The Exhibitor (Nov 1938-May 1939)

SPECIAL FEATURES 27 CONVENTIONS Warners Meeting at the Waldorf-Astoria last week, Warner Brothers home office officials, district chiefs, branch heads and others heard the official announcement of product for the 1939-1940 season. Heading the list is "The Life of Beethoven,” starring Paul Muni. Bette Davis is listed for three films — "The Knight and the Lady,” "Elizabeth the Queen,” with Errol Flynn; "All This and Heaven, Too,” with George Brent, and "The Old Maid,” with Miriam Hopkins, Humphrey Bogart. Flynn is scheduled for two other pictures — "The Sea Hawk,” with Olivia De Havilland, and "The Adventures of Don Juan.” Edward G. Robinson, James Cagney, John Garfield also have been schedueld for three pictures each. Robinson is listed for "The Story of Dr. Ehrlich,” "The Moon and Sixpence,” "Brother Orchid.” Cagney’s schedule includes "The Story of John Paul Jones,” "The World Moves On.” Scheduled for Garfield are "20,000 Years in Sing Sing,” "Dust Be My Destiny,” "Forgive Us Our Trespasses.” Among the several biographical films on the schedule is a remake of "Disraeli” with Claude Rains; "The Life of Knute Rockne,” "John Dillinger, Outlaw,” "The Bishop Who Walked with God.” "Four Wives,” a sequel to the successful "Four Daughters,” will bring together again the Lane sisters; and a sequel to "Brother Rat” also is contemplated. James Stewart will make one film for Warners, "And It All Came True”; the Dead End boys will be seen in "Battle of City Hall,” "The Dead End Kids at College.” Only two musicals are on the schedule. They are "On Your Toes,” with Zorina; "The Desert Song.” "Eyes of the Army” and "The Tanks Are Coming” will have military backgrounds. Twelve new releases (four each) are scheduled for the 'Torchy Blane,” "Nancy Drew,” "Secret Service” series. Warners also will devote considerable talent and attention to the production of 12 short features from two to four reels in length. Jack L. Warner, production chief, announced that there would be a 30% jump in the budget even though there has been a cut in the production schedule to 48. Warner sales show an increase of 17.43 per cent over last year. Others who were introduced or addressed the body were Grad Sears, Major Albert Warner, Sam E. Morris, Robert W. Perkins, Joseph Bernhard, Charles Einfeld, Sam Schneider, Carl Leserman, Norman H. Moray, Joe Hummel, Mort Blumenstock. "Dodge City” was previewed for the sales force. The meeting was followed by individual meetings of branch and district heads, with Roy T. Haines conferring with the central, eastern and Canadian divisions. The advertising budget of Warner Brothers Pictures for the 193 9-1940 season will be the largest in the history of the company, S. Charles Einfeld, director of advertising and publicity, said. Of this advertising expenditure, 98 per cent will be for newspaper space, Einfeld said, adding that the experience of Warner Brothers over a long period of years had satisfied them that newspapers are the most valuable advertising medium for motion pictures. It is learned that the sales policy for the company for 193 9-1940 eliminates the score charge and allows some latitude in cancellation. Norman Moray, Vitaphone sales manager, told the convention that only 86 shorts would be released on the new schedule, including 18 two reelers and 68 singles, with more than 5 0% in color. The series include: Two reels: Broadway Brevity — 18, with eight in Technicolor. One reel: Merrie Melodies — 26 in Technicolor. Looney Tunes — 16 in black and white. Melody Masters — 10. Vitaphone Varieties — 6. Color Parades — 10. Metro Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer will release 5 2 productions during 193 9-1940, it was announced this week by general sales manager William F. Rodgers at the company’s convention in Chicago. In the short subjects field, the schedule calls for 79 subjects, 13 less than during 1938-1939. The company, said Rodgers, will make only large-scale productions. The renewed policy of big-budget pictures will necessitate a further increase in its total studio budget to produce the 5 2 pictures. "It Can’t Happen Here,” the Sinclair Lewis novel, will be one of the new season’s production. In addition to this, perhaps th outstanding productions for all release are "The Wizard of Oz,” in technicolor; "Northwest Passage,” which will feature Wallace Beery, Spencer Tracy, Robert Taylor; "Quo Vadis,” to be produced on the scale of "Ben Hur”; and, previously announced, the Selznick-International production, "Gone with the Wind.” Emphasis on star presentations is again indicated by the addition of Hedy LaMarr and the elevation of Mickey Roonew, Lew Ayres to starring roles. Asquisition of other personlaities to the growing roster of stars brings the number of 24 of first rank, with the additional 62 featured players under contract, a total of 86 in the acting personnel. With 24 established directors on its list, more than 83 writers under contract, equipment fo rthe fulfillment of its ambitious, new season plans reaches the highest total in its history. The list of productions thus far planned for the season, as announced by Rodgers, follows: "It Can’t Happen Here,” by Sinclair Lewis; "The Wizard of Oz,” in technicolor; "Northwest Passage,” by Kenneth Roberts; "Quo Vadis,” by Henry Sienkiewicz; "Gone with the Wind,” by Margaret Mitchell; "The Women,” by Claire Boothe; "Guns and Fiddles,” from the story "Czardas,” by Walter Reicsh, Samuel Hoffenstein; "Return of the Thin Man,” by Dashiell Hammett; "Lover Come Back to Me,” by Sigmund Romberg; "Ninotchka,” by Melchior Lengyel; "Broadway Melody of 1940,” by Jack McGown; "Not Too Narrow, Not Too Deep,” by Richard Sale; "The Ziegfeld Follies;” "After Dark,” by Greene Lorimer, Hannah H. Lorimer; "The Lady Canadian,” by Robert Hopkins, Viki Baum; "A Day at the Circus”; "Lady of the Tropics”; "House of Glass,” by Max Marcin; "A Yank at Eton,” by George Oppenheimer, Thomas Phipps; "Thomas Edison,” by Dore Schary, Hugo Butler; "Madame Curie,” by Eve Curie; "Beau Brummel,” by Clyde Fitch; "Sea of Grass,” by Cinrad Richter; "Balalaika,” by Eric Maschwitz; "I Love You Again,” by Octavus Roy Cohen; "Hands Across the Border,” by Gene Towne, Graham Baker; "A Lady Comes to Town,” by Clements Ripley; "Dancing Co-Ed,” by Arthur Treynor; "Wings of His Back,” by Mydes Connelly; “Journey’s End,” by R. C. Sherriff; "Ziegfeld Girl” by William Anthony McGuire; "Go West,” by Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby; "On Borrowed Time,” by Lawrence Edward Watkins; "Babes in Arms,” by Rodgers and Hart; "Thunder Afloat,” by Ralph Wheelright, Commander Harvey Haislip; "Witch in the Wilderness,” by Desmond Holdridge. Other pictures contemplated in the new season schedule include "Susan and God,” by Rachael Crothers; "War Eagles,” by James A. Creelman, Harold Lamb; "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,” by Jules Verne; "The Yearlings,” by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings; "Wings Over the Desert,” by Harold Buckley; "Kim,” "Soldiers Three,” by Rudyard Kipling. Mr. Mentlik Attends the Warner Club Party Dear Ed: Dunno how many persons were at the Warner Club 10th Anniversary Banquet, Ball, but I’ll betcha — at any odds you name — that not one of ’em knew what the first thing on the menu was. But the food was only one of the assets at a one of the top affairs tossed by anyone anywhere. At the beg.nning, it was just like any other party. Ah, but Warner Brothers’ Americanization program then entered into the party. Before we could eat, the band had us standing while it swung out with "America.” Then we dug in. SID RECHETNIK had the table well stocked. CHARLIE EINFELD helped pour. PHIL ABRAHAMS carried on where he left off at the Columbians dance by keeping us mezzanine folk enwreathed in smiles. Then the entertainment. Ex-Warnerite PHIL REGAN emceed with a plug for his forthcoming Republic musical. The dance floor was slippery enough to accommodate the Ice Follies, but Roxy’s Gae Foster G.rls took care of the chorus work. Only trouble was that every time they’d give out with a few kicks, fancy doo-dads, at least a half-dozen of ’em ended sprawled very ungracefully upon the floor. If you think I’m exaggerating, go down to the Waldorf some night, try a couple of buck-and-wings! An adagio act pulled some unbelievable feats. It took TONY MARTIN to steal the show. He was pulled out for one encore after another. Those jitterbugs who took partners from the audience had the place in stitches. All eyes were on BEVERLY SCHNITZER, New York district head Ed’s lovely daughter, but she couldn’t keep up with the jive boy who chose her as a partner. Ed’s son, GERALD, down from Dartmouth for the weekend, wasn’t any more successful with the jitterbugging femme who pulled him from his seat. MR., MRS. JOE BLOOM’S daughter, FAY, tried to keep step with Wisconsin JERRY KEISER, an old school chum of ours. Among those persons we remember seeing or talking to were KEN ANESER, MR. and MRS. JOE BERNHARD, MR. and MRS. MAX BLACKMAN, songwriter SAMMY CAHN, WOLFE COHEN, JAMES DEVLIN, local branch manager HARRY HUMMELL and the missus, MR. and MRS. MORRIS JACKS playing host to six friends, BEN KALMENSON and the wife, MR. and MRS. PAUL LAZARUS, JR., MR. and MRS. CARL LESERMA and eight guests, favorite secretary ANN MARTIN, shorts chief NORMAN MORAY, friend MARIE PAULSEN, New Haven branch manager JOHNNY PAVONE, MR. and MRS. ARTHUR SACHSON, MR. and MRS. F.D SCHNITZER, ex-club prexy AL SCHWALBERG, sales chief GRAD SEARS. From our perch on the mezzanine we got glimpses of club secretary I. BIRNBAUM, prexy JOHN T. HOLMES, Universal’s NATE BLUMBERG, RKO’s NED DEPINET, JOHN O’CONNOR, MAX FELLERMAN, JULES LEVY. HARRY BRANDT was host to nine personal guests. Ditto for the RKO theatres, Randforce circuit. It was getting near dawn when we decided to go back to Brooklyn. The thought of going to Brooklyn (don’t get me wrong, chief, Brooklyn’s the garden spot of New York City) at that hour was too much for me, but I bravely bore up under it. Ace photog JIMMY SILEO, his very swell wife accompanied sis and myself to that most beautiful of boroughs in a cab wh:ch almost got stranded on the icy Manhattan Bridge. Love and kisses, Your New York Correspondent, Lew Mentlik. P. S. I had to be in Newark at noon the following day. March 22, 19)9