Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (Sep 1935 - Aug 1936)

WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 1936 J HOLLYWOOD rLICRERS By HARRY N. BLAIR Hollywood, July 21. Producers are starting to see the light. They finally realize that exhibitors mean business on the question of radio competition with star names as bait. After Lux had announced Wallace Beery and Stuart Erwin in a scene from "Viva Villa," MGM officials heeded the rumblings and cancelled the performance. Claudette Colbert and Walter Huston were rushed in to sub. Warners tried to put a stop to Joan Blondell's broadcast set for August 1 but finally agreed to let it go through at the same time making it more or less official that no more Warner stars will be allowed on the air. It was to be expected, of course, that the first move agin ether-izing the boxoffice should come from companies with strong theatre connections. Douglass MacLean is the latest producer to join the Grand National group a deal having just been closed between Ed Alperson and the former screen comedian to make at least four pictures for the current season. Alperson, having lined up most of his domestic product, sails for England July 29 to close with John Maxwell of British International for a series of eight features to be made in England. With Jimmy Cagney leading its star list and several equally big names set on a profit-sharing basis. GN promises to have the most important product in the indie field. Boosting its program from 30 to 52 is an indication of its scope. The Cagney vehicles alone are budgeted at half a million each. Bennie Zeidman starts "In His Steps," second for Grand National, on July 30. Alperson states that GN will have its own exchange in every key city with its own sales organization. There will be no franchise deals. Many adjectives will be spilled over MGM's "Romeo and Juliet" but the main thing is: will it make money? My definite opinion is "yes" for although a surprisingly honest transcription of the play, there is not a dull moment. The large crowds of people, the gorgeous sets and the star studded cast ah spell box office. Women will love it and everyone knows what that means. Frank Capra has finally brought in "Lost Horizon" after being in production for exactly 98 days, a record for Columbia. Judging by the rushes, this latest Colman picture has what it takes. Production is humming out here now with every lot running at full capacity. Warners lead with a dozen features in work and the other big studios are not far behind. C. C. Burr, wth an eye to the ballyhoo which U. A. is preparing for its film version of James Fenimore Cooper's "Last of the Mohicans," has bought the screen rights to a group of stories by the same author. First will be "The Lone Prarie," with John Eldredge and Queenie Smith set for the leads and production all ready to go. What The Newspaper Critics Sc&v: "MEET NERO WOLFE" (Columbia) "... A new and engaging gumshoe whose deduction in the first of his cases to receive cinema attention is nothing short of Sherlockian . . ." N. Y. TIMES. ". . . Rex Stout's corpulent, beer-drinking, orchid-loving sleuth comes agreeably and entertainingly to life in the person of that grand actor, Edward Arnold in a film which is considerably less than satisfactory gooseflesh entertainment . . . Entire cast good . . ." N. Y. WORLD-TELEGRAM. ". . . Role of Nero Wolfe a natural for Arnold and makes this as satisfactory a murder mystery as it is." N. Y. DAILY NEWS. "EARLY TO BED" (Paramount) "Boland and Ruggles cause gales of merriment in a rollicking farce, studded with funny lines and amusing characterizations . . ." N. Y. HERALD-TRIBUNE. ". . . Pleasant lightweight entertainment replete with funny situations . . . Boland and Ruggles provide some truly chucklesome moments . . ." N. Y. WORLD-TELEGRAM. "... A more than passably successful bit of lunacy . . ." N. Y. TIMES. "THE GREEN PASTURES" (Warner's) ". . . Transferred to the screen with care, taste and fidelity by the direction of the author. Marc Connelly, and Wm. Keighley ... It remains a beautiful, moving and stirring work . . . Rex Ingram, as "De Lawd" gives a fine and distingushed portrayal . . . All the roles are managed with high and satisfying skill." N. Y. HERALD-TRIB i_ NE, ". . . Has the rough beauty of homespun, the irresistable compulsion of simple faith ... It has concreteness and gives one a nostalgic feeling that it ought to be true and that if it isn't we are all, somehow, obscurely the worse for it. Rex Ingram and the entire cast play in exquisite manner . . ." N. Y. TIMES. ". . . Film version of Marc Connelly's Pulitzer prize-winner faithfully adheres to the letter and spirit of the original "divine comedy of modern literature" . . . Rex tngram, majority of the original company, Hall Johnson Choir and everyone in cast perform amazingly well ..." N. Y. DAILY NEWS. "WHITE FANG" (20th Century-Fox) ". . . Assuredly one of the mishaps of the season . . ." N. Y. HERALD-TRIBUNE. ". . . About the best that can be said of the cinematic emergence of this Jack London story is that the Alaskan snow scenes have a coolint effect on these hot days . . ." N. Y. DAILY NEWS. ". . . Good ... A rousing movie of Northland adventure during gold-rush days . . ." N. Y. POST.