Harrison's Reports (1949)

208 HARRISON'S REPORTS December 24, 1949 CHILL WILLS A FINE GOOD WILL AMBASSADOR At the recent National Allied convention in Min' neapolis several exhibitors discussed the advisability of approaching Jack L. Warner, production chief at the Warner Bros, studios, to assign Chill Wills in the part of Will Rogers, whose life that studio intends filming. These exhibitors agreed that Chill Wills not only looks like the late Will Rogers but also is one of the greatest good will getters in the motion picture industry. He is always on the move, attending exhibi' tor conventions, making personal appearances at movie premieres, visiting hospitals, broadcasting, talk' ing before civic organizations — working to the point of exhaustion to make more friends for the industry as a whole. In recent weeks I have received letters about Mr. Wills from Col. H. A. Cole, the Allied leader from Texas, and from Ray Feeley, business manager of the Independent Exhibitors of New England. Col. Cole writes: "Dear Pete: "It has been on my mind for some time to write you with reference to one of the greatest fellows in the production end of motion pictures, Chill Wills. "Chill stands aces high with every man in the exhibition line who ever came in contact with him. He's a swell guy. He makes a point of attending Allied meetings whenever possible (at his own ex' pense), he is an entertainer deluxe, and everyone is crazy about him. In addition to this, I don't believe I need to tell you he works night and day in the hospitals, and many a time I have taken him out to one of these to appear before a group of veterans to put on a thirty minute show that's out of this world. I know that happened in New Orleans at our con' vention a year ago, and it happened again in Minneapolis when he took time out to go out and do a job. "There have been quite a number of exhibitors in our group who have been wondering if there's any possibility that Chill Wills might be selected when the time comes for the part of Will Rogers in THE LIFE OF WILL ROGERS which someone is going to make (I believe Warners has the story). Chill is another Will Rogers himself. He looks the part, he has the wit and humor that made Will Rogers so popular, and I know of no one who, in my belief, would do a better job in that part. "I am wondering if you could pass the word along to someone who might help make that dream come true. I know I and a thousand other exhibitors would love to see that come to pass, and I believe the picture would do a whale of a business." Ray Feeley, writing in the same vein, has this to say: "Dear Pete: "Remember I spoke to you regarding Chill Wills and the possibility of his playing the part in the Will Rogers' Story of Will himself. "Although Chill is not a personal friend of mine, I have made his acquaintance at Allied Conventions and have a great amount of regard for this very natural and humane character. Warner Bros, would have to travel far and wide to find a fellow who could step into this part as easily and naturally as Chill. "Chill is a born trouper who plays because he enjoys it, and the foremost thought in his mind at all times is that his audience should enjoy themselves too. "If it were at all possible, I should like to see this 'pitch' of mine gain the support of other exhibitors and yourself and let's see that a great trouper gets a break in a part that would suffer by his not being cast in it. "I want you to know this letter comes unsolicited; and if my opinion can mean anything, I hope that it will be the means of helping a grand guy who has spent much of his personal time helping and entertaining many." If you, the reader, agree with the sentiments of Col. Cole, Ray Feeley and many other exhibitor leaders and members of the rank-and-file, write to Jack L. Warner, c/o Warner Bros. Studios, Burbank, California, and recommend that he heed the prayers of thousands of exhibitors that he give the part of Will Rogers to Chill Wills. The good will Chill has won for the industry and his personal popularity ought to prove valuable assets in exploiting the picture. SENSELESS DEFIANCE The Legion of Decency, the Catholic organization that classifies pictures as to their moral content, has notified Columbia that it objects to the line, "There have been no miracles since the Thirteenth Century," spoken by one of the characters in the picture, "And Baby Makes Three." The Legion requested that the line be omitted, but the Columbia executives have re' fused to comply on the ground that the Legion is trying to impose censorship by demanding that an innocuous line be deleted. The Legion has given the picture a "B" rating, meaning objectionable in part for all. Columbia's attitude in this matter is senseless and ill-conceived, for the ones who will suffer from such a defiance will be, not Columbia alone, but also the exhibitors who will show the picture, because of the displeasure that will be felt by their Catholic patrons. The Columbia executives have chosen to fight the Legion of Decency on an issue that actually means nothing as far as opposing censorship is concerned, for whether the aforementioned line is left in the picture or taken out will not make one particle of difference at the box-office. The line neither provokes laughter, nor creates a dramatic effect. It is well for the producers of pictures and the industry in general to object to too much interference as to what may be shown and heard in motion pictures, but let such an objection be based on a serious matter, and not on a superficial one — a matter that will have the support of the public, including the Catholics themselves. The position of Columbia is weak, and its executives should retreat from their senseless stand; otherwise damage will be done to the exhibitors' box-offices, not only on that particular picture, but also on other pictures, as a result of the slight to Catholic moviegoers.