20th Century-Fox Dynamo (June 3, 1939)

8 NEW DYNAMO it SUSANNAH OF THE MOUNTIES” GETS FINE PREVIEW REACTION AUDIENCE APPLAUSE AND COMMENTS INDICATE TEMPLE IN HER BEST HIT That Is Conclusion Drawn by Studio—Brand Terms It as "Shirley's Most Exciting, Moving Story!" By HARRY BRAND By Airmail to New Dynamo HOLLYWOOD—Applause and spellbound reaction heralded what should urove an- other hit for the world’s exhibitors the other night when the new Shirley Temple pic- ture, “Susannah of the Mounties,” received its first accolades at a “sneak” preview which rolled up audience enthusiasm surpassing anything in the four-time No. 1 star’s career. Shirley’s greatest outdoor action picture, unfolding with all the grandeur and sweep in the Zanuck tradition, was acclaimed as box office destined to thrill and warm the hearts of more millions than ever before. Preview card tributes were unanimous in voting “Susannah of the Mounties” the little screen queen’s finest story and one of the most exciting events in entertainment history. Popular appeal to all ages and truly epic production quality stand out in Shirley’s most “mature” vehicle—her portrayal of the Indian massacre orphan whose lovable disposition and courage finally bring peace between whites and Blackfeet warriors during the roaring northwest Canadian era of the early 1880’s. In keep- ing with Zanuck’s policy of providing the star with roles of in- creasing dramatic importance, she rises to new acting heights which amazed a capacity cross-section audience at the United Artists Theatre in Pasadena. RED-BLOODED ADVENTURE In a story filled with red-blooded adventure, glorious spec- tacle, tense drama, heart-throbs, romance and comedy, Shirley is adopted by the famous Northwest Mounted Police and en- trusted with the responsibilities of grownups. She rides horse- back, shares the dangers of the wilderness, becomes “jealous” of the city beauty who wins the heart of her favorite mountie, gets initiated into Indian tribal lore, and eventually causes the end of savage warfare in climatic scenes rivaling the screen’s greatest all-time thrills. Surrounded by a host of personalities and a cast of thousands, including the most colorful assemblage of real Indians ever inject- ed into a motion picture with dramatic impact, Shirley’s adventures were greeted with pulse-pounding enthusiasm. Adults broke into applause and youngsters in the crowd whooped with delight as real Blackfeet, playing themselves and recreating the dangerous days of their forefathers, highlighted Indian atmosphere never before transferred to the screen with such dramatic fidelity. A new romantic team—Randolph Scott and the English star, Margaret Lockwood—received plaudits at the head of the featured personalities in support of Shirley. Scott, who appeared with the star in. “Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm,” and whose portrayal of the United States marshal in “Jesse James,” marked a new high in his career, excels himself again in the role of the handsome, hard-riding redcoat, Inspector Angus Montague. BRITISH STAR CLANGS THE GONG Lovely Miss Lockwood, heretofore known to American audi- ences for her fine work in the London-made “The Lady Vanishes,” gives a performance in “Susannah of the Mounties” that is bound to make her one of the year’s most talked-about luminaries. Shar- ing romantic honors with Scott, she plays the cultured eastern Canadian girl who visits her father at' the outpost of empire and remains to share the dangers of the Indian wars. Shirley’s leading man nearer her own age, Martin Good Rider, the 13-year-old Blackfeet boy discovered by Zanuck and developed into a real actor in his first picture, won' the hearts of the pre- view audience. Scenes in which he teaches Shirley Indian customs and she rebels at the homage expected of a “squaw” kept specta- tors screaming with laughter. Others who impressed with outstanding portrayals include J. Farrell MacDonald, Maurice Moscovich, Victor Jory, Moroni Olsen, Lester Matthews, Leyland Hodgson, Herbert Evans, Jack Luden, Charles Irwin, John Sutton and Indian actors who glory in names like Chief Big Tree, Mad Plume, Turtle, Spotted Eagle, Bull Plume, Yellow Kidney, Chief Coward, Little Blaze, Old Per- son, Many Guns, Night Shoots and Iron Breast. THESE ARE DESERVING OF PRAISE Associate producer of many other 20th Century-Fox hits, among them “Lloyds of London,” “In Old Chicago,” “The Story of Alex- ander Graham Bell,” and “Young Mr. Lincoln,” Kenneth Mac- gowan invests “Susannah of the Mounties” with the spectacular magnificence deserving of the subject. The picture reaches the screen in photographic tint of breath-taking beauty. William A. Seiter, at his best with ingredients of spectacle, action and romantic drama, turns in a directorial job rating super- latives. Other top creative, artistic and technical talent identified with the picture includes Robert Ellis and Helen Logan, who wrote the screen play from Fidel La Barba’s and Walter Ferris’ story based on Muriel Denison’s book; Arthur Miller, chief cinemato- grapher; Richard Day and Albert Hogsett, art directors; Thomas Little, set decorator; Robert Bischoff, film editor; Gwen Wake- ling, costumer; E. Clayton Ward and Roger Heman, sound record- ers, and Louis Silvers, musical director. JOHN CASEY NOW A CHIEF BOOKER MONTREAL—John Casey, who has been outclassing the adsales forces this season, has been promoted to a bookership. Manager Ed- ward English promoted the adsales manager to his new post this week. Omer Brault has succeeded Casey in charge of adsales. In his first year as adsales manager, Casey has shattered all records here. Chicago’s New Exchange Building Is Last Word In Branch Construction CHICAGO—The new building being constructed for the home of the 20th Century-Fox Film here in Chicago is making very rapid, forward progress to the point where it is now possible to visualize and properly appreciate this building. Undoubtedly the completed building and in operation will be the finest ever built in America for the sale and distribution of motion picture films. Every advanced idea for expediency and efficiency has been taken advantage of as a result of a very careful and long study of the required needs to accomplish this objective. The building occupies a 70 foot frontage by 145 foot depth for a total floor space of 14,500 square feet. It is a two story structure with the shipping and inspection departments and vaults constituting a one-story extension. In the entering of the building, you come into a vestibule. Lead- ing off this vestibule to the right are spacious quarters that will be occupied by Movietone News, there being a private office, with a main office for cameramen, secretaries, and visitors—also, space provided for dark room, storage, inventories. This in itself is a separate unit. FIRST FLOOR As you enter the main lobby from the vestibule, you are con- fronted first with two especially large inset display signs. To the left will be a very spacious counter for the service of the poster department which occupies fully half of the space in the front part of the general building. To your right is a staircase leading to the second floor and gen- eral offices. Immediately beyond, the spacious foyer leads into the review room, which is the last word as such ever built in an exchange building. It has a capacity of 50 chairs of the latest type. The throw from the booth to the screen is 39 feet, insur- ing perfect projection. The treatment of the room acoustically will insure the finest sound results. Continuing through the corridor are special lavatories for male employees and a spacious rest room and lavatories for the ladies on this floor. BACK SECTION Leading into the shipping room from this section of the build- ing is a large room which is properly glazed for natural light rather than artificial. The walls of the shipping room are sheet steel and a protection against heavy metal shipping cases. Off this room, to the left, and on the street side, are five large, airy, and natural lighted inspection rooms, accommodating four girls in each room and in each room a separate, individual exit door to the street. Immediately across the shipping room from the inspection rooms is a battery of ten film storage vaults as a separate unit and to accommodate all the prints that it will be necessary for the office to carry. The rear building line is 15 feet from the alley line, with a loading platform on private property of the building. The second floor leading from the lobby should be a startling delight to the eye for its brightness and natural light, much of which is due to the saw-tooth skylight, which is three-quarters of the length of the roof of the building. SECOND FLOOR There is on this floor a large, roomy executive office for visit- ing members of our company, with private toilet facilities, and also a private office for secretary; a branch manager’s office ade- quate in size, as well as five roomy sales offices; a private office for detail manager, and, in the main office quarters, a modern up-to-the-minute bank of booking desks. On this floor there will also be proper rest rooms for both men and for the ladies. Over all, there has been built into this building one of the finest up-to-the-minute advance carrier air-conditioning service that in itself costs many thousands of dollars. There are many innovations yet to be described, but only after the building is completed. . Thi s corporation may well be proud to acknowledge this build- ing in its entirety a.s representative of that corporation. DRIVE CONFERENCES UNDER WAY Drive Publication Will Disclose All Details The seventh annual S. R. Kent Drive, dedi- cated to Chairman of the Board Joseph M. Schenck, will get off to a record-breaking start. That conclusion was easily reached at the first official Drive conference Drive Leader M. A. Levy has had with General Man- ager of Distribution Her- man Wobber. It was reached after Mr. Wobber acquainted the Drive leader with the releases that Darryl Zanuck plans to have avail- a b 1 e during the Big Push. Mr. Wobber pointed out that there will be a min- imum of two all - Techni- color specials — “D rums Along The Mohawk” and M. A. Levy “Falling ' Stars,” in ad- dition to such super specials as Stanley and Livingstone,” “The Rains Came” and others. And, of course, “Elsa Max- well’s Hotel For Women,” the first of four Cosmopolitan K-7 productions, which will launch the 1939-40 season, also will be available. Mr. Levy arrived here Thurs- day morning and will spend the week-end conferring with Mr. Wobber. QUOTAS ARE NOW BEING FIXED Within the next few days, the Division Managers will submit their K-7 quotas to Mr. Whbber for his approval. The sales chief informed Messrs. Sussman, Gehring and Kunper what the company expects and the latter were instructed to get together and fix the quotas for Mr. Wob- ber’s final approval. At these quota-fixing confer- ences the Drive leader was to sit. Whether the Drive quotas would be the same as those set for normal K-7 weeks was to be determined at the Drive leader’s conferences with Mr. Wobber. While here the Drive leader was also to make an analysis of territorial re- ports show- ill ing conditions tod a y. H e was also to establish his offices here. J. P. O’Logh- lin, for m c r Drive leader, ■ also was in New York to Sgj^fjS detail s u g - Hill gestions and **| recommenda- i tions he made ^ in his report. T , . All final de- Itoger Fern tails will be decided at conferences that will be held at the studio. Mr. Wob- ber will leave for the studio next week for conferences with Dar- ryl Zanuck. A few days later Drive leader Levy and Roger Ferri will leave for the Coast to join Mr. Wobber. The branch meetings will start earlier than last year. Complete and official rules and regulations concerning the Drive, together with method of competition and other pertinent facts, will be printed in the first issue of the Drive publication. In this issue, too, will be listed the cash prizes for all Drive competitive efforts.