Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1941)

Would Empower Police to Shut Any Show in L. A. Los Angeles — The issue of censorship of local theatres, both legitimate and motion picture, which has periodically insinuated itself upon the local political horizon, has again raised its head — and gives promise of being one of the major problems confronting Southern California showmen during 1941. Latest step was taken when the police commission and city council instructed the city attorney to draft a suggested ordinance which would empower police to arbitrarily close any show, stage or screen, which the law might deem indecent or salacious. Such a scheme has been under discussion spasmodically by the city fathers for several years and last came into the limelight about a year ago, when action on the matter was tabled indefinitely. The proposed ordinance, it is understood, would not be directed at motion picture theatres exhibiting films bearing the Hays office’s purity seal, but would be employed principally against stage productions which, in the police commission’s opinion, transcend the bounds of decency. It would also be utilized in halting the screening of salacious imported films. A Hearing Necessary Now A present city ordinance provides that showings of such indecent films and stage plays may be halted only after a hearing and trial at which the defendant is allowed to plead his case. The proposed amendment would empower police to issue and arbitrarily revoke licenses at their own discretion. Considerable interest is being manifested in the proposal by at least two Hollywood groups — the Screen Actors Guild and the local branch of the Hays office. The former announced adoption of a ruling seeking to bar from Guild membership and appearance in motion pictures any person who, after notice, performs in a production termed “unfair” by any of the actors’ organizations within the Associated Actors and Artists of America. This would be a blow at salacious productions in Los Angeles, since Actors Equity membership regulations also prohibit appearances of professional actors in salacious plays. “Firm, united action against such productions is needed,” the SAG declared, asserting that the ruling can “in the future maintain standards of decency on the stage.” At the same time SAG spokesmen declared they will fight vehemently against the adoption of the censorship ordinance on the grounds that “the principle of vesting power over the theatre in an administrative body has been tested in the past and has been found undesirable. Whether it affects the press, the stage, the screen or others, the wielding of censorship or similar arbitrary power by any administrative body threatens the American principles of freedom of expression and trial by jury.” Similar sentiments were expressed by Hays office attaches, who declared they would cooperate with the SAG in protesting adoption of any such ordinance. SJn the Making COLUMBIA Texas — Glenn Ford. Director: Stuart Heisler. Producer: Sam Bischoff. (Starting-) (Super-scaled western). They Dare Not Love — Martha Scott, George Brent. Director: James Whale. Producer: Sam Bischoff. (Romantic drama with an English background). Lone Wolf Takes a Chance, The — Warren William, Eric Blore, Henry Wilcoxon, June Storey, Walter Kingsford. Director: Sidney Salkow. Producer: Ralph Cohn. (Completed) METRO Free and Easy — Robert Cummings, Ruth Hussey, Reginald Owen, Nigel Bruce. Forrester Harvey. Director: Eddie Buzzell. Producer: Milton Bren. Original: Ivor Novello. (Starting) (Sophisticated comedy of high society, based on the play, "The Truth Game.”) PARAMOUNT Caught in the Draft — Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour, Eddie Bracken, Lynne Overman. Director: David Butler. Producer: B. G. DeSylva. Screenplay: Wilkie Mahoney. (Starting) (Comedy based on national conscription). New York Town — Mary Martin, Robert Preston, Fred MacMurray, Eric Blore, Lynne Overman, Akim Tamiroff, Dana Lee. Director: Charles Vidor. Producer: Anthony Veiller. Screenplay: Preston Sturges. (Completed) 20TH CENTURY-FOX A Very Young Lady — Jane Withers, John Sutton, Nancy Kelly, Richard Clayton. Director: Harold Schuster. Producer: Robert Kane. (Starting) (Comedy-drama). Blood and Sand — Tyrone Power, Linda Darnell, John Carradine. Director: Rouben Mamoulian. (Re-make of the silent film starring Rudolph Valentino, this finds Tyrone Power portraying a Mexican bull-fighter). UNIVERSAL Back Street — Margaret Sullavan, Charles Boyer, Richard Carlson, Frank Jenks. Tim Holt, Frank McHugh, Pat O’Malley. Director: Robert Stevenson. Producer: Bruce Manning. Original: Fannie Hurst. Screenplay: Bruce Manning, Felix Jackson. (Completed) WARNER Thirty Days Hath September -Eddie Albert, Joan Leslie, Alan Hale, Minna Gombell, Anthony Quinn. Director: Ray Enright. Producer: Edmund Grainger. Screenplay: Ben Markson, Charles Grayson. Original: Irving Gaumont, Jack Sobol. (Starting) (Comedy). Mi s Wheelwright Discovers America — Priscilla Lane, Ronald Reagan, May Robson, Helen Westley, Clarence Kolb, John Qualen. Director: Curtis Bernhardt. (Comedy concerning a debutante who, denied the privilege of traveling to Europe, discovers she can broaden her education and culture just as well at home). PRC Has Two Features Set tor Early Starts Producers Releasing Corp. has two features lined up to go before the cameras within the next few weeks. First under way will be “Outlaws of the Rio Grande,” western starling Tim McCoy, with Peter Stewart directing. This will be followed in February by “Alimony Jail,” from a story by George Bricker. Sherman Scott is slated as the pilot. Sigmund Neufeld is producing both. A February 10 starting date has been set by Merian C. Cooper, head of Argosy Company Transactions Slow During December Washington — Transactions involving 1,500 shares of film company stocks are shown in the first December report of the securities and exchange commission on transactions of officers and directors in the securities of their corporations. Deals for only three companies were reported, as follows: Consolidated Film Industries: Disposition of 100 shares of part preferred stock by E. H. Seifert, director. Fort Lee, N. J., leaving him with 100 shares. Twentieth Century-Fox: Acquisition of 1,000 shares of common stock by Sidney R. Kent, officer. New York, giving him a total of 2,180 shares. Universal Corp.: Acquisition of 200 common voting trust certificates by Preston Davie, director, New York, giving him a total of 2,600 held direct and 26,500 held through Standard Capital Co. The SEC reported that Pathe Film was among the first companies to file reports under the new investment company act, showing the stock holdings of officers and directors and beneficial owners of more than 10 per cent of any class. The report showed the holdings as of November 1, last, when the law became effective, as follow: George J. Bonwick, officer, New York, none; Henry J. Guild, director, Adams, Mass., none; Donaldson Brown, beneficial owner, New York, none direct but 58,102 shares of common and 1,844 shares of preferred through the Broseco Corp.; T. C. Davis, director. New York, 100 shares of common; Allan P. Kirby, director, Morristown, N. J., 2,100 shares of common direct, 1,000 shares through Holding Company A, 4,000 shares through Holding Company B, and 600 shares through a trust; Kenneth M. Young, officer, New York, 400 shares of common; Robert R. Young, director, Cleveland, 20,497 shares of common; Mabel M. Malone, officer, New York, one share of preferred. Productions, on “The Eagle Squadron,” which will be released by Walter Wanger through United Artists. Cooper is at present in the east gathering data on the script, which is being written by Hurd Barrett and Major Harold Buckley. No director or cast assignments have been made. For Monogram release, Sam Katzman will shortly launch “Air Devils,” starring the East Side Kids. A1 Martin supplied the original screenplay. Herbert Wilcox will launch “Sunny,” starring Anna Neagle, early this month as the next in his series for RKO Radio release. Wilcox will both produce and direct. Universal will garner release on two other independent entries to roll this month — Frank Lloyd’s “The Lady From Cheyenne” and Lawrence Fox’s “The Man Who Lost Himself.” Incorporation of Oxford Pictures, with D. A. Benson as president, has been announced. The new independent unit is headquartering at International Studios, where it will embark about January 15 on a series of six films with British backgrounds. Harry Levin has been set to direct. Pictures will be given state right release. 34 BOXOFFICE ;: January 11, 1941