Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-22
Flashes From the Screen

By c. E. Nelson.

BIlG DIOuuOCASs AAO 4NASSAN
Mayer organization an
Y1ounceS this week that 1t Is turn.
ing back to published plays ano
stories for plots, while other pro-
ducing companies hold TO the ldea
that new and unpublished scripts
are the best for general conSump-
ton. The M-G-M company has
~ pictures in the process OF man.
o4acture, all of them from well
known plays and stories: Among
these might be mentioned THE
Red-Headed Woman" q story by
catherine Brush, and Bridge
Versus Bridge" by Edward Nc
Kenna. These have been con-
tracted for within the past few
DAYS. other stories being turned
into talkies are "a Tailor-M Made
Man" stepping Out" 1.-THE Secret
six" "The Torch Song" Ship.
mates" ''Never the Twain Shall
Meet" "Sea Eagles" "The Sqr5w
Man" give and Ten," "a Free
Soul" Dancing Partner" Flying
High" "Girls Together" and Man
in Possession"
In way, the use of published
stories gives q certain amount OF
advance publicity to q picture.
On the other hand, there Is g
familiarity with the story ana
plot which may keep prospective
patrons from viewing 1t on the
screen. Many of the large studios
have employed expensive corps OF
writer's, the producers seeking new
and original plots for the output.
However, this plan has not worked
out satisfactorily, many OF the
writer's simply rehaShing stories
that they have already written
and that have been published.
Original stories, for the most part.
have had to do With gang war
fare-and each gang picture Is
very much like the one which went
before.
There is a real need for the es-
"a tabliShment Of q separate and dis.
tinct group of writers-men and
women who see only the motion
picture in their scribbling, who
write for the talkieS, and only for
the talkieS. This work would en-
tail a special knowledge Of the
motion picture; it would require
study Of technique and the impor-
lance of writing for certain play
erS. It goes without saying that
the average writer, who has never
paid serious attention to the art
of the photoplay, should not be exc
pected to journey to Hollywood, sit
> himself down at a desk and turn
out fine and original stories for
his employers. It is natural that
the first thing he really does Is to
revamp some OF his old actions.
It has been found out that "hack
work" is not good work for the
movies. Regardless of the pulling
power Of the star, the story must
be a good one, whether It Is old or
new. The real writers for the
photoplay will forget their old nc
ton days when they become con-
WINGED Of the importance Of their
new work. The classics have been
done, and overdone. The gang
stories have about played out.
The back-Stage stun has really
gone back-gtage. Why not give
us new stories by new writer's?
A =
It tDds decided, long ago, that
the newspaper Office 1Dds an
ideal setting for the thrilling
short stoTn, ptav or ftoueI. so
the aDriters became Dery buSv.
For years they tOorked--anen
and zUonen 1Uho really kneU
the inSidss of newspaper aoork.
But in all the years that they
haze been tDorktng. they hare
found but one plot, based upon
the scoop" or "beat," threaded
Nth the more or less pTof1ne
clashes of the managing editor !
OF. city editor Nth his men or
"tl5e po1Uers of the CITY," The
Average nefDSpdper st0TT, nOUeJ
or play Is artificial, SonIesOhut
ItbeIouS and tn UeTy bad taste.
"Tte Front Page" mitch Is
coming out In n1oUte form
soon, contains all these defects,
but 1t has the undoubted quality
of humor. This, in q 1UnV,
makes up for the serious and
pfofG1e portions of the drama.
George B1ncroft'S starring pc
htcle, scandal Sheet" IS eUeTp-
thing that the name tn1pltes--
and more, too.
+ 4 ~
THE serious business of being
- funny forms an interesting
little bit from the pen of Edward
Everett Horton, who says: "Un-
less you are naturally of rather
a serious, interpretive tempera-
mellt, do not harbor any ambition
to be a comedian in the movies.
The gay fellow Is always more apt
to be on the receiving end Of q
joke than the broadcasti1g. One
cannot make people laugh until
he learns what will arouse their
mtrth. OF course, It Is possible
to hit on the right formula occa-
sionally through sheer accident.
But continuously ringing the bell
OF fun requires deep study Of
human beings. Even the village
klf1oon soon senses this sad fact.
The border lines Of comedy are
vaguely defined, but yet disas-
troliS to cross. without the exact
shading, which one person learns
20 give and another does not, q
situation or a Joke can easily fall
nat. Or 1t may become too in
volyed Tor the average sense of
hurnor. Comedy must be subtle,
and yet not over the head Of any
one. II a joke Is funny enough,
the most righteous are willing to
find amusement. But If 1t broad
ems into the really vulgar, even
the most tolerant are, rightly
enough, offended. Good taste
enters into the manufacture Of
fun quite as much as any other
department. OF life. Believe me,
DANCING.
BALI ROOM DANCING IN FESIS5E