Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1939)

Anti-Nazi League May Enter Rosson Case The Smiths in Hollywood — During a short trip to Southern California, former Governor Al Smith of New York and Mrs. Smith were the guests of Harry M. Warner at luncheon at the Warner studio in Burbank. Here the camera catches the famous public figure and his wife chatting with Warner. It is likely the Hollywood Anti-Nazi League will officially interest itself in the case of Richard Rosson, M-G-M cameraman, and his wife, arrested and detained near Graz, Austria, by German authorities on a charge of photographing in a district not covered by his official permits. The League is expected to step in provided activities on behalf of the Rossons’ immediate release fail to accomplish the desired results before the end of the week. Such activities have been initiated by Winfield Sheehan, Metro producer for whose film Rosson was photographing backgrounds in the Austrian territory, Sheehan having contacted state department officials in Washington and the German consulate here. If Rosson’s release, and that of his wife, is not forthcoming, the League will call a meeting of its executive board, according to Sonya Dahl, HANL executive secretary, and pressure will be brought to bear through various consular departments in the nation’s capital, with which the League has strong contacts. The directorate will also, she declared, make a strong appeal to the German consulate here. Sheehan, who sent Rosson to Austria to shoot scenes of the Spanish Riding Academy in Vienna, issued a statement declaring Rosson had obtained recommendations to the German authorities that he be permitted to make the various scenes desired. “The assistance of the German government officials for the eight weeks Rosson has been working there has been most cordial, cooperative and helpful,” Sheehan said, “and I feel certain that this mistake will be cleared up within the next few days.” Other activities of Hollywood’s various progressive organizations has been of a more routine nature. The Hollywood Committee of 56 has delivered a first installment— comprising some 2,000,000 sig natures— of its Declaration of Economic Independence from Nazi Germany to Congress, a delegation from the New York committee acting as messengers. The Committee will continue its drive to obtain at least 20,000,000 signatures to the declaration. The HANL held its third lecture in a series as a part of its spring membership drive, with Dr. Norman Byrne speaking on “The Battle Lines Are Drawn.” Sixth lecture in the Associated Film Audiences’ series found Alice Ingi’aham, John Howard Lawson and Viola Brothers Shore participating in a round-table discussion of "The Screen’s Interpretation of Controversial Subjects.” All progressive groups turned out for a mass meeting at the Shrine Auditorium at which Julio Alvarez Del Vayo, foreign minister of Loyalist Spain, was the featured speaker. Hollywood Now, official HANL publication, carried a strongly-worded recommendation of the current Warner release, “Confessions of a Nazi Spy,” citing the production as a “courageous step” on the part of Harry and Jack Warner and Hal Wallis. Two Anti-Dictator Films Are Added Acquisition of a pair of important story properties in the down-with-the-dictators vein by two studios highlights the latest developments in the industry’s unofficial, but nonetheless significant, campaign to instill patriotism and democratic preachments into its 1939-40 lineup. Metro purchased “The Heroes” from Erich Maria Remarque, novelist exiled from Germany because of his authorship of “All Quiet on the Western Front,” “The Road Back” and other postwar stories. His new book concerns the plight of political refugees who are forced to flee their native lands without passports. Spencer Tracy, Margaret Sullavan and Robert Taylor have been set for the leads. Simultaneously 20th Century-Fox added “I Married a Nazi” to its files. This was written as a magazine serial by Oscar Schisgall and will emerge shortly in book form under the title “Swastika.” Second vehicle in the Warner lineup, “Boycott,” has been tabbed to go before the cameras June 5 with Alan Hale and Lya Lys in the leads. The story deals with the activities of the German-American bunds, and follows “Confessions of a Nazi Spy,” now in release, on the Warner program. " Cavalcade " in Color “Hollywood Cavalcade,” 20th CenturyFox’s $2,000,000 extravaganza, will be filmed in Technicolor, studio executives have decided. Mack Sennett and Harry Joe Brown will co-produce. To Remake " Valiant " Twentieth Century-Fox has assigned Sol Wurtzel’s production unit to remake “The Valiant,” made by the old Fox company in 1929 with Paul Muni as the star. Convention Interlude — Grouped at the Monogram sales meeting in Chicago are Scott R. Dunlap, vice-president in charge of Monogram production; John Balaban of the Balaban & Katz circuit; W. Ray Johnston, president of Monogram; Morris Leonard, president of the MPTO of Illinois, and Ed Kuykendall, president of Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America. 24 BOXOFFICE :: May 13, 1939