Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1941)

Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, August 12, 49 New Films Now Shooting In Hollywood Hollywood, Aug. 11— Forty-nine pictures were before the cameras this week, as 10 started and 12 finished. Thirty-one are being prepared, and 75 are being edited. The tally by studio: Columbia Finished: "Royal Mounted Patrol," "You Belong to Me," "Ellery Queen and the Murder Ring." In Work: "Go West Young Lady," "Secrets of the Lone Wolf," (formerly "The Lone Wolf Double Cross"). Korda (U.A.) In Work : "Jungle Book." M-G-M Finished: "The Chocolate Soldier," "Unholy Partners" (formerly "The New York Story"). In Work: "H. M. Pulham, Esq.," "Babes on Broadway," "Panama Hattie," untitled Tarzan, "When Ladies Meet," untitled Greta Garbo vehicle. Started: "Kathleen," "Shadow of the Thin Man." Monogram Finished: "Let's Go Collegiate." Started: "Ghosts in the Night," "Wild Horse Valley." Producers Releasing Corp. Finished: "Dangerous Lady." Paramount In Work : "Sweater Girl," "Fly by Night," "The Remarkable Andrew," "Reap the Wild Wind," "Bahama Passage," "Louisiana Purchase," "Malaya" (formerly "Her Jungle Mate" ) . RKO Finished: "Obliging Young Lady." In Work: "Land of the Open Range," "Playmates," "Scattergood Meets Broadway," "Four Jacks and a Queen." Republic Finished: "Outlaws of the Cherokee Trail" (formerly "Three Texas Rangers"), "Apache Kid." Started: "Gobs in Blue,' Death Valley Outlaws." Roach (U.A.) Finished: "Miss Polly." Started : "Fiesta." Small (U.A.) In Work : "The Corsican Brothers." 20th Century-Fox In Work: "How Green Was My Valley," "Swamp Water," "Great Guns," "Cadet Girl," "Hot Spot." Started: "Confirm or Deny." Universal Finished: "Badlands of Dakota." ^ In Work : "Appointment for Love/ "Almost an Angel," "Hellzapoppin," "Ride 'Em, Cowboy," "The Great Man." ^ „• » Started: "Pans Calling. Warners In Work: "The Black Widow/' "Kings Row," "New Orleans Blues," "One Foot in Heaven," "Captains of the Clouds, "The Man Who Came to Dinner," "They Died with Their Boots On." Started: "All Through the Night. Reviews "The Little Foxes" (RKO— 1940-41 Release) HP HE strong dramatic elements which made Lillian Hellman's play notable in its stage form have been skillfully adapted and perhaps made even more vivid and arresting for the screen by Samuel Goldwyn in his first production for RKO release. The direction of William Wyler and the performances of Bette Davis and Herbert Marshall in the leading roles, together with those of a uniformly capable cast, realize the best dramatic possibilities of the story. In the role of the avaricious wife, who sacrifices the life of her husband, Marshall, to satisfy her consuming desire for wealth, Miss Davis gives new evidence of her great ability as a dramatic actress. Marshall's performance as the invalid husband of high principle, whose death occurs before he is able to thwart his wife's final act of avarice, is hardly less competent. The parents are motivated in large part by their plans for the future of their daughter, skillfully portrayed by Teresa Wright. The father seeks a normal life for her and encourages her romance with Richard Carlson, who plays the role of a small town newspaperman of no means but marked human compassion. The mother would obtain the wealth she desires so much in order that her daughter might have everything the mother holds to be worthwhile, and as part of her scheme would sacrifice the daughter in marriage to her first cousin, a mentally irresponsible youth, played by Dan Duryea. When Marshall refuses to invest in a potentially profitable factory deal arranged by his wife's brothers, played by Charles Dingle and Carl Benton Reid, Duryea is induced to take bonds owned by Marshall in the hope that the deal can be consummated and the bonds restored from the profits before their loss is discovered. Marshall learns of the theft but, disdaining the potential profits from the deal, informs his wife that he will consider the theft a loan and will require only its repayment. He suffers a heart attack which is made fatal by his wife's refusal to bring a medicinal restorative to him. She confronts her brothers with the charge that the bonds were stolen and demands the major share of the profits of the deal as the price of her silence. The daughter, a witness to the scene, realizes the wickedness of the mother and goes away with Carlson. The production is studded with brilliant characterizations, such as those of Miss Wright, as the daughter ; Patricia Collinge as her aristocratic aunt ; Jessie Grayson as a family governess, and those of Carlson, Duryea, Dingle and Reid. It is a film which ranks with Goldwyn's best in dramatic impact and fully-realized production opportunities. It is strong, mature screen fare, infrequently leavened with either humor or lightness, in keeping with its theme of the uncompromising conflict between materialistic exploiters of their fellow man and compassionate idealists. Running time, 116 minutes. "A."* Sherwin A. Kane *"A" denotes adult classification. "The Story of the Vatican" (March of Time— RKO— 194041 Release) WHILE the especial appeal in this documentary film, whose running time is that of a feature of short length, will be to Catholic audiences, it is done with such skill and impersonal exposition that it should be of general interest to all intelligent audiences. It is definitely the best of the many pictorial records that have been made of the Papal State. Featuring pictures of the present Pope, Pius XII, the picture is a pictorial and verbal description of the Vatican State, which is a sovereign state, having its own laws, functions and activities, governed by its own administrators, and having its own diplomatic corps, postal system, coinage and police system. Produced by Richard de Rochemont, the film was directed by Jean Pages with camera work by Marcel Rebiere. The narration, delivered in fine voice and most intelligently, is by the Right Reverend Monsignor Fulton J. Sheen. The architecture of Vatican City, its gardens, its art galleries with their priceless objects, the famed Basilica of St. Peter's, the Sistine Chapel, the crypts beneath the cathedral where the Popes are buried, and the practical administration of the Vatican state are shown in effective detail. Running time, 54 minutes. "G."* Charles S. Aaronson *"G" denotes general classification. W.B. Acquire^ Large Share i Maxwell Grou (.Continued from page 1) cuit will remain in British har which was the basis of the strong ) position in the British trade to I consummation of the agreement^^ American interests, when it firsvl f came known. Warners and the Maxwell interc will submit their nominations for I board of directors to the next gene meeting of the ABP stockholdc, The total of shares involved in i deal is less than half those held . Mrs. Maxwell and, therefore, d not involve control. There is much speculation in I trade here over the transaction, si: superficially it does not give Warn much greater advantage over the <! cellent releasing deal with the A'.< circuit which they now have. Weekend Grosses Hold Up on BVp (Continued from page 1) day through Sunday. It will be h for a second week beginning Thu day. The Roxy continued strong \v "Charley's Aunt" and a stage she with an estimated $23,100 repor Friday through Sunday of the secc week. The third week begins on F day. The theatre has reported 160,. paid admissions for 10 days, with ceipts of $84,539, claimed to be a n high for Summer business at the £ atre. "The Bride Came C.O.D." drew estimated $11,500 at the Strand, w Phil Harris' orchestra on the sta; Friday through Sunday. "Bad Men Missouri," with Rochester and Clj Lucas and his orchestra will open the house on Friday. At the Pai mount, "The Shepherd of the Hil with a stage show, drew an estimat $16,000 for the weekend, and co pletes its second week tonight, w $33,000 expected. "Kiss the Bo Goodbye" opens tomorrow. "Sergeant York" drew an estimat $8,000 Friday through Sunday at t Astor, where it ended its run Sund night. It opened yesterday at the H( lywood on a continuous policy, wi the price scale at 75 cents matine and $1.10 evenings. The picture drei, approximately $95,000 in the five a: one-half weeks it played the Astd "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" opens the Astor today on a continuous n policy. 'York' Set to Open Red Cross Theatre "Sergeant York" has been selectf to open the 65 Red Cross theatr nearing completion in Army cam] throughout the country, Warners ai nounced yesterday. The theatres w: be operated by the Red Cross for sic and convalescent soldiers. Request f( the film was made to Warners joint by the Red Cross and Army official That Army officials had made a r<, quest for the film for showing camps was first reported in MoTirj Picture Daily July 23.