Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (Sep 1935 - Aug 1936)

8 REVIEWS {Continued from page 7) SPEED BOXOFFICE RATING ACTION MELODRAMA . . . Cheap program auto racing yarn that will just get by in action spots . . . Pleasant performance by James Stewart helps . . . Rates • + generally. M-G-M 6 5 Minutes James Stewart . . . Wendy Barrie . . . Una Merkel . . . Ted Healy . . . Weldon Heyburn . . . Ralph Morgan . . . Patricia Wilder Directed by Edwin L. Marin This is one of the season's weaker efforts. A cheaply contrived auto racing yarn, its chief virtues are: A fair amount of action, a congenial performance by James Stewart and a few comic moments with Ted Healy. Una Merkel is submerged in a weak role. The entire production looks like one from the cheaper indie studios rather than from Metro. A considerable portion of the action is photographed against the background of the Chrysler Motors plant in Detroit (worth plenty in free? advertising). The spectator is shown the operation of the entire plant and one cannot help wondering what that would cost the Chrysler company if they bought the time on the screens of all the theatres that will play this picture! The best that can be hoped for "Speed" is that it will be accepted as the lesser half of dual bill programs. PLOT: Stewart is a test driver and is working on a new carburetor device in his spare time. Wendy Barrie, daughter of the motor company head, works incognito in the publicity department. They meet and Wendy, wanting to help Stewart, arranges to have Heyburn and argues further with Wendy. Trying to dcrvtands her motive and they squabble. While racing at Indianapolis, his car is wrecked, injuring him and Healy, his mechanic. He places the blame on Hyburn and argues further with Wendy. Trying to break the speed record later, he suffers mishap and is overcome in the scaled car. Heyburn comes to the rescue, driving the car back over the track to complete the requirements, breaking the record, and then rushes Stewart to the hospital. There, he and Wendy confess their love. AD TIPS: The cast has some worth-while names and should he sold above title. Stewart, Healy and Merkel should be given top billing. Title siifigesls plenty of tie-ups. L. J. INDEPENDENT EXHIBITOR — F ILM BULLETI N Large Group Attends Rizzo Burial Services Over 100 theatre and film people paid their last respects Monday to Clem Rizzo, veteran theatre equipment dealer who died following an appendectomy, April 27th at services held in the Rizzo home in Folcroft, Pa. Burial took place in Whitemarsh Memorial Park. Among those present were: William Hunt, Marcus Benn, Morris Gerson, Morris Wax, Sam Rosen, Ben Fertel, Harry Blumberg, Ben Blumberg, Charles Cohen, Isadore Siegel, William Heenan, Simon Libros, Albert Blofson, Oscar Libros, J. Stewart Silver, Allen Benn, Ed Boreth, Ed Gabriel, Dan Heenan, Mo Wax. G-B Denies Rumors Of Sale To 20th Century Renewed reports that Gaumont-British is contemplating a deal to sell its interests to 20th Century-Fox were denied early this week by Jeffrey Bernerd, general manager of the English Company, following a transatlantic telephone conversation with Mark Ostrer. There is "absolutely no truth in the report that GB has contemplated or is contemplating the sale of its interests," Bernerd stated. WARNERS CONDUCT NATIONAL PUBLIC SURVEY ON DUALS EDITORS, WOMEN . . . Proclaiming their desire to learn the true reaction of the public, but, perhaps, with a view toward strengthening the case against duals in the final legal tussle before the U. S. Supreme Court on the issue of the producers right to arbitrarily bar them, Warner Bros, started a nation-wide survey last Monday, "seeking the public attitude towards the exhibition of double features." The editors, critics and readers of some 2000 daily newspapers, the members of 1000 women's clubs and representatives of over 100 collegiate publications are being asked the simple questions: "Are you in favor of having two features shown in motion picture theatres?" and "Why?" STATE PROBLEM . . . The form letter sent to the leaders of the women's organizations is largely devoted to th.2 problem that is suposed to be confronting the producers, who, it is indicated, hesitate to make long pictures if they are to be dual billed. l our of Warners outstanding features are mentioned, namely, "Midsummer Night's Dream," "Anthony Adverse," "Green Pastures" and "The Charge of the Light Brigade." "Do audiences prefer two hours and 1 S minutes of "Anthony Adverse' as an eve ning's entertainment or two shorter films which, with the usual newsreel, shorts and trailers, probably will total four hours or more?" the letter asks. LIMIT ON LENGTH? . . . It is implied that double featuring acts as a bar to the production of longer pictures. "Must they (producers) hold every production, including truly important ones, within an absolutely rigid span? Or should they be permitted to make longer films if it is necessary to tell the story adequately and if every minute provides genuine entertainment?" A sparse, single paragraph is devoted to the opposing side of the question. "From one standpoint, there is much in favor of the double feature policy. It sharply increases the demand for films, brings more bookings, and stimulates the market for all kinds of pictures. But all this does not answer the question: "What does the public want?" PMILA. UNITS WILL TALK MERGER AGAIN MAJORITY WANT MERGER . . . The two Phila. exhibitor groups, the I.T.O. and M.P.T.O., have agreed to have one more try at combining their memberships in a new, consolidated organization. Despite previous failures and the collapse of the "merger" effected last December 19, the earnest desire of the overwhelming majority of men to have a single body has induced this last attempt to bring the two groups together. Committees of five from each unit will meet next Monday. The I.T.O. will be represented by Ray O'Rourke, Mike Lessy, Morris Wax, Charles Segall and Herbert Elliott. The M.P.T.O. committee will consist of Lewen Pizor, Ted Schlanger, who represents George Aarons, Ed Jeffries, William Hissner and Abe Sablosky. Aarons will sit as secretary for the later group, while Jeannette Willensky will act in the same capacity for the indies. PIZOR PLAYED . . . Lewen Pizor, president of the M.P.T.O. affiliate, was roundly scored at a meeting of the I.T.O. board Tuesday, for allegedly assuming the role of "dictator" over his organization affairs and seeking to keep the independent exhibitors in the territory divided. He was charged with distorting a motion made by Abe Sablosky at a recent meeting of the M.P.T.O., which was intended to appoint a committee to negotiate on an equal basis with the I.T.O., so that it was finally read into the minutes as an "invitation" to members of the independent unit to join his body. (Continued on page 10)