TITLES FOR FILMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20988, 26 September 1931, Page 11 (Supplement)

TITLES FOR FILMS

TREND OF POPULARITY.

FEMININE INTEREST. 41 Passion's Flame," if you believe those who sit in critical judgment of the motion picture business, is the ideal title for one of Hollywood's throbbing film features—a title which any producer .would give his cinematic soul to own. Yet a careful study of the titles of all pictures that have been released since January, 1915, when Hollywood first, started to- take its place in the world, reveals an inclination toward a less, emotional christening. In the last sixteen year# 11.950 "motion .picture features have been released, according to records at the Fox studios in Hollywood. Of these only sixteen have depended upon the words " passion " or " passionate " for their box office appeal. In comparison, the word "man," or its possessive, " man's," has been used 161 times, in combination with other words of course, to top the list. The word " love '/' has been used 145 times as the lead-off word for titles. Third cones " woman " with 121 marquee lines to its credit. But the average of the fairer sex is brought up immeasurably by grammatical modifications of the gender-estab-lishing word. ' Such words as " woman," "Vict,", '"girl," "lady," "daughter" and "mother"' have been employed by the titular composers exactly 422 times. "Man," " his n and "father" have been nsed only 235 times. "Great,'.' " greater " and "greatest" are favourites. Together they have been used, in various combinations, to describe fifty-nine film features. Next to "great" comes "danger." Fifty-six titles have employed it since 1915. Next conies " devil," used fifty-one times. i Among the colours, white " seems to have the most box-office appeal. It has been used forty-nine times in such titles as " White and Unmarried " (there's a title for you!), " White Fang,' j" White Flannels," " White Thunder" and forty-five others. " Black " co/nps in second with a thirtynine. " Scarlet " rates but twenty-six, while " yellow " is sixteen. " Midnight " is Hollywood's favourite hour. It, has been used in thirty-six titles. " Broad way " is its favourite street. It shows thirty-four times. Among the states, Arizona has the most entertainment appeal. The name ,jhas'been used in thirteen motion picture titles through the years. Texas is second with eight, "and California comes in third with six. 'Hie word " crime " has been used only twice si,nee motion pictures first were given names- /