BETTER PRODUCTIONS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17218, 8 December 1923, Page 1 (Supplement)

BETTER PRODUCTIONS.

A CHANGE IN METHODS. There is no industry that undergoes more rapid and constant change than the moving picture business. The producing companies are everlastingly watching the fluctuating' pulse of the multitude and their policies are changed accordingly. During the past year the moving picture business has been nioro closely watched in the United States than ever before. It has been realised that a stage of entertaining people has been reached, where some •drastic change is called for. No more evident example of this requirement may be given than in the. recent ! change in policy of the Famous l’lay- | ers-Lasky . Corporation. I In 1922 Paramount made no less 1 than 103 screen productions. In 1923 they have-produced-52 pictures. This means that the same production-staffs the same number . of .stars, and a generally increased organisation have concentrated with the same amount of energy on fewer subjects. There can only he one . result- better . production. "With these facts in view the picture-

going public of this country can confidently look forward to the coming year as offering the best that coulc possibly have been done. To-day has brought a decline in volume production and a departure from volume soling and specialising in production to meet the public demand. In the past exhibition has been the primary product of the moving picture business, but now there is another factor that is going to be all-important. It is presentation and advertising. Presentation is a factor that is as yet untouched in this country, but it will come as the requirements demand it. We are fast approaching the time when the screening of the bigger and better pictures will be attended with specially designed prologues, stage embellishments, the best- in music adn general activity in conjunction with the actual presentation of the picture.

princiual characters of the story. William Farnum will be seen in a virile Western story, The Gunfightcr,” Dustin Farnum in "The Grail,” and John Gilbert, the star of “ Monte Cristo,” will b e presented in an adaptation of Richard Harding Davis’s story of adventure, 4 The Exiles.” A new star will also be brought to light in Lester Cuneo in a picture of the West, " Blue Blazes,” while William Russell will be seen in two comedy-dramas, "Alias the Night Wind” and "Times Have Changed.” Fox films have always been particularly strong in their supporting subjects, and this ?omnig year they will release three Clyde Cook comedies, eight A 1 St. John,, in .addition to Sunshine comedies and a very elaborate production known under the name of Imperial comedies, most of which feature the famous monkey trio, Max, Moritz and Pep, the highest salary animal act in American Vaudeville today. In addition to this, Fox Films have always been to the front with "topical subjects, and will release* at - Everybody’s Theatre in Christchurch before any other . theatre the picture of the famous international horse' race,'." Zev