Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-14
Flashes From the Screen
News and Comment of the Photoplay
By E. Nelson.
Bye E. Nelson.

| the musicians cannot obtain this
sort of work.
\ + X
HANDS ACROSS THE SEA
Note: France and Germany,
this week, concluded treaty by
which there is an unrestricted
exchange of Aims between the
two countries. This is supposed
to act as barrier against pic
lures from other countries, and
the pact is regarded as serious
move against United States films.
The papers of the treaty are now
in the hands of the respective gov
ernmentS for ratification.
\
PRODUCERS and exhibitors of
motion pictures long ago
reached a conclusion that women,
and not men, decided the fate of
a picture. Also, 1t had been con-
Sidered that women customers
did not favor war and crook
dramas. This latter idea has
been exploded by an investiga-
ton of the New York theaters.
The average matinee perform
ance, it has been found, is made
up largely of women-about 10
per cent. At the evening per-
formances the women customers
slightly outnumber the men.
The New York investigation
shows that such plays as THE
Dawn Patrol" Journeys End"
1.-The Big House" and "Au Quiet
on the Western Front" drew large
feminine audiences. These pic
lures were lacking in lover or ro-
mantle interest, yet they drew up
to IS per cent of the women.
Producers and many exhibitors
once held the idea that the fair
sex was interested only in the
heavily sentimental screen story.
Now they have discovered that
women decided the fate of q pic
ture, and that they prefer a good
story, whether 1t be romantic,
war or crook drama.
= \
TT M. WARNER, president of
the Warner Bros. organiza-
ton, strikes q high note in an
interview upon his return from a
survey Of the European field.
Speaking OF the European actors,
he says:
stars Of the European stage
and screen act in a greater va
riety Of roles than American
players. They are expected to
perfect themselves in many roles,
and not go on, year after year,
playing the same tye of thing.
The f1rst-rate player Is supposed
to be student of humanity, and
as such, is expected to be able to
interpret youth and age, wealth
and poverty, the sophisticated and
the naive. Nothing Is beyond
his reach, and nothing beneath
his pride. I think there is much
good in this. Here in America we
are in the grip of the star Sys-
tenn Whether the fault lies with
the public, the producers or the
player is not for me to stay. The
danger is the possibility of becom-
ing stereotyped. We need more
players of the Lon Clancy type.
think, however, that the en-
phasis on the star system is fad
ing in this country, and we are
approaching the ideal of a play
er with unusual talent, who can
enrich any role he attempts"
The present star system is one
OF the worst things ever invented
by the photoplay producers. It
is bad for the star, bad for the
exhibitor and bad for the public.
Some Of the best pictures ever
eXhibited-"The Valiant" and
'Halleluiah," to name only a cou-
pie Of them-came to us with un-
known players. The story should
be advertised above the star.
Many a well known player has
been killed of by an uninter-
rupted run. Of the same sort of
vehicles.
Short Flashes.
WALTER DAMROSCH, orchestra
conductor, implores the mu-
sicians to discontinue their bat
tie against sound reproducing
devices. His words: Nothing
can stop the p pgress Of these in
ventionS. The light is as futile as
the efforts of the hand weaverS
once were to stop the develop
ment of the machine age. Fur
thermore, am convinced that
the sound devices which have
been and are being perfected will
help in the musical development
of the American people"
To quiet a rumor, Mary Pick
ford announces, that she will not
return to the stage. She intends
to limit her work to super pro-
auctions" similar to "Kiki," her
next dialogue picture.
Sergei EisenStein has been en-
gagged by Paramount to write the
dialogue scenario and direct THE
American Tragedy" from the
novel of Theodore Dresser. The
company has owned the picture
rights of the story since its publ
cation and has refused several big
offers for 1t.
Lily Damita has arrived in Hol-
lywood to play opposite Gary
Cooper in Fighting Caravans"
Doug Fairbanks, jr., has been
borrowed from First National for
the leading role in R-K-O's Beau
Ideal" Ralph Forbes has an i'm
portant role, and Herbert Brenon
Is directing.
Quite a colorful cast has been
gathered for 1.-THE Lion and the
Lamb" Among the well known
players are Carmel Myers, Walter
Byron, Montague Love, Raymond
Hatton and Charles Gerard. The
story was written by e. Phillips
Oppenheim.
After having made a successful