EXPENSIVE FILMS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 143672, 16 December 1911, Page 5

EXPENSIVE FILMS.

PICTURES THAT COST £30,000. Just whore the moving picture business is going to stop seems hard to determine. Hr. ,K. J. Sotm, representing the United States Amusement. Ltd., declared that the business had only begun to scratch, and that there were hardly any limits to its expansion, “There has been considerable comment as to whether the pictures will be a lasting success,” said Mr, Sohn. “Well, it you can show me anything which will give to the public and the class of people who do not read magazines or subscribe to newspapers more amusement and education at as cheap a price than the moving pictures you will, begin to have some reason for fearing that the end of their popularity is at hand. Why, I believe the luture of the business will be far beyond the idea of anybody. “One hundred and fifty machines have been installed into the Chicago schools tor teaching the industrial work of different nations, geography, and the customs of foreign people generally. They are being adopted by educational institutions all over the world, and have found their way into asylums for the insane, where they have been found to have a beneficial effect on the inmates. Deaf and dumb people have also been educated by means of the moving picture, and it is almost certain that they will bo extensively used in future in teaching this section of tho afflicted. "Tlie manufacturing business has gone ahead by leaps and bounds. it is a new industry, having been in exist cure only cloven years. Vet there arc in America alone over 300,000 making their livelihood through tho business. In 1010 the exports exceeded 4,000,000 dollars (about (£800,000), but this year the business leaped ahead to the extent that from January to July tho exports wore more than seven and a half million dollars (about £1.500.000). •• The well-known Italian picture, ‘The Kail of Troy,* was an expensive undertaking. Before a photograph had been taken if cost 75,000 dollars (ahuut £15,000), and yet it was shown throughout the world at an average price of 3d and fid! That is one reason why moving pictures are so popular. ‘Captain Kate,’ which was shown here recently, cost something like 100,000 dollars (about £20.005). while one film will shortly be produced here which represents an initial outlay of 150,000 dollars (about £30,000), ** * t'apia in Kate ’ was taken by the Sidig Co. at Chicago, whose plant is mi the western edge of the city. It covers 300 acres, and consists of mountains, rivers, lakes, ensiles, forests, and everything else that is needed in the business. lis jungles art' Idled with a collection of trained wild animals, larger than that possessed by Ringling Urns, (the trust of tin' circus people in America), narnum’s, or anyone else. Sclig is ii.eoi-ptirnti-i at the present time, with a eapital nf -i,()i 1(1.000 (about £800,000). The eme ll l m (be business will be under-.wmO when ii is stated that there are Oh • i;i■!i ;;n lories in the United Slates. Uhl on it is a big business!”