FILM NEWS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 490, 20 October 1928, Page 23

FILM NEWS

Producers Now Need Editorial Abilities

Prominent producers believe that the public's choice of pictures is influenced largely by the news of contemporary events. Not long ago, an article entitled “Celluloid Vogues,’’ discussed the constantly-varying demands of film fans. An experienced picture executive now advances his theory of film vogues. “In the wake of the news comes the feature photoplays of to-day,” he says. “My task may be likened to the duties of a newspaper editor. From cable, telegraph and local reports the newspaper editor chooses for his front page those items most likely to interest the public. From the news sensations of the day a film producer in turn chooses certain themes or actual occurrences to be featured in celluloid. In this way a cycle of crime pictures came into existence. Press accounts of gang activities are said to have inspired

“Dressed To Kill,” John Gilbert’s “Four Walls,” “Underworld,” “The Drag Net,” “Ladies of the Mob,” “Forgotten Faces,” and many others. “The underworld wave is passing, and mystery pictures, a direct derivative, are taking their place. “The Haunted House,” “The Canary Murder Case,” “The Case of Lena Smith” are a few in point “•That motion pictures move in cycles is no news to the fan who, applauding one Russian picture, is shortly afterward presented with half a dozen others,” he adds. ‘Tempest,’ with John Barrymore; ‘The Cossacks,’ with John Gilbert; ‘The Red Dance,’ with Dolores Del Rio; ‘The Patriot,’ and ‘The Last Command,' with Emil Jannings are a few that probably owe their inspiration to Edwin Carewe’s ‘Resurrection.’