The Exhibitor (Nov 1938-May 1939)

SPECIAL FEATURES 35 Dietz Speaks ( Continued from page 26) ernment edict. In Italy, for example, where films of all other nations have been banned, there is a whistling and hissing even at the Italian trailers announcing the next Italian film. This may be construed as the first opportunity the public of Italy has had to demonstrate a criticism of a government policy. Censorship A concluding note on censorship. Hollywood has self-imposed restrictions, they are not censor rules. It does not operate in the same way, for instance, as the British Censorship where even a play like "Green Pastures” cannot be shown. If the author finds it difficult to create a story under these rules, it is most important that he speak against them. At the same time he must guard against rejecting these voluntary rules only to get something more statuatory and worse. Yet I do not find that the author who complains about Hollywood is always right. It seems to me that the author who feels passionately about the films makes very little effort to contribute creative work on his own time. He takes no risk. In the theatre he writes a finished play and submits it to the producer. Very few finished scripts are written by the author on his farm in Connecticut when he is not on salary. Perhaps a finished work is something that he could more reasonably fight for. Discussing his work with the producer in the process of creation, it is only natural that there should be changes. He often submits to changes which he does not like because he is on salary. I have no objection to any one to be on salary, I think it is an awfully good place to be. But if deep down in his heart, the au hor wants to make a movie and is willing to take a chance just as the early picture producers did with their investments, then let him too make the investment of his time and his thought. So that when the producer rejects his work or suggests changing it, he has a position in black and whire on which he can stand. I do not believe six motion picture scripts written in this fashion by experienced authors could be trotted out. Leading one to the suspicion, to distort a phrase from Deems Taylor, that an attempt is being made to go on the streets in order to get money for the trousseau MORE NOMINATIONS Additional nominations for the Academy Awards to be announced tomorrow in Hollywood are as follows: BEST FILM EDITING "The Adventures of Robin Hood,” Warners. "Alexander’s Ragtime Band,” 20th-Fox. "The Great Waltz,” Metro. "Test Pilot,” Metro. "You Can’t Take It With You,” Columbia. BEST SOUND RECORDING "Army Girl,” Republic. "Cowboy and the Lady,” Samuel Goldwyn. "Four Daughters,” Warners. "If I Were King,” Paramount. "Merrily We Live,” Hal Roach. "Suez,” 20th-Fox. "Sweethearts,” Metro. "That Certain Age,” Universal. "Vivacious Lady,” RKO. "You Can’t Take It With You,” Columbia. SHORT SUBJECTS Cartoons: (Walt Disney) — "The Brave Little Tailor,” "Mother Goose Goes Hollywood,” "Ferdinand the Bull,” "Good Scouts.” (Max Fleischer) "Hunky and Spunky.” One Reel: (Metro) — "That Mothers Might Live,” "The Great Heart.” (20th Century-Fox) — "Timber Toppers.” Two Reel: (Vitaphone) — "The Declaration of Independence.” (Metro) — "They’re Always Caught.” Date of the banquet has been set for February 23 at which the winners will be announced. BOOK REVIEWS Girth Control SENSIBLE DIETING (and the Engel Vital Calorie Diets), by William Engel, M. D. — |— 40 8/r. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. 1939. Whether it is because exhibitors have a tendency to exhibit a paunchiness that comes of partaking freely at festive boards, or whether it was for other reasons (among which might be cited the fact that in the book’s writing, Jose Schorr, Columbia publicist, was active), to the editorial desk last week came a copy of "Sensible Dieting.” While addressed ostensibly to ladies inclined to be more than pleasingly plump, it is a book that even the made of the species may (and many should) read with pleasure. The book is manifestly the result of a clear thinking medical man, yet it is written — and undoubtedly in a large measure due to Schorr’s facile fingers — in a style which makes reading easy and pleasant. Schorr’s contribution would make him appear a good bet for radio and screen writing. The first 98 pages of the work treat of the more academic phases of foods and obesity — with such matters as the pathological aspects of obesity, the necessity for carbohydrates, sugar, and fats in the diet, the importance of vitamines, the value of water and exercise. After digesting the fundamental principals of dietetics, Doctor Engel offers some 3 00 pages of daily diets, daily menus not only of various caloric values but especially considered from the season of the year. Film Books Issued by DeVry From the DeVry Corporation, Chicago, Illinois, last week came the announcement of the publication of "Free Films for Schools,” a listing of all known gratis pictures, and "Proceedings of the Eighth Annual Session of the National Conference on Visual Education, and the Year Book of Visual Education.” ADVANCE SHOTS Brief Glimpses of Features , Shorts to be Reviewed Received too late to be included in this week’s Blue Section were the following subjects. These advance shots are given for the record pending the publication of the next Blue Section. COMMUNITY SING, No. 6 (Columbia). 10m. Monte Collins, returning to the series as m.c., leads the Columbians (mayhap the audience, too) in a cycle of songs about moons, moonlight, ending with "Moonlight and Roses.” ODD SPORTS (Columbia). 10m. This shows thrills (and fun) and spills present when elements of some sports are added to the practices of others. It is amusing, and one of the better items of this series. SCRAPPY’S ADDED ATTRACTION (Columbia). 6/2 m. Here is a burlesque on trailers, wherein Scrappy builds the super-trailer for the super-production, then does not produce the feature because the audience knows all about it, anyway! SCREEN SNAPSHOTS, No. 6 (Columbia). 1 1 m. An excellent, one-theme entry, this is a consideration of radio and Hollywood, a review of the NBC, the CBS studios, the stars that illumine certain (though not specifically named) programs. Fast and thorough, this has added pleasing comedy touches. “JESSE JAMES’’ RINGS THE BELL . . . NewYork City Roxy records .show strength Twentieth Century-Fox’s production, "Jesse James,” which recently completed a four week run at the Roxy, New York City, took a box office toll rarely equalled. Only the same company’s "Alexander’s Ragtime Band” ever did that kind of business. For the record, and to show to the rest of the territory how the box office feat was accom plished here are the actual grosses, furnished by 20th Century-Fox. January FIRST WEEK 13 Fri. 23,3 8 5 $10,219 14 Sat. 34,059 17,402 1 5 Sun. . 2 5,8 56 12,404 1 6 Mon. . 21,317 9,170 17 Tues. . 20,976 9,124 18 Wed. 21,526 9,514 19 Thurs. . 18,019 8,477 165,138 $76,310 January SECOND WEEK 20 Fri. 19,765 $ 8,506 21 Sat. . . 30,248 14,897 22 Sun. . . 27,908 12,606 2 3 Mon. . . 17,570 7,612 24 Tues. 18,788 7,835 2 5 Wed. . . 18,872 7,877 26 Thurs. 1 1,288 4,778 144,439 $64,112 — 309,577 $140,422 January THIRD WEEK 27 Fri. 1 5,868 $ 6,211 2 8 Sat. . 2 5,474 13,125 29 Sun. 21,271 10,562 30 Mon. . I 1,200 4,73 5 31 Tues. . . 14,270 5,375 February 1 Wed. . 1 5,675 6,409 2 Thurs . 10,463 4,173 1 14,221 $50,5 89 423,798 $191,011 February FOURTH WEEK 3 Fri. . . 12,875 $ 5,099 4 Sat. . . 22,3 5 9 11.373 5 Sun. . . 20,283 9,885 6 Mon. 11,286 3,930 7 Tues. . . 10,217 3,723 8 Wed. . 10,430 4,016 9 Thurs. 8,070 3,140 95,510 $41,168 5 19,308 $232,1 80 Decorative Lighting • Glass and Metal Work Exit and Direction Signs • Ornamental Plaster Drinking Fountains • Air Distribution Plaques 36 Years in Business Is Your Assurance of Our Reliability. VISIT OUR SHOWROOMS OR WRITE US m Designers-Engineers-Manufacturers VOIGT 1745 N 12th Street Phila. KEEP FAITH WITH YOUR PATRONS, BY USING . . . February 22, 19)9 TRI