Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1941)

f( ■ ' ft : SPEARHEADS : Vfc— — V (Continnued from page 77) as associate producer. Robert Rosson supplied the screen story. * * * Among the better programmers were Universal’s “The Man Who Lost Himself” and 20th Century-Fox’s “Dead Men Tell.” Former is a light farce in which the story line is, at times, spun so thin as to overstep the bounds of credibility. It has its amusing moments, nevertheless, and should be consumed with moderate enthusiasm by general audiences in search of carefree film fare. Brian Aherne, essaying a dual role, dominates the cast; while Kay Francis, in an otherwise innocuous assignment, is given an opportunity to do what she does best — parade a collection of gorgeous gowns. Edward Ludwig’s direction glosses over weaknesses in the script by Eddie Moran, from a novel by H. DeVere Stacpoole, and is, on the whole, a workmanlike job; which might be said, also, of Lawrence W. Fox’s production mounting. The Fox entry, newest in the veteran “Charlie Chan” series, is a closely woven mystery which the fictional Oriental sleuth solves with characteristic emphasis on suavity and Confuciusisms. Script by John Larkin will keep audiences in suspense until the final footage through its use of the everybody-is-a-suspect formula. Walter Morosco and Ralph Dietrich, as co-producers, instilled it with the required ingredients to qualify it as high-grade supporting material, with a special appeal to Chan’s followers. Direction and performances are of comparable calibre, with Harry Lachman wielding the megaphone and Sidney Toler, of course, portraying the detective. * * * Universal’s “Man Made Monster” is a satisfactory chiller with an average supply of suspense, excitement and thrills. The Jack Bernhard production was directed by George Waggner and scripted by Joseph West from a story by H. J. Essex, Sid Schwartz and Len Golos. Lon Chaney adequately enacts the title role. Monogram’s “Sign of the Wolf,” adapted from a Jack London story, serves primarily as background for noteworthy performances by two expertly trained Alsatian shepherd dogs. Film should stand up admirably as supporting material in the markets it will reach; exercising, at the same time, more than normal appeal to those who relish dog yarns of the great frozen north. Producer Paul Malvern equipped it with acceptable production values and convincing backgrounds, and human members of the cast, topped by Michael Whalen and Grace Bradley, are well qualified for their respective chores. Howard Bretherton directed from a screen play by Elizabeth Hopkins and Edmond Kelso. Has Chevalier Starrer Monogram has acquired distribution rights to “Break the News,” starring Maurice Chevalier, and produced and directed abroad by Rene Clair, now a Universal director here. Music and lyrics are by Cole Porter. Industry to Cooperate With Music Festival Both the Association of Motion Picture Producers and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will cooperate when the National Federation of Music Clubs stages its 22nd biennial American Music Festival here in June. Industry participation was assured when Nat W. Finston, Metro music chief, was named to head a committee including M. Mockridge, 20th Century-Fox; Roy Webb, RKO Radio, and Victor Young, Paramount, which will meet with Mrs. Alice Field, of the Hays office, and a committee from the NFMC headed by Mrs. Vincent Hilles Ober, to plan the affair. Mrs. Ober is also discussing plans for Academy cooperation with Walter F. Wanger, president of that organization. Consider Music Festival Now being considered is a projected musical festival devoted for the first time to motion pictures, and which may be held at the Hollywood Bowl June 21. At that time, according to present plans, the NFMC will present awards for excellence in film music achievement. Meantime, more than 3,000 photographs have already been entered in the Academy’s first annual still photography show, being sponsored by the organization’s Public Relations Institute and to be held April 14-28. Winners in each of eight classifications will be awarded specially-designed gold medals. Entrants are limited to individuals in studio camera departments and freelance photographers affiliated with the IATSE. Bette to Home Town for " Great Lie " Premiere Warner is world premiering Bette Davis’ newest starring vehicle, “The Great Lie,” in the player’s home town, Littleton, N. H., April 5, with proceeds going to the Littleton Hospital and the Golden Rule Farm for Boys. The date also is Miss Davis’ birthday. The picture will be screened at the Premiere Theatre and the affair will be embellished by a birthday party for the star, now en route there with her husband, Arthur Farnsworth, in which civic and social organizations will participate. Robert C. Blood, governor of the state, will attend and newspaper and magazine writers and photographers from the large eastern cities will be brought to the scene. Paramount’s “I Wanted Wings” made its debut at the Astor in New York Wednesday, with key figures in the war department, the army air corps and other government officials joining social, diplomatic, civic and screen celebrities as the first-nighters. . Preceding the Astor opening, the film was given a special preview at Randolph Field, San Antonio, at which William Holden and Wayne Morris, who have toplines in the picture, were awarded “Honorary Flying Cadet” warrants by Flying Cadet J. H. Enders, cadet battalion commander. Beirne Lay jr„ author of the original story, was among the guests. REVIEW FLASHES BAD MAN, THE (M-G-M) — The drawing power will lie in the number ol popular names this unadulterated melodrama boasts. The talents of Beery and Barrymore are strained to overcome the hurdle of a faulty script and loose-handed direction. Bestpleased customers will be those who like western action. Wallace Beery, Lionel Barrymore, Laraine Day. Richard Thorpe directed. BORDER VIGILANTES (Para)— The redoubtable “Hopalong'' Cassidy, in the person of William Boyd, is up to his usual standard in this latest of the veteran sagebrush series. Which means the film packs an abundance of action, adventure and suspense, with the required amount of comedy relief. Peg it as a reliable grosser in those situations where westerns are in demand. Harry Sherman produced; Derwin Abrahams directed. HORROR ISLAND (Univ) — Treasure-hunting yarn in which a hackneyed story is bolstered through the addition of enough trapdoors, clutching hands, phantom killers and the like, to qualify it as an average entry in the thrill category. Ben Pivar produced; George Waggner directed. (< -ft : PERSONNEL1T1ES : ^ — =!) (Continued from page 78) to Paramount, his home lot. TED THOMAS directing dialogue on "The Officer and the Lady." LOUIS DA PRON signed as dance director on "Betty Co-Ed." GORDON S. GRIFFITH joins production staff, and NORMAN COOK becomes comptroller of the Gregory Ratoff unit producing "Tonight Belongs To Us." NORMAN DEMING. assistant to Producer-Director Wesley Ruggles, has left for Mt. Hood, Or®-/ scouting locations for "The Doctor's Husband." Alexander Korda GEORGE BARNES to lens "Illusions." Metro ARNOLD (BUDDY) GILLESPIE, unit art director and special effects expert, given new long-term contract. BERT SPURLIN heads a staff of 20 technicians which has trained for Ocala, Florida, to line up preparations for filming "The Yearling." MAX FABIAN lensing "Watchdog of a Nation," new Carey Wilson Miniature which Joe Newman is directing. CONRAD A. NERVIG to edit the new untitled Marx Brothers comedy; ELMO VERON to edit "Man From the City." OLIVER MARSH to photograph "Smilin' Through." Picture Corp. of America JOHN ALTON to photograph "Forced Landing." Technicolor, Inc. ARTHUR ARLING has been signed as a first cameraman, moving over from Universal, where he was a member of JOE VALENTINE'S camera crew. He is replaced at Universal by WILLIAM DODDS. Warner Bros. BREEZY EASON is checking location sites around Santa Susanna tor "Sergeant York.” LESTER D. GUTHRIE named assistant director on "King's Row." 80 BOXOFFICE :: March 29, 1941