GOOD FILMS SCARCE

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 286, 29 August 1931, Page 22

GOOD FILMS SCARCE

Exhibitors’ Difficulties POSITION IN AUSTRALIA Troublous as the position' of film exhibitors would have been in any circumstances in the present period, their prob' lems have been accentuated by the difficulty of obtaining first-class films, says . an Australian exchange. In some quarters a “film famine” is feared. The short seasons at many “long-run” theatres are attributed not only to economic depression, but also to the mediocrity of many of the films produced by Hollywood at present. Some theatres have been closed because exhibitors have been unable to obtain “talkies” of sufficient merit to warrant their being kept open. The inadequacy of the supply of good pictures is due to severe retrenchment in Hollywood, which Is suffering from an unprecedented slump in film exhibiting in the United States, attributed by some observers to the introduction of “talkies, although many other causes enter into it. As a result the production schedules of many of the companies have been reduced. „ ' Less Money Spent on Films. Not only are fewer films being made, but less.money is being spent on.them. A fair average quality is being maintained, but there are few of the elaborate and costly films of two or three years ago. Australian exhibitors who are still, principally dependent upon American films are finding that little of the present output is sufficiently meritorious to warrant long seasons. As it is the policy of most ex-, hibitors to put their best films Into-their smallest theatres, difficulty is experienced In filling the large houses. Whether all the small houses will survive is considered to be debatable. As proof that. the mediocrity of films rather than the reduced income- of- the community is the cause of noor attendances at picture theatres, exhibitors direct' attention to the success of the “talkie” operetta. “Viennese . Nights,” which has how been shown for more than three months in Sydney, and. which is still attracting very large audiences. “Viennese Nights” was withdrawn after a very brief initial run in Melbourne, but it has done remarkably good business in the suburbs, and it will be shown again in the city. “If Pictures Have Appeal ..." In Sydney it Is thought that “Viennese Nights” will break the record of the Prince Edward Theatre of a season of 18 weeks established by “The Ten Commandments.” The success of this film is re-

garded as proof that if pictures of . sufficient popular appeal can he obtained,' thev will be no less successful than they were in days of greater prosperity. , A fortnight is now not an unusually short run attheatres which onee reckoned .their seasons in months. Whether it will bo possible to- continue. to operateaU- tho “first release” theatres In MelbdufilO' w mains to be seen. ■ ■ ■ V . At present the Majestic- Theatre..controlled by Union Theatres. Ltd., is dosed, , and no date for its reopening has been announced. The Princess, which is held on lease by Union Theatres from Fullers’■ Theatres, and which for some time' was used regularly, for- the showing of “talkies’ r also is- closed. It is poasibls that the Princess will be reopened shortly with the showing of “Trader Horn,” * film suggested by the life of the late Aloysius Horn, by the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Company - in association with .Fullers' Theatres, but-no. meats have ypt been wadA". .‘l' J.., •