sidney Lust, who efficiently
presidents the Motion Picture
Theater Owners Of Washington,
called on me yesterday with the
Information that his organization
was cooperating with the Cham
Der Of Commerce and the Bicer-
tennial Committee to put over one
Of the gTa1dest educational pic
lures on record--the picture Of
the National Capital. The beauty
Of the city, the advantages Of
living here and the workings Of
the Government shops will be
fully detailed in sound and NOV
ing picture In such a way that
the outlander will be unable to
resist the lure of the Capital. The
Theater Owners have named a
committee to confer with Will
Hays, who Is expected to fall in
with the plan and send his best
camera men to Washington to
make the feature.
Paris and Berlin have been sue
cessfully filmed. So have the
other great capitals of the world.
But washington has been some
what neglected. The completed
work should be splendid educa-
tional feature, Of special interest
20 all Americans. The present
plan includes very wide distribu-
ton for the picture, for 1t Is q
subject which will interest audi
enceS from Canada to the Keys,
from Chesapeake Bay to the
Golden Gate.
CARL LAEMMLE and Germany
are ct war. The League OF
Nations can do nothing in the
matter, and Carl probably Is
fighting q losing battle. Here's
how the trouble started:
Carl went to considerable trou-
bic in obtaining the screen rights
70 the best-selling novel, "All
Quiet on the Western Front" It
was predicted by wise heads" in
the movie game that he had over
stepped himself; that "All Quiet"
would not make a good movie,
and that It was doomed to failure.
However, Carl employed an excel
lent cast and went ahead Shoot
ing" his picture. Then he re-
leased IL TO America. 1t turned
out 70 be the real war picture, q
box o1f1ce magnet and all that
sort OF thing, thereby causing the
wise ones" to cease their chatter.
After all the American praise Of
the Aim, Carl took his picture to
other chimes. Everywhere, 1t was
haiIa% -xuritb doliohf- and than n