Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1934)

Thursday, January 4, 1934 MOTION PICTURE DAILY "Alice" Gets Big $23,785 On the Coast Los Angeles, Jan. 3. — Christmas week stirred up quite a run of business hereabouts. "Alice in Wonderland" at the Paramount reached $23,785, nearly $6,000 over normal. "Little Women" took $15,466 in its first five days at Grauman's Chinese and "Roman Scandals" broke the United Artists' opening day record with $3,349. "Waltz Time" was good for $2,700 at the Filmarte and "I Am Suzanne" garnered $3,500 at the 4 Star. Total first run business was $89,043. Average without the 4 Star is $101,950. Estimated takings for the week ending Dec. 27: "LITTLE WOMEN" (Radio) CHINESE— (2,500), SOc-$1.65, 5 days. Sid Grauman prologue. Gross: $15,466. (Average, $14,000.) "ELYSIA" (Foy) CRITERION— (1,610), 25c-40c, 5th week, 7 days. Gross: $3,942. (Average, $2,800.) "WALTZ TIME" (Gaumont-British) FILMARTE— (800), 40c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $2,700. (Average, $2,650.) "I AM SUZANNE" (Fox) 4 STAR— (900), 50c-75c, 5 days. Gross: $3,500. "MR. SKITCH" (Fox) LOEWS STATE— (2,413), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $13,500. (Average, $14,000.) "FOG" (Col.) "IN THE MONEY" (Chesterfield) LOS ANGELES — (3,000), 15c-25c, 7 days. Gross: $4,200. (Average, $3,700.) "ALICE IN WONDERLAND" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (3,595), 25c-40c, 7 days. Georgie Stoll and his orchestra. Gross: $23,785. (Average, $18,000.) "THE SON OF KONG" (Radio) RKO— (2,700), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,900. (Average, $8,000.) "PRIVATE LIFE OF HENRY VIII" (U. A.) UNITED ARTISTS — (2.100) , 25c-40c, 4th week, 4 days. Gross: $4,850. (Average, $12,800.) "LADY KILLER" (Warners) WARNER BROS. (Hollywood)— (3,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $11,000. (Average, $14,000.) "LADY KILLER" (Warners) WARNER BROS. (Downtown)— (3,400), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $12,000. (Average, $12,000.) E. A. Dunlop, Censor In Ontario, Is Dead Toronto, Jan. 3. — E. A. Dunlop, Ontario provincial treasurer, who had charge of licensing theatres and operators, amusement tax collection and film censoring, is dead here. Conjecture is already stirring as to his successor and possible changes in policy. One change discussed is a transfer of censorship ta the Department of Education, a worry for exchanges which fear the move would result in more strict regulations. Hamm, Jr., Marries St. Paul, Jan. 3.— William Hamm, Jr., is a benedict and the bride is Mrs. Marie Hersey Carroll of this city. Hamm is a member of the wealthy brewing family which originally backed the old Finkelstein and Ruben circuit, later purchased by Publix. Friedland New Boss _ Paris, Jan. 3.— Max Friedland, Continental European manager for Universal, is handling the company's French business. Max Laemmle, formerly in charge here, has resigned. MOTION PICTURE DAILY* HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "The Poor Rich" (Universal) Hollywood, Jan. 3. — Taking the idea of the once rich, now the new poor trying to put up a front, Universal has produced a comedy that gathers laughs all the way. Making no pretense at smartness or sophistication, the giggles are dowrn to earth, rich and broad, with special appeal to the masses who might get some vicarious satisfaction at seeing the classes in the wellknown predicament of "no money" making the best of it and blundering quite humanly. Two cousins, Edward Everett Horton and Edna Mae Oliver, return to the Spottiswood ancestral home untenanted for years. They confess all to each other. They are broke. They press a house to house sales girl, Leila Hyams, into service as a maid. The baggage boy, Andy Devine, takes over the kitchen. Deputy Sheriff, Grant Mitchell, becomes the butler. Thus set, the Spottiswoods await the arrival of Lord and Lady Featherstone (E. E. Clive and Una O'Connor) with their daughter, Thelma Todd. The Featherstones are assumed to be rich. The unexpected appearance of Abdul (John Miljan) come to shake down Edna Mae, sets things spinning. With dinner being served all screwy, an enraged farmer arrives to locate his prize goose alive — dead, cooked, or fried. This sequence is a rolling wave of laughter. A near murder, a funny nut detective (Eddie Brophy) and a surprise climax the story with a series of howls. Director Edward Sedgwick squeezes every cackle out of the situations which have the timelv slant. "As Husbands Go" (Fox) Hollywood, Jan. 3. — Based on the play by Rachel Crothers and produced by John Golden, Jesse L. Lasky's filmization measures up to the satisfying entertainment qualities of the stage version. G. P. Huntley, Jr., looks like a comer. He does exceedingly well with a difficult role. Helen Vinson also will bear watching. She has plenty of charm and can act. Vacationing in Paris with her aunt, Catherine Doucet, Miss Vinson falls in love with Huntley, a poet, author and writer, while Miss Doucet endears herself to Warner Oland. Before Miss Vinson leaves Paris she promises her new-found love she will ask her husband for a divorce. Miss Doucet brings her lover with her. When Warner Baxter's wife arrives, she finds her husband has been missing her to such an extent he had brought his nephew, Jay Ward, into the household for companionship. Miss Vinson can't summon the courage to tell her husband and, after three weeks has passed, Huntley comes over. This complicates matters for Miss Vinson, but Miss Doucet makes it appear that the new arrival has also been courting her. Eleanor Lynn, the dowager's daughter, resents the whole affair, especially Oland, who is rather frank in admitting he is after her mother's money, in addition to companionship. Baxter takes his rival on a fishing trip and, after a drinking session the two become fast friends ; so much so that Huntley the next day goes back to Paris without Miss Vinson. He leaves a note behind stating he cannot hurt his pal, who loves his wife more than anything in the world. "Woman Spy ( U niversal) Hollywood, Jan. 3. — Universal here has atempted the formula spy story. Opening in the air, the spy is shot down and taken to an enemy hospital. An army nurse in the employ of the opposition marries him in order to get his secrets. After securing her information first hand in their home where the husband's superior and other spies congregate, she finds herself in love with her husband. In a spot, she influences the killing of the enemy's secret service chief and escapes back to her own country. The husband now invades the wife's homeland as a common spy and meets the wife at the enemy's embassy ball. With a trap set for the secret service men to arrest husband, the wife learns that the husband did not instigate her brother's murder. She helps the spouse escape and is wounded herself. All ends happily on a hospital train where it began. The picture has nice sets and nice photography. Fay Wray and Nils Asther have the main roles. Edwin Arnold, John Miljan and Vince Barnett support them. Karl Freund directed. Miss Krellberg with D. A. District Attorney William C. Dodge has appointed Florence Krellberg, formerly secretary to the Amusement Securities Corp., as his confidential secretary. He also has announced appointment of James M. Fitzsimmons of Krellberg & Fitzsimmons, attorneys for various picture corporations, as assistant district attorney attached to the Homicide Bureau. Williams Excites Fox Hollywood, Jan. 3. — Fox executives are so excited over possibilities of Hugh Williams, young London actor recently signed, that they have assigned him the biggest male role on the lot. He will play the lead in 'All Men Are Enemies," "ace" special. George Fitzmaurice will direct. Warners Sign Cortez Hollywood, Jan. 3. — Ricardo Cortez has been signed by Warners for the co-starring role with Bette Davis in "Hit Me Again." Robert Florey gets the director assignment. F. Hugh Herbert wrote the story. Production gets under way this week. To Induct N. Y. Board Induction of Henry Randel as president of the New York Film Board takes place either Jan. 10 or Jan. 12. The proceedings will be held at the M. P. Club and will be followed by a visit to the Winter Garden to see "Ziegfeld Follies." Warner Staff Changes Hollywood, Jan. 3. — Robert Burkhardt has resigned from the Warner publicity department and Don Carlson is newest addition to the staff, which now ranks as the smallest among the majors. Expect Brandt Reelection Harry Brandt is slated to be reelected president of the I.T.O.A. at the annual election Feb. 7. There is no opposition ticket and the entire administration will, in all probability, continue for another year. Cohen Delayed on Coast Although expected back from the coast this week, Louis Cohen, realtor, is delaying his return for a month. He is busy on several theatre deals for F. & M. More Portland Duals Portland, Jan. 3. — Double features have gone into Parker's Broadway and United Artists. This leaves Hamrick's Music Box the only single feature downtown house. New Company Formed _ Fairhaven Prod., Ltd., with production to be centered in the East, has been formed. H. H. Rogers, Jr., is elected president, with William Alexander vice-president. Young Lasky Improving Hollywood, Jan. 3. — Jesse Lasky, Jr., son of the producer, is recovering from an emergency appendicitis operation performed Christmas Day.