MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY

Evening Star, Issue 19713, 14 November 1927, Page 9

MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY

AMERICA’S SUPERIORITY BRITAIN LEFT BEHIND MR BRAITHWAITE’S IMPRESSIONS. A practical insight into tho motion picture industry of America was gained by Mr Percy Braitlnvaito, of Dunedin, during a recent tour. Mr Braithv/aito, in company with Mr G. L. Johnstone, returned to Dunedin on Thursday, after spending eight months in America and Europe, and his impressions of the trip are decidedly interesting. Interviewed by a ‘ Star ’ man, Mr Braitlnvaito commented on the amazing activity and progress in the him industry in tho United States and tho comparative stagnation in England. “In Los Angeles,” said Mr Braithwaito, “wo met Mr Benson, tho manager of tho United Artists’ Film Corporation, a line Canadian, who was able to introduce us into tho various studios. It is as difficult for an outsider to get into a studio as to get through the eye of a noodle. Filmdom is much different from tho ordinary conception, and tho workings of the studios aro positively amazing. Wo visited tho Motro-Cloldwyn-Mnyor, Fox, Paramount, Universal, and United Artists' studios, and there were introduced to many of tho most famous movie personalities of. the day, among whom were Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, and Tom Mix. We found the film stars to he exceptionally hue people, who work extremely hard; in fact, very much harder than the public have any idea of. They have very little rest, and work from early in the morning until late at night. Refreshments are served in tho studio, and on these occasions wo had tho opportunity of seeing prominent stars in costume and make-up. We saw Nonna Talmadge, Norma Shearer, Dolores Del Rio, Claire Windsor, Adolph Menjou, and many others. The marvellous methods adopted in tho studios _ are not easily understood by the outsider. The picture loses a certain amount of its charm when one has seen tho actual filming. There aro dozens of people, each with a particular job to do, standing around tho scene which is being taken. There is even a small orchestra playing to provide an atmosphere for the" stars.” Mr Braitlnvaito saw some of tho famous sets erected in tho studio. Each organisation had a complete workshop attached, and in these an army of assistants was engaged in preparing thc settings necessary for the various productions. The studios generally covered an area of fifty or sixty acres, and two or three productions would bo filing on at tho same time. Some of tho pictures they saw in the making included ‘What Price Glory,’ Tolstoy’s ‘ Resurrection,’ and also De Millc’s ‘ King of Kings,’ the story of the life of Christ. This Mr Braithwaite considered to bo the greatest .picture ever screened. Tho detail and the expense involved in the making of these pictures was amazing. MAGNIFICENCE IN PRESENTATION. The picture theatres were magnificent., As one went further east the presentation of the films became more beautiful. Tho manner in which the films were presented was entirely different from the method adopted in England, Australia, and New Zealand. In tho States tho prologues, vaudeville acts, and music were great features. Tho actual films were third or fourth considerations. Some of the prologues presented were almost inconceivable to the visitors. The musical director had under him a magnificent orchestra, tho members of which were seated on the stage and costumed to harmonise with the elaborate settings. Tho members of tho orchestra wore versatile and gifted performers, and gave a real entertainment themselves. The prices were very much higher than in New Zealand, generally about 2dol (a little over 8s), but the whole performance was decidedly worth _ it. Mr Braithwaite said that the finest picture theatre in tho world was the Roxy, in New York, which cost over £1,000,000 to build. This theatw occupied a whole block, the area being 050 ft long and 350 ft wide, accommodating 6,000 people, ‘(’be design of the theatre was most elaborate. One entered a luxurious vestibule in which the carpets were at least an inch thick. There were 120 in the orchestra and 100 in the chorus, the music being absolutely magnificent. On one occasion on which Mr Braithwaite visited the theatre a seems from the opera. ‘Faust’ was staged. Lcvifzski, tho famous pianist, was also playing. Tho Paramount Theatre was anolher notable motion picture house. This theatre was some thirty stories in hoirdit and seated 5,000 people. Mr Braithwaite was impressed with the standard of the musical shows on Broadway. ‘Rio Rita’ and ‘The Desert Song ’ were two of the greatest successes, and he considered that these two productions were the best they had seen for a long time. Everything was in tho best of taste. The productions were singed on a remarkable 1 scale. ENGLISH FILMS DISAPPOINTING. “ As yet,” said Mr Braithwaite, “ tho English film industry is very disappointing. There, has been no sen»us attempt to produce pictures in England. No great energy has been shown, and it appears to me that the British people aro approaching film production in a very cautious manner. They aro wasting a great deal of valuable time in not getting on with tho job. It is useless for tho Government to attempt to bolster ul) tho British, films. The time is not yet ripe for that, as they have not readied the standard of efficiency necessary. If the American productions were shut out of New Zealand the pictures would have to close their doors. J. don’t suppose there are 10 pictures produced in a year in England, and as far as the dominion is concerned the supply of films would last about two weeks.” CONDITIONS IN EUROPE. Mr Braithwaiio concluded with a reference to the conditions existing in England and the Continent. England, lie said, was fully aware of her troubles and was meeting them with calm deliberation. There was no cause for alarm. Tho nation possessed the finest statesmen in the world, and when a judgment was made it was a sound one. There was very little evidence of poverty in Germany. The people wore quiet, well dressed, and well mannered. They appeared to have lost the junker spirit, and had no desire to evade their obligations. Germany was still a great manufacturing country, and the nation was working day and night. “ After all,” said Mr Braithwaite, “ there is no place like New Zealand, and I was very glad to get back again. In all my travels I did not see any town which could lie compared with Dunedin for scenic beauty.”