The Film Daily (1937)

m DAILY Monday, Dec. 13, V.\' song writers suits REVIEWS Of R E UJ fILmS TO ESTABLISH RIGHTS i •■. Pagi 1 1 tains in his composition after turning it over to a publisher whose practice it is now to vest the copyright ownership in himself. Papers were served on Irving Berlin. Inc., and Jack Mills, Inc., but it is understood that actual complaints have not yet been filed in the Supreme Court. Whether or not the suits just begun will seek only a clarification judgment on the small lights, or will include the demand tor the return of the 10 per cent deducted from the writers on royalty statements for collection of electrical transcription and motion picture licenses, apparently has not yet been decided. The 10 per cent re-distribution sought is the fee taken by the Music Publishers Protective Association for clearing and administering the transcription and other licenses. SPA declares this should be paid by the publishers, and it is estimated that since 1931 the MPPA has collected some $1,200,000, part of which has gone to the writers, but from which gross the 10 per cent has been deducted. Meantime, a meeting is scheduled for next Wednesday between John Schulman, of the law offices of Hays, St. John, Abramson & Schulman, representing the SPA, and Howard E. Reinheimer and Abe Berman, the latter two attorneys representing different factions of the writer ranks. Meeting will endeavor to arrange a by-law setup of the SPA which will be satisfactory to all. Early Agreement on Pact For Exchanges Expected Master agreement governing wages and hours of film exchange employes throughout the nation is expected to be reached at an early date by delegates of IATSE and sales managers of eight major companies who will hold a first meeting tomorrow at one o'clock in the Warner Bros. Building. 321 West 44th St. Original pact expired several weeks ago after having served as temporary guide. Louis Krause and John Gatelee of IATSE, are to act for union. "Exiled to Shanghai" with Wallace Ford. June Travis, Dean Jagger, William Bakewell Republic 64 Mins. FAIRLY ENTERTAINING PIX, WITH ENOUGH FAST ACTION TO PLEASE THE MELLER" FANS. The use of television as a newsreel medium provides the plot in this one, with plenty of skullduggery and stunts by the cast helping to make pix a pleasing program offering. The story has plenty of action, although a bit incredible at times, and the cast is conscientious in its efforts to please. Wallace Ford, cameraman for a newsreel syndicate, returns from Spanish vVar to discover that most of his best shots have already appeared by wirefoto. Dean Jagger, another cameraman for syndicate who was cheated out of Spanish assignment by Ford, has been made editor of syndicate. He sends Ford out to cover a "sweeps" winner. Ford accidentally films June Travis, who won a slogan contest. Ford is fired, and he and June try to sell an idea for a television newsreel without success, until William Harrigan, a crooked promoter, helps him out. Harrigan stages a fake demonstration which Ford's old boss sees, and buys outright for his syndicate. Ford discovers the deception and stops Harrigan from getting away with money, but is suspected himself. June is on her way home, disillusioned, but Ford clears himself and boards train after a parachute jump. The television idea is used successfully, Jagger is sent to China and Ford gets Miss Travis, with everybody happy. CAST: Wallace Ford, June Travis, Dean Jagger, William Bakewell, Arthur Lake, Jonathan Hale, William Harrigan, Sarah Padden, Syd Saylor, Charles Trowbridge, Johnny Arthur, Maurice Cass, Minerva Urecal, Sally Payne. CREDITS: Associate Producer, Armand Schaefer; Director, Nick Grinde; Original Story and Screenplay, Wellyn Totman; Editor, Howard O'Neill; Cameraman, Ernest Miller. DIRECTION, Fast. (PHOTOGRAPHY,. Fair. * SHORTS * Community Sing Columbia 10 Mins. Fine for Naborhoods With the setting in a barber shop, a quartet present some of the old favorites, such as "Smiles," "Oh What A Girl Was Mary," and "I Want A Girl Just Like That Girl That Married Dear Old Dad." Deane Janis solos with "Some of These Days." Robert Paige does a number with a manicurist, "Ain't She Sweet?" . . . the finale has the quartet singing "Down By the Old Mill Stream." The words of the choruses are on the screen for the community singers in the audience to join in. Directed by Del Lord. Gene Morgan is featured. "Cadet Champions" (Sport Thrills) Columbia 10 Mins. Lively Recreation The West Point cadets are seen doing their strenuous round of physical activities in the gymasium and on the field. First comes the Indian club calisthenics. Precision exercises. The parallel bars for muscle control. Fencing to acquire grace. Then boxing, with the boys trading hard punches. Riding. The rough game of lacrosse. Also football. Shows that the life at West Point is one that calls for some hard work in the name of recreation. Narrated by Ford Bond. Harris Named Successor To Fox in Skouras Post Philadelphia Variety Club Dinner Draws Many Guests In a last-minute change in plans, Jack Harris has been appointed film buyer and booker for the Skouras Theater Circuit, replacing Matty Fox who moves over to Universal as assistant to Nate Blumberg, new president. William A White, who had been announced for the post, remains as general manager of the circuit. Philadelphia — With civic, state and national notables present to augment the array of industry execs, Tent No. 13 of the Variety Club held its third annual dinner here last night at the BellevueStratford. Among the guests of honor was Louis Nizer, of the New York law firm of Phillips & Nizer, who discussed the duties of charity. Other invited guests included Senators Joseph Guffey and James J. Davis, Postmaster General James A. Farley, Mayor S. Davis Wilson, Mayor LaGuardia of New York and District Attorney Thomas A. Dewey. The affair was in the hands of Ted Schlanger, Leonard Schlesinger, Ben Amsterdam and Jack Beresin. "Silver Threads" (Strange As It Seems) Columbia 10 Mins. Nice Human Interest A heart throb story purporting to tell the real drama in back of the writing of the famous song "Silver Threads Among the Gold." The song writer who composed it, Hart Danks, is seen with his wife at the piano singing it as he first completed it in 1872. Success of the song sent him on a spree of wild living. The couple separated, and finished their lives in misery alone. The moral is pointed that this song that has helped so many other couples proved their ruin. Directed by Leonard Poole. Expect Equity's Council To Approve $40 Minimum Council of Actors Equity is expected to ratify establishment of a single minimum wage of $40, endorsed by official committees of the association at the union's quarterly meeting. Standard will bring junior members' $25 wage to new level, increasing only about one-fifth of normal casts. LITTL6 f ROm LOT! By RALPH WTLK HOLLYWC ) Foster. Bourne Head Cast pRESTON FOSTER and Whit f Bourne, former New York act' i who has been scoring heavily in \ cent films, have been assigned j top roles in the RKO Radio in romance, "The Perfect Alibi," wl I Maury Cohen will produce and If Landers direct. » ▼ » Allwyn Opposite LaRocuue Astrid Allwyn has been signed the leading feminine role oppo i Rod LaRocque in Grand Nation I "The Shadow Speaks," second oj series of four pictures built aro the famous magazine and n'| character, the first of which is currently released, "The Shai Strikes." T T T In "Wide Open Faces" Lyda Roberti, Alison Skipwo Jane Wyman. Barbara Pepper, A, Baxter and Stanley Fields among the members of the cast "Wide Open Faces," starring E. Brown and being produced David L. Loew. Kurt Neumann directing. T T T It's "Free and Easy" The Hal Roach picture which ' star Ronald Colman has b changed from "Fancy Free" "Free and Easy," original by I Hatch. Schuberts' holding a p titled "Fancy Free" caused title change to "Free and Easy. I Conway to Talk Contract With Majors This We Series of strikes directed aga indie theaters is planned for I week by Local 54, Building Ser Employes, an A. F. of L. affiliate, cording to Lou Conway, presid' At the same time Conway announ the conclusion of a four-hour sti Friday resulting in a contract gn ing two employes 25 p.c. wage crease; six-day 42-hour week; t and a half for overtime; and va tion with pay. Settlement was w Livonia Theater, Brooklyn. Conway declared that he will m with major circuit officials this w< following postponement caused other business. Officials of R^ Loew's, Warner Bros., Brandt . Randforce circuit are slated to tend confabs. Decency Pledge Taken Albany— Catholics throughout , Albany diocese took a pledge atj Masses yesterday to "strength! public opinion against the prod1tion of indecent and immoral fiM and to unite with all who prom against them; to stay away fnj moving picture houses which sb ' indecent films — as a matter of d icy." I