Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1939)

GN Is Granted 30-Day Respite by Creditors Grand National creditors granted the company a 30-day breathing spell after listening to Trustee Loyd Wright’s explanation of Earle W. Hammon’s plan for refinancing the present Grand National Pictures. Wright announced the Reconstruction Finance Corp. had guaranteed, in writing, to supply GN with $450,000, providing an additional $150,000 could be raised to put Hammon’s plan into effect. He said that Erpi is committed for $100,000 of the latter figure, which leaves but $50,000 to be obtained. Creditor approval of the move is necessary before the RFC cash can be released, and they voted not to reach a decision before the end of a 30-day period. Mean-while, state incorporation papers were filed by two groups, Laurel and Hardy Feature productions and Sports World Pictures, Inc. Stan Laurel. Oliver Hardy, and Ben Shipman, Laurel’s attorney, were named incorporators of the first company, which retjuested permission to issue 1.000 shares of no par value stock. Backed by eastern interests, the second venture was granted permission to issue 100 shares of no par value stock, according to papers filed by Sam Wolf, attorney. The firm is reportedly the first formed here for the exclusive purpose of filming Pacific Coast sports. Directors are L. Kyan, Leo Shapiro, and Irving Cohen. Franklyn Warner, Fine Arts head, is readying “Land’s End,’’ the second of his scheduled three for RKO Radio release, for the cameras, having recalled Arthur Hall, who wrote the original treatment, to do the final script. First of the trio, “Isle of Destiny,” which was filmed in Cosmo<’Olor. is no\v in the cutting rooms. “Land’s End” is to go into work by the end of the month. Change in shooting location has been announced by Lee Garmes for his “And So Goodby.” Original plans called for shooting at the Eastern Service Studios, in New York, but Garmes decided against the heavy expense of shipping an all-Hollywood ‘•ast to New York, and is currently arranging for local rental space to film the feature for RKO release. Cast includes Jean Parker, Richard Carlson. Binnie Barnes, Maria Ouspenskaya, Charles Huddle Over Script — It’s the script of “Vigil in the Night” over lohich Writer Fred Guiol, left, and Producer-Director George Stevens are huddled. The cast of the RKO romantic drama, adapted from A. J. Cronin’s latest novel, ivill include Carole Lombard, Brian Aherne and Anne Shirley. Winninger, C. Aubrey Smith, and Harry Carey. The Towne & Baker production for RKO release, “Tom Brown’s Schooldays,” is set to go in the works by the middle of December, after the pair wind up shooting on thejr first feature for same releasing system, “Swiss Family Robinson.” Position of the recently-incorporated Frank Capra productions is still in the conference stage with Capra and Robert Riskin spending most of the week with their attorneys planning the active launching of the enterprise. While vacationing in Kansas City, Jack Coyle took up the option on the Alf James yarn, “West of the Mississippi,” which he plans to produce here. Directs Next Starrett Joseph H. Lewis has been signed to direct the next Charles Starrett western for the Irving Briskin unit at Columbia. • REVIEW FLASHES • FIRST LOVE (Univ) — Gifted Deanna Durbin attains young womanhood without missing a stride in the entertainment and moneymaking pace which has marked the several features she has made under the inspired producer-director guidance of Joe Pasternak and Henry Koster, respectively. If comparisons are possible, it's probably her all-time best. LAUGH FT OFF (Univ) — A simple musical that breezes along, measuring up nicely as a companion feature. The story is on the weak side but the film has its moments of gayety and comedy. Edgar Kennedy, Constance Moore, Johnny Downs. Albert Rogell produced and directed. LLANO KID, THE (Para) — Tito Guizar's name and songs and a fundamentally sound western story with a Mexican flavor are combined by Producer Harry Sherman to provide what should be highly popular fare for juvenile audiences and western fans, and at least acceptable entertainment for all age classifications. Tito Guizar, Gale Sondergaard, Alan Mowbray. E. D. Venturini directed. OUR NEIGHBORS— THE CARTERS (Para)— Another in the family picture field that has the homespun atmosphere, humor and pathos which has made this type popular. Overproduction and too many maudlin sequences, however, burden this offering. Fay Bainter, Frank Craven, Edmund Lowe, Genevieve Tobin. Director: Ralph Murphy. THAT THEY MAY LIVE (Mayer & Burstyn)— War, and what it stands for, receives a severe lashing in this unusual French film which is spun from a simple tale from the realm of fantasy. Film carries English subtitles. Victor Francen, Line Noro, Marie Lou. Abel Gance directed. COMPLETE REVIEWS on the above pictures will appear in an early issue of BOXOFFICE. "Mohawk" Premiere Impressive Affair After a dull preview period, as compared with the previous several months during which a gala formal premiere was a weekly or semi-weekly event, Hollywood again had an opportunity to brave the lines of autograph hounds at the press showing of 20th Century-Fox’s “Drums Along the Mohawk,” which, while not formal, was probably the most impressive event of its kind in several weeks. Guest of honor for the occasion was Kate Smith, who was brought to the film capital with her radio troupe of 11 from New York by the exploiteers from the Fox Hills plant, and met at the station in Pasadena by Dari-yl F. Zanuck, Don Ameche, and 3,000 fans. After lunching at the studio and receiving the press, the Southern Songbird was commissioned an honorary colonel in the American Legion. On the “Kate Smith Hour,” coast-to-coast radio show, the day following the premiere, principals of the cast of “Drums Along the Mohawk” aired a condensed version of the film. Hollywood executives who reserved seats for the showing included Zanuck, Charles Rogers, Hunt Stromberg, Lucien Hubbard, Walt Disney, Walter Wanger, Samuel Goldwyn, James Roosevelt, Milton Bren, Hal Roach and Ernst Lubitsch. Landers Assigned Lew Landers has been signed to direct “Honeymoon Deferred” for Universal, which Producer Ken Goldsmith has announced he will put in work next week pending the assembling of a cast. Title West-Fields Film Universal has tentatively titled the Mae West-W. C. Fields feature, currently being iilmed with Eddie Cline directing, “My Little Chickadee.” SPEARHEADS (Continued from preceding page) Logan and Stanley Raub. John Stone served as associate producer in the Wurtzel unit and Otto Brower wielded the mythical megaphone. * * * Paramount’s contender for honors in the home and fireside category was “Our Neighbors — The Carters,” produced by Charles R. Rogers with far less distinction than marked his other and initial effort on the Marathon Street lot. The feature specializes in the homespun atmosphere, humor and pathos which have contributed so substantially to the popularity of others of its ilk, although overproduction and too many maudlin sequences seriously handicap its effectiveness. Enough material and situations, little of which reflects originality, are included in the screenplay, by S. K. Lauren, to have provided for at least two features. Consequently the entertaining moments of the film — and they are many — are sandwiched between layers of extraneous footage. Ralph Murphy directed. 24 BOXOFFICE :: November 4, 1939