The Film Daily (1939)

DAILY Thursday, April 6, 1939; REPUBLIC SETS TITLES FOR ALL 50 ON LINEUP (Continued from Page 1) on March 13, Republic is dropping "B" pix next season and will materially increase the number of higherbudget productions. The Western and serial program, however, parallels that currently in effect. Outstanding titles, to be made with $750,000 minimum budgets, will be "Seven Million Dollars," by Sinclair Lewis; "The Dark Command," by W. R. Burnett; "Two Orphans," by R. D'Ennery, and "Wagons Westward," by Armstrong Sperry. These pix, the convention will be told, will form the "De Luxe Productions" group. "Two Orphans" will be one of three re-makes on the Republic lineup. It was made in 1915. Others are "Call of the North," by Jack London, filmed in 1921, and "Tillie the Toiler," from the Russ Westover cartoon strip, first made in 1927. Titles and authors of six "Anniversary Specials" are: "Lady from New Orleans," Beth Brown; "Tillie the Toiler," Russ Westover; "Storm Over India," Achmed Abdullah; "Guilty of Treason," Peter B. Kyne; "Gangs of Chicago" (no writer assigned), "The Crooked Road," Nat Ferber. In the "Jubilee Productions" group will be: "Escape from Sing Sing," Louis Berg; "Call of the North," Jack London; "The Champ Maker," Kendal Evans and Frank Scully; "Bengal Border Patrol," Adrian Johnson; "Forgotten Girls," Earl Felton; "Tom Sawyer Abroad," Mark Twain; "Wolf of New York," Nat Ferber; "Girl from God's Country," Nell Shipman; "Bowery Boy," Sam Fuller; "A Sporting Chance," Richard Wormser; "Man of the Hour," George Broadhurst; "Here Come the Marines," Mildred Cram; and four Higgins Family pix, "The Fighting Irish," "A Day at the World's Fair," "We're in the Money" and "Everybody's Happy." Gene Autry's eight will run strongly to pop song titles and phrases. Set for Autry are: "When the Moon Comes Over the Mountain," "Village Barn Dance," "Just a Song at Twilight," "Old Faithful," "Ride, Tenderfoot, Ride," "Round-up Time in Reno," "Down by the Old WEDDING BELLS Engagement of Joan Votsis, associate editor of Screen Book, Fawcett publication, to Peter Curtis, Newark, N. J., is to be announced formally Easter Sunday. Miami — Hampton W. Howard, p.a. for the Fleischer Studios, Inc., and Edna Root Von Ehrbar, artist employed by the studio, were married here by Rawls Johnston, chief clerk at the county judge's office. Lund to Conduct Hearing on Own Bill Springfield, III. — Designation of Rep. Lund, bill's sponsor, as chairman of a House Judiciary sub-committee, has paved the way for early hearing on the pending Illinois anti-block booking and blind selling measure. Bill was introduced in the House on Jan. 31. Pathe Film to Distribute Laboratories Stock Apr. 28 Directors of Pathe Fillm Corp. have voted to distribute the remaining 50 per cent of the outstanding common capital stock of Pathe Laboratories, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary company, payable on or about April 28, to stockholders of April 14 record. Distribution will be made on the basis of one share of the Laboratories stock for each 100 shares of Pathe Film Corp. common stock. Common stock scrip of the Laboratories company will be issued for any fractional part of 100 shares of the Pathe Film Corp. stock. This action follows in line with the segregation policy announced by the company when the new subsidiary company was formed. It had previously been the intention of Pathe Film to hold 50 per cent of the new company stock for about two years before distribution was made. Remainder of the Laboratories stock has already been distributed to stockholders. Pathe Film Stockholder Would Give Books the 0-0 Petition was filed in Supreme Court yesterday for inspection of books and records of Pathe Film Corp. by Anna Bashlow, holder of 200 common shares. Hearing will be held today. She states that at the Feb. 16 stockholders' meeting she demanded right to inspect books and was given assurance of their availability, but has not been accorded privilege to date, and, further, that in company's financial statements of 1936, 1937 and at the Februarv meeting there were statements of transactions and expenses unexplained. Additionally, she questions details of the GN-Pathe deal, and asserts that immediate examination is urgent since Pathe is going ahead under the recently approved plan and is transferring thereunder its assets. Mill Stream" and "Carolina Moon." Roy Rogers will be seen in "The Arizona Kid," "Death Valley Days," "In Old Cheyenne," "Robinhood of the Pecos," "Man from Rio," "Washington Cowboy," "Days of '49" and "Wyoming Wildcat." The Three Mesquiteers will be presented in "Cowboys from Texas," "Sons of the Saddle," "West of Santa Fe," "Oklahoma Outlaws," "Rocky Mountain Rangers," "Pioneers of the West," "Covered Wagon Days" and "Arizona Skies." Four serials planned are split between "super-serials," "The Lone Texas Ranger" and "Drums of Fu Manchu," and "Streamline Serials," "King of the Royal Mounted" and "Jimmy Valentine Strikes Again." Pan-American Good-Will Seen Helping U. S. Biz Pronounced feeling of good-will on the part of Pan-American nations toward film equipment and general U. S.-made merchandise is assurance that products of this country will continue to find an expanding market, it was declared yesterday by Miles A. Goldrick, Erpi's general foreign manager, upon his return to New York yesterday from a 20,000mile air tour through 26 countries of South and Central America, plus the Caribbean. Of primary importance at this time, he added, is the proper cultivation of this market. Business conditions in South America, he found, are generally unsettled, but film trade is faring comparatively well. In Mexico, over the past two years, the theater business has been undergoing unusual growth. Local estimates there place the increase as high as 70 per cent, accounted for by the growing use of films recorded in the native language which have proved highly popular in the rural sections. Pui'pose of Goldrick's extended trip was to arrange for distribution of a complete line of American-made booth equipment in all major film centers. U. S. Supreme Court Will Resume Sitting Apr. 17 Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — U. S. Supreme Court will not convene here until Apr. 17, thereby obviating any decisions in matters affecting the film industry until that date. Observers here look for a possible decision in the Florida and Washington anti-Ascap actions on that date, and believe that Chief Justice Hughes, who has recovered from a recent illness, may be personally writing the opinions. GN Names Max Shulgold as Pittsburgh Manager Pittsburgh — Charles Dortic has resigned as branch manager of the local Grand National exchange to join the Warner-First National sales staff and will cover the West Virginia territory, replacing Maurice Kinsler who recently resigned. Max Shulgold, salesman for Grand National, succeeds Dortic as branch manager. Operators Stay With IATSE Pittsburgh — Local 171, operators' union has voted to continue under the Jurisdiction of the IATSE for the next two years. Local has been operated by the International for the past five years. Vote was 182 to 14 in favor of the Internationa] operation. MEX. LABOR DEMANDS WORRY U. S. MAJORS (Continued from Page 1) put up a united front in fighting the j demands or else withdraw entirely from the country. *r> Heads of major companies' foreign departments are preparing to meet next week to determine a course of action. It is reported that information regarding the new demands have been received by the home offices and, while details are lacking, the provisions are described as "drastic." Efforts will be made to hold all the distributors in line on a single policy as to the stand they will take in meeting or combatting the reported demands. Trade Reform Draft Praised by Prexy of Neb.-lowa MPTO (Continued from Page 1) president of the MPTO of Nebraska and Iowa, who expressed his approval of the proposals to The Film Daily. He predicted some modifications after the pact has had a chance to be used, however. A general meeting of members in this territory to discuss the code is being considered. Goetz and Gordon Leave for Coast on April 15 (Continued from Page 1) will make for RKO release. Aside from Raymond Massey, who will portray Lincoln, no other members f of the cast have been selected. Production is scheduled to get under way in July. Modest Altschuler Suing for $250,000 Song Balm Suit was filed yesterday in Supreme Court by Modest Altschuler against RKO Radio Pictures, Walt Disney Enterprises, Walt Disney Productions, Irving Berlin, Inc., and Frank Curchill. Plaintiff asks $250,000 damages,, plus injunction and accounting of profits, claiming he is composer of "Russian Soldier's Song," which, he alleges was plagiarized by the Frank Curchill composition, "W h i s 1 1 e While You Work," in the Disney picture "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." Answers on file carry defendants' denials of charge, and their claim that Altschuler's song is uncopyrighted. STORKS! Memphis, Tenn. — It's a boy for Lew Andrews, aide to M. A. Light' man, and Mrs. Andrews. New son will be tagged James Hardy.