Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1939)

4 Motion Picture daily Friday, July 28, 1939 F P Meeting Closes; Film Chiefs Attend Niagara Falls, Ont., July 27. — The Famous Players Canadian convention, representing the largest gathering of film industry people in Canada's history, closed tonight at the General Brock Hotel with a banquet that attracted more than 300 persons. Attending the banquet, besides officials and employes of the Famous Players Canadian, was a large contingent of American trade leaders, most of whom arrived from New York early today. Among those present were John Cohn of Columbia, Herman Wobber of Twentieth Century-Fox, Carl Lesserman of Warners, M. Fox and F. J. McCarthy of Universal, J. R. Grainger of Republic, Monroe Greenthai of United Artists, Arthur Lee of Gaumont British, Jules Levy of RKO, J. J. Unger of Paramount, Barney Balaban, president of Paramount, Austin Keough, A. Montague of Columbia, Walter Havner of M-G-M. All of the foregoing film leaders in addition to President X. L. Xathanson of Famous Players, Hon. W. D. Ross, former lieutenant governor of Ontario ; Premier Hepburn of Ontario ; Chairman O. I. Silverthorne of the Ontario censor board; Col. John A. Cooper, motion picture distributors and heads of Canadian film exchanges occupied prominent places at tonight's banquet. Other theater circuits were represented by H. I. Long for Associated Theatres ; Samuel Fine of B. and F. Theatres ; G. X. Ganetakos of United Amusement Corp. of Montreal ; Arthur Hirsch of Consolidated, Montreal : V. Larvand, Confederation of Theatres, Montreal ; Raymond S. Allen of Premier Theatres in Ontario. Another outstanding guest was President B. E. Xorrish of Associated Screen Xews, Ltd.. of Montreal. Rain Spoils ITOA's Indian Point Outing Showers dampened the frolicking spirits of about 400 persons at yesterday's all-day Indian Point outing held by the I.T.O.A. The frolickers traveled aboard the Alexander Hamilton. Because of the rain the sports program, including the I.T.O.A.-Motion Picture Associates baseball game, had to be called off. Prizes scheduled for sports winners were given out by the lot method. David Weinstock was chairman of the outing. Luncheon and dinner were served on board the boat. There was dancing to the music of Eli Dantzig's orchestra. Among those present at the outing were Dave Snaper, Joe J. Lee. Harry Buxbaum, Phil Hodes, Joe and Ben Weinstock, Mr. and Mrs. HarryBrandt, Bingo Brandt, Jim Frank. Joe Hornstein, Leon Rosenblatt. Moe Kernan. Saul Straussberg. Herman Weingarten. Harry' Thomas, Moe Sanders, Mel Albert. Irving Renner, Adolph Hass. Sam Shain. Lionel Toll, Abe Blumstein, Francine Brunner and Pearl Brunner. SHORT SUBJECT REVIEWS "Overland with Kit Carson" (Columbia) Here's a chapter play that will keep 'em on the edge of their seats and keep 'em coming back to learn what happens next. It's a sockeroo of serial, if the first chapter is any criterion. Everything about it seems to be excellent, including plot, production and cast. Bill Elliott plays a cool, always-on-the-spot Kit Carson, renowned Indian scout, who is drafted by the Government to wipe out *a gang called the Black Raiders. The Raiders' leader, a mysterious "Pegleg," is one of the best evil men seen in films. Plenty of action is promised as the "good whites" unite in combat with the Raiders who have dark designs to capture the vast, rich territory west of the Mississippi. The Indians, making a last stand against the immigrant settlers, are in cahoots with the Blacks. Running time, average 20 mins. "Saved by the Belle" (Columbia) The Three Stooges are traveling salesmen in this one, which is pretty7 funny in spots. They try selling fur coats in the tropical earthquake belt and get mixed up in a revolution. They are sentenced to die but are saved by a beautiful senorita. They face more perils, but finally make their escape in a truck loaded with dynamite. They are, however, preserved for future Columbia shorts. Running time, 17 mins. 'Hollywood Sweepstakes' (Columbia) This is a Color Rhapsody cartoon in color. There's an exciting finish to the screwiest horse race seen this side of Havana. The race is run at Santa Anita, in an ocean of mud. This is an odds-on favorite. Running time. 8 mins. Screen Snapshots, No. 12 (Columbia) Columbia has produced a fine Eighteenth Anniversary' issue of Screen Snapshots, quite in line with the current trend of harking back to the screen's early days. It will strike a responsive chord in many a heart, as glimpses are seen of Rudolph Valentino. Clara Kimball Young, the Talmadge sisters, the Gishes and others who were famous in days agone. Xoah Beery is the narrator, with the setting a party for youngsters of the screen now a-growing up. This should be a "must" for film fans. Running time. 10 mins. "There Goes Rusty" (Columbia) Followers of dog racetracks and just about everyone who loves dogs will think this is swell. Secrets of the training of the racing greyhounds are revealed, from their first canter to the classic dog "Kentucky Derby" at Miami Beach. Running time, 10 mins. Will Osborne Orchestra ( Warners} A typical orchestral short subject, with Will Osborne's orchestra giving out hot swing versions of a number of currently popular and novelty tunes. The bandleader provides a number of crooning vocals, as do Ly7nn Davis, the orchestra's feminine vocalist, and Dick Rogers. Running time, 10 minutes. "Wise Quack" ( Warners) In a really cute "Looney Tune," Daffy Duck is depicted as a nervous, expectant father. After much tribulation Mrs. Daffy Duck finally begets a number of ducklings and Porky Pig arrives bearing congratulations. A hawk steals one of the ducklings, and Porky and Daffy effect a hilarious rescue. Running time, seven minutes. "Seeing Red" ( Warners) Red Skelton, the radio clown, is fired by an eccentric boss and before departing Red vows he will haunt the boss for his action. In the evening the boss and wife visit a night club where he finds Red wherever he looks. Red is seen as the waiter, check room attendant, master of ceremonies and in other guises. The night club setting provides opportunity for the singing Merry Macs, A. Robins, a clown, and two sets of dancers to perform their specialties. Running time, 20 minutes. "One Day Stand" ( Warners) Circus life is described herein. The film traces a typical day in circus life, opening with the circus arriving by train, and the tents being set up by roustabouts. Follows the town parade and the performances showing the aerialists, clowns, acrobats and finally Clyde Beatty in his lion taming act. Running time. 10 minutes. "Modern Methods" ( W arncrs) A series of sequences showing how modern methods of science and invention are utilized. The sequences deal with the bureau which compiles statistics on ocean tides, an instrument by which a housewife performs various tasks by remote control, an artist who makes life-like masks for people who want to be the life of the party, and the final item shows how women's hats are created and manufactured. Running time, 10 minutes. "Three Minute Fuse" (Warners) A Floyd Gibbons "True Adventure" episode, this one deals with an Oklahoma rancher who is building a well with the aid of two neighbors. Hitting rock, they decide to blast, using dynamite which has a rope fuse that burns for three minutes. Lighting the fuse, the rancher signals to his aids to hoist him out of the well, and he is being hoisted up when the rope breaks, depositing him at well bottom in an unconscious condition. The rescue is effected in a novel manner, and just in time. Running time, 11 minutes. More Trust Suits in Fall, U.S. Promise (Continued from page 1) Darryl F. Zanuck, William Goetz and three other persons, have been to Washington for further confereeres with the Department. Merger c{ghrfe two film companies is involved, it was explained. The principals maintained thatthere has been no intention of income tax evasion and that the actions now being investigated are legal according to their attorneys. In another case involving Schenck and William Bioff, I. A. T S. E. official, Murphy explained, the Treasury Department complained that Bioff had evaded taxes on money allegedly received from Schenck and that Arthur W. Stebbins had aided in hiding the supposed payment. The third case involves Schenck and Joseph M. Moskowitz, Eastern studio representative for 20th Century-Fox and concerns Schenck's personal taxes, Murphy said. The last two matters, Murphyadded, were discussed this week and the Department still expects to put the Bioff matter before a grand jury. Schenck, he said, discussed the matter frankly and offered himself for cross-examination by the two Departments. However, the AttorneyGeneral said, he was not aware that the film official had made any offer of settlement in cash to the Treasury, adding that no settlement could be made with the Department of Justice's approval. Murphy said that Schenck denied owing anything in the 20th CenturyFox matter, and denied assisting Bioff in evading taxes. "This case is somewhat unusual," Murphy commented "It is interesting and a not altogether clear issue. It is different from most cases." Details in Folly Suit Sought by Majors Loew's, Inc., Paramount Pictures, Inc., 20th Century-Fox Film Corn., Universal Pictures, Inc.. Republic Pictures Corp., Monogram Distributing Corp., Randforce Amusement Corp.. and Big U Film Exchanges, Inc., filed application yesterday in the U. S. District Court to be heard on August 1 for a bill of particulars to the anti-trust suit of Folly Amusement Holding Corp. which names the eight majors and a number of other defendants. Suit charges the defendants with conspiring to force the plaintiff out of business by allegedly preventing it from securing product. Delay UUDC Hearing Informal hearing before X. Y. State Labor Relations Board on petition for certification by United Ushers, Doormen and Cashiers Union. C.I.O.. as collective bargaining agency in RKO houses in Xew York City was postponed yesterday until 11 A.M. today. Astor Sets Film Deal Astor Pictures will distribute "Vengeance of the Deep," which features Lloyd Hughes and is now being completed in the south Pacific. R. M. Savini, Astor president, said yesterday.