APRIL 6 , 1932 PRICE - - 6d. No. 1 3 3 1 ] INLAND Per Annum 10/6 VoL. X C I ' ABROAD - - 30/- THE INDEPENDENT FILM TRADE PAPER Copyright Registered at the G P.O. as a Newspaper and for postage to Canada at Magazine Rate NOW AVAILABLE TO THE TRADE SOUND-ON-FILM REOORDING IN WARDOUR STREET Winads British Screen” Service announce that their Sound Recording System is now available for Post Synchronisation and Running Commentary Work. Prices are reasonable and the quality is definitely guaranteed, so much so that in the event of any recording not meeting with the entire satisfaction no charge is made. Producers and Exhibitors should get in touch with us at once. Please address communications to:-— TRAILER HEADQUARTERS, RECORDING DEPARTMENT, WINADS BRITISH SCREEN SERVICE 93 -95, WARDOUR STREET, W. I Telephone: Gerrard 3397. Telegrams: Winadfilm, London THE LARGEST BRITISH TRAILER SERVICE IN THE WORLD . THE BIOSCOPE April 6, 1932 Efficiency/^ in every phase of cinema manage- ment can he yours with the aid of these volumes, written by men with years of experience and y knowledge, for your guidance \^ VV1 'FH.TLICH.MVDSON’S •'‘\\ handbookor •..\\ hloiectctn 'i\ ^! stMEoirioN ' \\ ^ ^^<‘!df“oSiookofVroJcc/imt \ ' W I SOUND RECOKDINi; t BUILDING RHPRODUCnON ANd( f PROJECnuti 1 \ i 'ji' '-T'-.v'-; \ \\ TH E ATR E THE AUTHORITY PATRONAGE ON SOUND v\ J' THE STANDARD BOOK ON PROJECTION ^5? C/iaftners ^Piiftficnfron THEATRE MANAGEMENT and THEATRE ADVERTISING RICHARDSON’S HANDBOOK OF Covering the following aubjecta : Theatre, Outdoor & Newspaper Advertising, PROJECTION Legal Problems, Ventilating, Music & Colour Known as the “ Blue Book of Projection,” this work is undoubtedly the last word on the subject. Three volumes. by BARRY and SARGENT 25^6 post free Vols. 1 and 2, 30/6 ; Vol. 3, 25/6, post free WRITE FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF BOOKS SOLD BY ••THE BIOSCOPE” BOOKSHOP Complete Set only 56/-, post free “THE BIOSCOPE” service to subscribers PUBLICATIONS FOR 10/6 Includes the invaluable “BIOSCOPE” RAPID REVIEWS Monthly summaries of current Film Reviews in handy pocket size SEND YOUR SUBSCRIPTION NOW TO *”raE COHMON LAW THE BIOSCOPE PUBLISHING Co., Ltd. 8- 10, CHARING CROSS ROAD LONDON, W.C.2 April G, 1!)32 THE BIOSCOPE FOX’S "CARELESS LADY London headquarters of the Fox Co. ha/e receded copies of the new film "Careless Lady/' in which Joan Bennett, John Boles, Minna Gombell, and Weldon Heyburn are players. Trade shows are being arranged and will be announced shortly. i- THE BIOSCOPE Apkii, C). 1932 Johnny Weissmuller, the champion swim- ming Goliath, is starred with Maureen ' O Sullivan in M-G-M's new picture, "Tarzan The Ape Man." Supporting pJayers | include Aubrey Smith and Neil Hamilton. # — "TARZAN THE 1 4 April 0, 1932 THE BIOSCOPE ) W. S. Van Dyke, director of "Trad er Horn," is responsible also for "Tarzan The Ape Man," which will be presented to trade viewers at bhe Phoenix Theatre, on Monday * next, April 11, at 8.45 p.m. APE MAN" t) THE BIOSCOPE April (i, 1932 It may be a matter of opinion as to " whether It's Tough To be Famous," but First National will prove at the Prince Edward Theatre on Tuesday, April 12, at 8.45 p.m., thab that is how Douglas Fair- banks, Jnr., and Mary Brian are feeling about it. 4 I I 1 'IT'S TOUGH TO BE FAMOUS 1 ; 24th YEAR. Telephone : Temple Bar 7922. SUBSCRIPTION 7921, Home The Independent Film Trade Paper 10 '6 per annum. Telegrams : (FOUNDED BY JOHN CABOURN) Abroad ‘Gainsaid,Westrand 30/- per annum. Faraday House, London.” 8-10, Charing Cross Road, London, W.C. 2. No. 1331, Vol. XCI. APRIL 6, 1932 PRICE 6d. As We See It mainly responsible for placing him where of motion pictures : he is one of the The Beckenham he is. veiy^ few in Britain, although there are Mr. Selfridge was the guest of C. M. plenty of “ film directors.” Scandal Woolf and the directors of Gainsborough He has been called a screen stuntist, Pictures and had just heard outlined an artist in The Beckenham Pavilion has closed publiciW, a critic vamper Michael Balcon’s plans for the filming and a megaphonic spoofer (or things to down ; many a cinema has of part of the next Gainsborough picture, that effect). But he has made pictures switched off its lights because public “ Love on Wheels,” in the great Selfridge which may be written into British film patronage has been insufficient to keep store. history- without necessity for italics or them burning many will doubt- ; It is to unfold a tale of 3-oung London underlines. He is a film craftsman with less meet the same unhappy ex- store assistants ; a story of eveiy'da^^ that rare faculty for homogenising the perience. life. What better background could be artistic and the commercial in motion But it should at once be made an found for a British film ? pictures. That ability alone endows him impossibility for a cinema, or any Again Mr. Selfridge reminds us that with qualities of studio leadership. other legitimate business enterprise, to an American journalist has computed The important question is, will he, as that women devote per cent, of their supervisor of British be hounded out of profitable existence 50 International pro- conversation to dress and of the remain- ductions, be given his head ? Will he by bureaucracy, as the Beckenham ing 50 per cent, half is taken up in dis- be permitted freety to encourage to Pavilion has been. ; cussing the movies. evolve to create to ; ; supervise to Council, in ; The Beckenham January But that is in America, where the lead ? “ ” last, created a local censorship panel publicity’ outlook which characterises Will he be able to insist that his of nine. Not content with the constitu- Mr. Selfridge, and all too few other efforts, and those of the sapling directors tion of the British Board of Film British business men, is fostered gener- in his charge, shall be free from inter- Censors and the special representation ally. ference on the part of an executive with It will a for British local authorities enjoy through its be good day trade admirable qualifications in many other when of our leaders newly formed Consultative Committee, more grasp the spheres, but none for the making of import of Mr. Selfridge’s message. And successful motion pictures ? these local censors of Beckenham have that da^- can be hastened most sureH' Elstree has given us our surprises it so interfered with local cinema pro- ; by the spread of a film publicity sense has also given us our disappointments. grammes as to alienate a large section such as prompts the Gainsborough Com- Too few of the former and, of late, too of public, the local who, resenting the pan}^ to seek and Mr. Selfridge to concede, many of the latter. And the reason spoon-feeding attitude of their local facilities for real British backgrounds in advanced those with a facilitv for Bumbles, have transferred their British films. reaching the truth has always been the ” ” patronage to cinemas outside this area Trade follows the film seems a same—lack of freedom on the part of of petty tyranny. sound and simple slogan, but it has so directors to develop individual ideas. far proved a hard one for the British “ Beckenham Council should now re- Elstree has had too much itch.” The mentality' to absorb. substitution of a " ” nounce its policy of interference. It Hitch should work wonders. cannot repair the damage it has done, “Hitch” To Cure “Itch” The new Elstree policy' may represent but it can discontinue this scandalous an economy' idea, but it can produce not system of so-called censorship before Alfred Hitchcock, principal film only cheaper, but better pictures. other local cinemas— alreadv suffering director attached to British International the results of heavy taxation and re- Pictures, the largest single unit in duced public spending power — are British film production, is to undertake supervision of a number of B.I. pro- forced into liquidation and removed In page ductions during the next twelve months This Issue— from the head of the list of local rate- ” and will tutor ” young film directors. Agitation Against Double Features 8 payers. John Maxwell, B.I.P. Chief, is to be French Exhibitors’ Tax Relief ... 8 congratulated on his courage and sporting B.I.P. American Distribution ... 9 Selfridge Salesmanship spirit, if the object of this new studio Beckenham Cinema Closes ... 9 “ Personally Speaking 10 We want to make of London the policy is to increase the supply of efficient British Production Field... ... 10 centre where the finest work is done, and film directors available for creative Talk of the Trade 11 that having been accomplished it must be work, on behalf, not only of his company, Bo.x Office Film Reviews ]2, 13, 15 associated with publicity and the whole but ultimately of rival British producers. Financial News and Views ... 14 world told. is the spirit which That has been so News from the Territories .... ]6 " Publicity can do almost everything.” sadly lacking in British production B.K.S. Symposium ; its 17 Gordon Selfridge, the uncrowned King absence has so far held in postponement Showmanship Activities 20 of Storekeepers, thus epitomised his the realisation of an absolutely neck and Gaumont Palace, Hammersmith 21 Coming Trade faith in publicity as a driving force in neck race between Elstree and Hollywood. Shows ... ... 22 salesmanship faith which has ; a been Hitchcock is acknowledged as a creator 8 THE BIOSCOPE April 6, 1932 Producer-Renters to Kill Double Features? Proposal to Restrict by Contract Clause [By " The Bioscope " New York Representative, Ernest A.