The Film Daily (1948)

W'\ DAILY Wednesday, March 3, 194s| \ Syndicate Purchases Film Center Building (Continued from Page 1) Readie, Jr., president of ithe latter firm, in turn assigned the contract to a syndicate represented by Judd and Garfein, attorneys. Sale of the 13-story building, whose site extends from 44th St. to 45th St. on Ninth Ave., was subject to a mortgage of about $1,700,000. Selling stockholders were irepresented by Harold Schwarzberg of Skutch and Barton. Reade was represented by Margolin, Feldman and Blinkoff. Brokers Brener and Lewis, who made the sale, have been appointed managing agents for the new owners whose identity has not yet been revealed. Housing the Metro, RKO, Universal, Columbia and other exchanges, the building was erected 17 years ago and has since been under the original ownership. Sorrell Appearing Before House Labor Group Today (Continued from Page 1) the first witness before the House Labor Subcommittee which for a week has been listening to various opinions about his politics. Levy yesterday accused the producers of trying to "squelch" any public investigation of Communism in the studio labor picture, insisting producers "know the full story about Communism in labor and talent ranks." But he held that it takes outside pressure to force them to move. Concluding long hours of testimony on the issue of Communism in the CSU, Levy found that he has still not convinced the Committee that is the paramount issue. Chairman Carroll D. Kearns pointed out that no matter what else is brought up, the discussion always seems to go back to the directive of the three-man AFL executive committee board. Rep. Thomas Owens, disposed to be friendly toward IATSE, insisted that the failure of the AFL leadership to settle the jurisdictional troubles seemed to him basic. Hollywood IATSE representative Roy Brewer was on the stand the major part of yesterday. He said he thought the Communist objective was a ClO-type industrial union to cover all studio craft workers. With such a unit functioning, he said, "the producers would be forced to dance to their tune." STORKS Columbus, O. — A boy was born to the wife of Herbert Solomon, man ager of the New Theater. Worcester, Mass. — Lawson Daniels, manager of the Royal Theater reports the arrival of a new son. REVIEWS Of REUJ fILffiS "The Bride Goes Wild" with Van Johnson, June Allyson, Butch Jenkins M-G-M 98 Mins. WILL ENTERTAIN HANDSOMELY; SOUND COMEDY SHOULD LURE THEM IN APLENTY. The stuff that provokes laughter to lift the roof is contained in "The Bride Goes Wild." This was observed by this reviewer at a sneak preview recently in Yonkers where it was a midweek event. Gales of laughter and howls of delight pervaded the theater. Everybody was happy, handsomely entertained. Routine as the story is, it is nevertheless a highly polished job, shrewdly handled to keep the light note always forward. Another addition to the gallery of laff getters, this one also comes along when such fare is very much in demand. Easily accomplishing its entertainment purpose, "The Bride Goes Wild" is a sound lure to attract a great deal of patronage. Cast is capable, give good accounts of themselves and the gay aspects of their romp through the proceedings are contagious. Van Johnson proves himself a comedian with a flair for the form and times his uproarious sallies with neat dispatch. Miss Allyson is good. Hume Cronyn and Butch Jenkins support the comedic structure ably. Stalwart support is contributed by Una Merkel, Arlene Dahl, Richard Derr, Lloyd Corrigan, Elisabeth Risdon. Writer of light literature for kids, Johnson is also a aficionado of the bottle, a gay, good-time guy with the girls. He hates kids. Miss Allyson wins an art contest sponsored by the publishing company, comes to New York from Vermont. On their first meeting, impressed by Johnson's loneliness and need for sympathy, she goes out with him. He gets her drunk on spiked coffee. In order to keep her around Publisher Hume Cronyn rents out Butch Jenkins from an orphanage, passes him off as Johnson's son. He then interests Miss Allyson in resuming her illustrations. The predictable romance blooms, Young Jenkins annoys the grownups, kicks everyone in range in the shins. Arlene Dahl, an eld Johnson flame, comes on the scene. Johnson and Jenkins get together write a book about ants. Then Miss Allyson goes off to marry Richard Derr. Jenkins is to be adopted by them. Johnson has a session with his real feelings. He phones Jenkins to louse up — or rather to ant up — the wedding, tears off to rescue Miss Allyson. Yarn ends on a wow gag note. Norman Taurog directed. Story ingredients in quality and quantity again evolve a bangup job. CAST: Van Johnson, June Allyson, Butch Jenkins, Hume Cronyn, Una Merkel, Arlene Dahl, Richard Derr, Lloyd Corrigan, Elisabeth Risdon, Clara Blandick, Kathleen Howard. CREDITS: Producer, William H. Wright; Director, Norman Taurog; Original screenplay, Albert Beich; Photography, Ray June; Art directors, Cedric Gibbons, Harry McAfee; Editor, George Bcemler; Sound, Douglas Shearer; Set decorators, Edwin B. Willis, Arthur Krams. DIRECTION, Smart. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. May Extend N. Y. Children's Law Albany — Towns, as well as cities and villages, would be permitted to allow children to attend theaters unaccompanied by an adult, when theater provides a matron, under a bill before Ithe Legislature. Enabling legislation covering cities and villages was approved last year. "Tornado Range" with Eddie Dean, Roscoe Ates Eagle Lion 56 Mins. AVERAGE ACTION NUMBER HAS WHAT IS REQUIRED BY WESTERN FANS. Homesteaders and ranchers have been at each other's throats when this western opus begins. Eddie Dean and Roscoe Ates, as representatives of the Government, come on the scene and attempt to get the two factions to come to an understanding before open warfare rages. Jennifer Holt and her father, George Chesebro, try to settle the awkward situation but Terry Frost, a crooked politician, gets in a few dirty licks. An outlaw, Russell Arms, joins the Frost troop of baddies, tries to pass himself off as a homesteader when apprehended after a murder. Shortly thereafter Dean and Ates escape from an attempted ambush. Miss Holt enlists the local females in an attempt to stave off conflict. The evil element tries to hang Dean. In no time at all he gets away, uncovers Frost's scheme and a rousing gunbattle concludes the doings. Opus is replete with the proper bangup trimmings, plus gags by Ates, songs by Dean and the rest of the gimmicks to give audiences what they seek. Ray Taylor directed. CAST: Eddie Dean, Roscoe Ates, Jennifer Holt, George Chesebro, Brad Slaven, Marshall Reed, Terry Frost, Lane Bradford, Russell Arms, Steve Clark, The Plainsmen. CREDITS: Producer, Jerry Thomas; Director, Ray Taylor; Original screenplay, William Lively; Photography, James Brown, Jr.; Sound, Glen Glenn; Sets, Gene Redd; Editor, Joseph Gluck; Music, Walter Greene; Supervisor, Dick Carruth. DIRECTION, Okay. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. See Exhibitors Use of Vaudeville to Fight Tele (Continued from Page 1 1 told the industry press yesterday. "Hollywood is afraid of television," Finston declared. "They don't know whether to go with it or against it." He was of the opinion, however, that eventually video would become an important asset to motion pictures, both as a means of advertising and as supplementary entertainment in the theater. Finston, who together with Bai*ney Glazer heads Symphony Films, expressed his intention of concentrating on the careful integration in pictures of music and good story material. On his production schedule are stories based on the lives and music of Stephen Foster, Rossini, Liszt, Wagner and Verdi. "Song of My Heart," based on the life and music of Tchaikowsky, opens at the Park Avenue Theater tomorrow. $61,109,775 in Damages Asked by Cited Writers West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood— Damages of $61,109,775, and >a permanent injunction against major studios to prevent "maintaining any blacklist" to bar 10 writers and directors cited for contempt of Congress, are sought in a suit filed in Superior Court. Action, filed for the 10 by Robert W. Kenney, names the MPAA, SIMPP and a number of company executives in 23 causes of action cited. E-L Seeking Exhibs. Opinion of BO Appeal (Continued from Page 1) corporating exhibitor knowledge and experience into production was expressed by Heineman in connection with E-L's present goal of -:0f ,:nimum of 12,000 domestic booktV^' = on every company release, an increase of 1/3 over the average number of 9,000 now being obtained. "Eagle Lion is determined to take its place among the major forces in the industry," Heineman declared, "and we are making pictures on thej basis of quality and boxoffice appeal." The E-L distribution topper ex. pressed his realization that the company's booking goal could not be„ reached unless quality pictures were' forthcoming from the studios, expressing at the same time his conviction that such would be the case. "We prosper as the exhibitor prospers," he said. Heineman declared that top quality J. Arthur Rank pictures would; play "an equally important part in the building up of the company." As an example he cited the outstanding success scored by the latest E-L Rank i*elease, "The Smugglers," in1 its initial engagements. "Good British pictures, handled properly, should hit 10,000 U. S. ac counts," he said. Heineman also announced that : new deal had been concluded for tw more pictures from Edward Small producer of "T-Men." Duo embrace the recently completed "Raw Deal and the projected "Twelve Against the Underworld." Forthcoming company releases; about which Heineman waxed en thusiastic included "Ruthless," "Ou of the Blue," "Man From Texa "Prelude to Night," "The Noos< Hangs High," "Mickey," "Northwes Stampede," "Hollow Triumph, "Let's Live a Little," "The Blank Wall," "Queen of the Pirates" antj "Tulsa." Last three named will bq from Walter Wanger. Release will be at the rate of apj proximately four per month exclud-; ing the Eddie Dean westerns. Heineman leaves for the Coasi sometime this month following th arrival of Rank in this country. E. Youngstein, vice-president ad-publieity-exploitation head, wil visit the studios at the same tim for joint departmental conferences i CHARTERED U-l CINCINNATI THEATER CORP., Dovei Del., has been dissolved. THEATERS BOOKING CO., INC., New York capital, $5,000 in SI 00 shares; to manage the aters; Harry Brock, Max Brock, Christine Brock directors. BOOKFILM INTERNATIONAL CORP., Nev York; capital, 200 no par shares; to distributi films; by Jerome E. Leon, Mina H. Leon, Josepl Lctnick. NATIONAL CINE EQUIPMENT, INC., Nev York; capital, 200 no par shares; by Abrahan Goldstein, Abraham H. Goldstein, Beatrio Kirschner. *OQJ£ pUg