The Film Daily (1938)

rsday, August 11, 1938 DAILY , GIVES FULL SUPPORT TO DRIVE (Continued from Page 1 ) s: Press — Charles Winchell, airman, Maurie Abrams, George Enstrum, Bob Blotcky and Cliff "^heater Co-operation — John ik-r/ chairman, Bill Glazer, Ben iedman, John Piller, Martin Lebef, Sid Blackmore; Exchanges — ■lb Workman, chairman, Ralph amblatt, Bob Mansky, Charles ■Biner; Accessories — Moe Levy, iirman, Barry Burke, Eddie Rub \!1 prominent territory exhibitors re present among the 75 attend l the meet. After Andy W. Smith, ') resenting the national campaign umittee, explained the campaign )kn, Steffes read a message from naefer applauding the meeting and 3)mising co-operation. The committees will begin work '■'. soon as supplies are furnished headquarters. Among other business matters at B meeting was Steffes' proposal join the Minnesota Amusement L in observing "movie day" as a iture of national sales promotion a in progress here. Date was tenively set for Tuesday, Aug. 23. dependents agreed to join and >ffes will appoint a co-operating nmittee to confer with the Pub \ chairman. Steffes also warned the indies not 1 sign agreements or make promis that they would not play pieces not agreeable to a Catholic ^anization. This group has been 'ivasing local theaters for prom's not to play "Blockade." F of A and Philly UEA Pointed for Amalgamation Amalgamation of the American 'deration of Actors and the United tertainers Association in Phila phia will be worked out at a : iirganization meeting scheduled to i held in Musicians Hall, in Philly, | Sept. 25, Film Daily learned B week. I A.t the present time the AFA is •rying on an active organization ve in Pittsburgh, with Ralph litehead, executive secretary mding the past week there di•ting the campaign. It is expected AFA headquarters that the city 1 be completely organized in the ir future. SText scheduled drives of the ornization will be launched in Bosi and Chicago, it was said. These ves are expected to get under way Irving Berlin to Hub living Berlin, and Rodney Bush the 20th-Fox publicity departnt, trained out last night for ston to handle publicity and arigements for the opening of lexander's Ragtime Band" at the tropolitan Theater there tonight, rlin and Bush will return to New irk on Friday or Saturday. Screen Actors Guild Pledges Support to Film Biz Drive (Continued from Page 1) directors of the Screen Actors Guild at a meeting here. Full co-operation with the producers and distributors and the independent theaters in their drive to stimulate interest in motion pictures was promised and the actors stated their belief that the million dollar campaign will also prove a great stimulant to business in general. The text of the resolution follows: "Whereas the motion picture industry has inaugurated a business drive for the purpose of stimulating interest in motion pictures and bringing about increased theater attendance under the slogan 'Motion Pictures Are Your Best Entertainment' and whereas this campaign is designed to improve business conditions generally while improving those of our own industry particularly therefore be it resolved that the Screen Actors Guild herewith endorse that campaign and pledges its enthusiastic support in this endeavor." Chicago Exhibitors Over Top in Raising Film Ad. Fund (Continued from Page 1) Silverman, raised $10,000 towards the fund at the initial exhibitor meet Aug. 5 at which Gradwell L. Sears, Warner general sales manager, explanied the purposes of the campaign. Quota for the Chicago area was set at $25,000, and it is this amount which has now been fully subscribed. Silverman left Chicago last night for New Yoi'k to confer with representatives of the national fund committee. Hoffberg to Talk Deals on Country-wide Swing Starting a country-wide survey tour after Labor Day, J. H. Hoffberg, president of J. H. Hoffberg Co., will talk product deals with exhibitors and discuss several distribution deals with Hollywood producers, he told The Film Daily yesterday. Hoffberg plans to be gone about five weeks, flying between most of the cities he will visit. Emphasis will be given to a survey of theaters where possible distribution deals for foreign pictures can be made, he said. Hoffberg declared that several proposals have been laid before him by Coast producers for world-wide distribution of their product, and he will negotiate with these producers while on the Coast. He will visit Chicago, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle and Portland, and will also include a number of southern cities in his itinerary. Flint Bans Games Detroit — "Tango," described as a variety of bingo and "all commercial forms of the game," have been outlawed by Flint police. «REVieWS» "Smashing the Rackets" with Chester Morris, Frances Mercer, Bruce Cabot RKO Radio 65 Mins. AS SMASHING AS ITS TITLE, THIS RACKET-BUSTING SAGA RINGS THE BO BELL. This is one of the most vivid and realistic gangster stories ever produced. It follows closely the developments in racket busting in New York that have been featured in the papers for months, but treats it of course from the inside, showing just how the cracking down on the mobsters was accomplished. What helps to create the atmosphere of grim realism more than anything is the fine performance of Chester Morris as the hard-hitting special prosecutor who never seems to be acting, but just going about his business as a gent with a practical knowledge of gangsters from his experience as a former G-Man. Many of the scenes are presented as if factual photographing of newspaper stories, and this also adds to the swell effect of realism that few gangster pictures have attained. Chester Morris is hired as an assistant district attorney by the D.A. of the big town who is playing politics and wants to use the young G-Man's popularity as a vote-getter. Morris soon learns he is a figurehead, and starts going after things in earnest when a special grand jury's investigation gives him the opportunity. They appoint him their special investigator, and freed of the crooked influence of the D.A's office, he starts to crack down hard on the mobsters, using their own tactics against them. One punch sequence along these lines is where he and his men kidnap two gangsters after a jury acquits them of murder, and one of them is taken in a room and given a terrific beating, with only the sounds coming through the door to break the other gangster down and make him confess. Then the door is opened to reveal a phonograph record doing the noise-making. There are many such touches throughout the film that lend a punch and keep the interest mounting. The audience is let in on the fact that Bruce Cabot, as a crooked lawyer for the mobs, has taken over the main rackets after disposing of the gang lord. Morris' campaign for uncovering him keeps the suspense taut, and involves romantic interest with two femmes favored by Cabot and himself. The sister of Morris' girl friend has got herself involved with the lawyer-racketeer czar who has taken over, and there is an extremely naturalistic touch with the girl's tragic death at the end. It has a terrific punch all the way. Chester Morris is excellent, and that goes for Bruce Cabot, who both play their parts with grim realism. The girls are very capable, Frances Mercer as the society girl who is interested in the young prosecutor, and Rita Johnson as her foolish sister. There are some fine gangster types in strong bits. The direction is something to cheer about. CAST: Chester Morris, Frances Mercei, Rita Johnson, Bruce Cabot, Ben Welden, Edward Pawley, Donald Douglas, Kay Sutton, Paul Fix, Edward Acuff, George Irving. CREDITS: Producer, B. P. Fineman; Di EXTENSION OF PRESS FREEDOM TO PIX LOST (Continued from Page 1) abolish the State board of motion picture censorship, came on a motion of Henry A. Hirschberg (R., Newburgh), to bring it from the committee which shelved it several weeks ago. The vote was 62 to 28. Hirschberg, who is Orange County District Attorney, branded the present motion picture censorship "an un-American attempt to throttle ideas" and contended "there has been no instance of man, woman or child being injured by indecency on the screen." Expect "Alexander" to Hit 200,000 Mark in Roxy Week (Continued from Page 1) its first week there with every indication pointing to a further alltime attendance record of over 200,000 people for one week. The film opened yesterday in Hollywood and Los Angeles, with SRO signs in front of both houses it played from the time it opened, the home office was advised last night. Pix opens in Boston, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh today, with openings scheduled for Houston and Chicago on Friday, Cleveland and Dallas on Saturday, Denver, 16th, Memphis and Seattle, 17th, and San Francisco, 18th. National release date is Aug. 19, with all showings up to that date pre-release engagements. 20-60-Day Extension for Filing Equity Suit Answers Washington Bureau of THE FILM 'DAILY Washington — Confirmation that the Department of Justice is granting a general additional period for the filing of answers in the government's equity suit against the majors came yesterday. A department spokesman stated that a 20 to 60-day extension is being granted all those applying for additional period in which to file answers. It was also learned at Justice Department that the West Coast investigation is still officially "on," with only preliminary confidential reports received. Serwer Successor Awaits Return of Buddy Morris Appointment of a successor to the late Sam Serwer as sales and advertising manager for Music Publishers Holding Co., Warner subsidiary, awaits the return from Europe of Buddy Morris, it was said yesterday. Morris returns in about two weeks. rector, Lew Landers; Author, Forrest Davis; Screenplay, Lionel Houser; Editor, Harry Marker; Cameraman, Nicholas Musuraca. DIRECTION, Excellent. PHOTOGRAPHY, The Best.