The Film Daily (1937)

Hollywood's Musical THE Technique Assailed by Critics & timate in Character ternational in Scope ndependent in Thought The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Now Nineteen Years Old VOL. 71. NO. 117 NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY. MAY 19, 1937 If tsfiY ^ f TEN CENTS 7937-38 Product Plans Disclosed at" GN Sales Meet UNIVERSALIS 27 OFM TITLES FQRJ937-38 Producers Individually to Study Radio Competition CRITICS' HI FORUM (Sixth installment of the Squawk Parade of the Fifth annual FILM DAILY Critics' Forum ) MUSICAL SEQUENCES— I'm sick and tired of the Hollywood obsession that no picture is complete without dragging in a shoddy musical sequence: of having the hero and heroine expectorate in each other's faces while singing maudlin trash; and of having 50-piece orchestras suddenly strike up in a sequestered mountain cabin or in a row-boat far at sea. If there must be so-called "popular" music in a picture, at least make its introduction realistic. Too many copy-cats in Hollywood. The "cycles" are extremely tiresome — such as hospital-doctor pictures, and racket "exposures," not to mention the girl whose father has left her a lumber camp. The "comedy relief" of heavy dramas is seldom comedy and never relief. C. R. ROSEBERRY, Albany "Knickerbocker Press". • AGAINST MUSICALS— My pet squawks, as well as of a great many theatergoers, is the musical picture. Hollywood seems to be producing more and more of them and nine-tenths of them arc fit only for children and morons. About two out of every year's list of releases are worthwhile, or even entertaining. Isn't there anyone who can put a stop to them? Personally they could eliminate all screen musical comedies and extravaganzas and I'd be happy. IN A KARSON, Springfield, O. "News and Sun". • FAKED n JKGROUNDS— The obvious faking in recent pictures Iis an insult to the intelligence of picturegoers. In straining after economy, most producers have sacrificed absolutely the realism of pictures by unspeakable backdrops and painted scenic effects which destroy the illusion of the picture. Long tiresome trailers have sent away (Continued on Page 6) Problem Given Preliminary Discussion at MPTOA Sponsored Meet Film producers will individually study the radio competition problem, existence of which they are fully aware, it was stated following a conference of the M. P. T. O. A. committee headed by Walter Vincent and representatives of seven major companies yesterday afternoon at the Hotel Astor. Warner Bros, and the Hays association were not represented at the {Continue! -on Page 4) ENTRIES POURING IN FORGOLFTOURNAMENT That film solons great and small, and far and near, have their glimmers glued on Wednesday, June 9, and the biggest and best of all FILM DAILY Golf Tournaments scheduled at the Elmsford Country Club, White (Continued on Page 8) Roxy Noteholders Group Fights Plan Amendment Roxy noteholders protective committee yesterday filed objections in Federal Court to the report of Special Master Addison S. Pratt on the Roxy reorganization plan. The com (Continued on Page 4) Expect KAO $1.75 Dividend KAO board of directors is expected to declare a regular quarterly dividend of $1.75 at its meeting today. The meeting has been set ahead a week. B. F. Keith board is also slated to meet. GRAFTS' ULTIMATUM TO INDIE PRODUCERS By RALPH WILK West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood (Wednesday) — Independent producers yesterday afternoon were served with an ultimatum that unless they sign a union shop agreement with Federated M. P. Crafts within 24 hours, and agree to negotiate wage and working conditions, 3,000 Federated employees will be called out on strike. This move affects Republic, Selznick International, Grand National, Monogram and many other independent companies. Federated urged a nation-wide (Continued on Page 8) Illinois Theater Divorce Bill Is Before Committee A theater divorce bill has been introduced in the Illinois House by Representative O'Neill. It has been referred to the committee on licenses and miscellany. 25 Feature Attractions AtnongGN's 65 Pix for 1937-38, Convention Told David Loew to Release Two Brown Pix Via Col. West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — David L. Loew will produce two Joe E. Brown features for Columbia release next season, it (Continued on Page 4) West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Announcing 52 of the 65 titles scheduled for Grand National release during 1937-38, Edward J. Peskay, vice-president in charge of distribution, yesterday explained the company's plans at its (Continued on Page 7) Deanna Durbin to Star in Three; Tex Baker, New Western Star West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — The New Universal for 1937-38 will have eight more features than during the season now closing, the increase giving a total of 50, "U's" sales convention at the Ambassador Hotel was told yesterday by J. R. Grainger, general manager of distribution. Titles of 27 features were listed by Grainger, who also announced that the company would increase its quota of Westerns to 10 and add (Continued on Page 8) EUROPEAN THEATER BUILDING STAGNATES Stagnation generally grips theater construction in European countries, although in the British Isles, building is proceeding rapidly, despite the frequently-expressed opinion that this area is over-seated. These are the views of 20th Century-Fox distribution executives headquartering in England, Norway, Roumania as well as Egypt, given voice as they landed in New York yesterday on the Normandie (Continued on Page 6) Coronation Reels Rushed to Theaters in Fast Time Fighting time, to assure widespread distribution of Coronation footage as featured portions of their mid-week releases, all five major newsreel companies swung into action yesterday afternoon immediate (Continued on Page 4) U. A. Air-cooled United Artists' headquarters in New York is being air-cooled, with installation work now in progress. Extension alterations have been made to the office layout during the past tew weeks.