The Film Daily (1934)

Wednesday, April 4, 1934 DAILY TIMELY TOPICS rning (in Has British Film Art Anything to Teach Us? TF British film arts have anything to teach Hollywood, Hollywood is surely capahle of learning new lessons. I do not think that it is a matter for regret that well-made British pictures in their definite appeal to British patriotism with authentic British intonations in the dialogue and authentic British manners in the acting, should find a wider vogue throughout the empire or that an occasional British film should sweep American audiences. My own conviction is that whether in Cape Colony or Oregon, good British pictures can have no other effect than to make larger and more appreciative audiences for the hest American productions. America will hold its first place, but it should remember that this place of honor may be the post of danger. Excellence is not achieved in isolation. A clash of international competition brings creating criticism. Hollywood draws to itself the best of the nation and turns it into the best in the world. It is and shall continue to be the center of the artistic orbit, and it will inspire the best. Finally and unhesitatingly, the abler our rivals, the better Hollywood likes it! Healthy British rivalry for the American box-office will result in more appreciative audiences all over the world for the best American pictures. — Dr. A, H. Giannini. Acquires 3 F. & M. Features Cleveland — Morris Segal, president of Majestic Pictures Corporation of Ohio has acquired three Fanchon Royer features for territorial distribution. They are "The Fighting Lady," with Peggy Shannon; "Our Neighbors' Wives," with Dorothy Mackaill and Tom Moore, and "Hollywood Hoodlums." SHOWMAN'S REMINDER Check cooling plants now for summer. PHIL M DALY • • • A NATIONAL New Talent Contest is being planned by Warners in conjunction with a broadcasting network the contest to parallel the story in the forthcoming feature, "20 Million Sweethearts". .,. . . an inside yarn of a broadcasting studio the contest will work like this local auditions will be held in the broadcasting company's studios over the country with the winners competing in the Division Finals to be held in the seven Warner-First Nash selling districts these seven division winners will compete in the grand finals to be staged in the company's key studio then the Winner will be awarded a radio contract by the cooperating network seems rather complicated to us but the general idea seems to be to get some publicity for Warners pix and if the plan was too simple the desired publicity would not be forthcoming • • • AT THE banquet windup of the Monogram Convention in Atlantic City on Saturday nite the Gang will sing oompty verses of a jingle rhyme written by George Harvey and a pal especially for this occasion called "Mighty Men of Monogram" to be sung to the tune of "Giddiap Napoleon" T T T • • • THERE'S A verse for practically everybody associated with Monogram here's one on Sam Flax "You western fellers that came here to see the show Take my tip and steer clear of Sam Flax If he starts a crap game, then that's your cue to blow Or he'll add your bankroll to his income tax." • • • THE MONTH of May will be set aside as usual by First Division Exchanges to honor prexy Harry Thomas the slogan is "Say It With Dates" and in exchange for the dates Harry will endeavor to give the boys more peaches than prunes of course prunes just will creep into the best programs but as long as this here biz is what it is ..... . prunes will continue to appear in the very finest crop but with the Chesterfield and Invincible lineup it's a cinch that the exhib, patronizing Harry's exchanges are in for their share of peaches • • • TO OUR list of the Original Motion Picture Companies Max Cohen adds the following . . B & C (British Continental) Barker Films Cricks Martin Helious Kriterion Milanno Monopole Republic United Kinema Color any more? send in your bids surprising how many old silent companies there were • • • SIT TIGHT, folks! we are about to spring upon you a perfect example of erudite British critical comment from S. R. Nelson crit for "The Era," the Lunnon theatrical weekly brought forth after viewing Cab Calloway on the stage of the Palladium theater this is what Mister Nelson said of his hi-de-highness of ho-de-ho "He is a coagulation of alpha particles bombarding the central nucleus of the audience with an increasing stream of scat." and the Professor continues his learned appraisal of Cab thus "He is a triptych in rhythm; he cannot make the slightest movement when the band is playing which is not a contrapuntal line enhancing the whole musical structure" and Cab Calloway is still wondering whether to thank the guy sue him for libel or hire someone to knock his block off « « « » » » EXPLOITETTES Full Campaign on "Cat and the Fiddle" TJTGHLIGHT of the campaign put over by John HcManus, manager of Loew's Midland Theater, Kansas City, Mo., for "The Cat and the Fiddle," was his arrangement with three local radio stations to broadcast the special fifteen-minute record from the production. Announcements were made over the air as to theater and playdate. The leader of the Hotel Muehlebach grill orchestra featured "The Night Was Made For Love" during a dinner program. One week in advance of the premiere a special screening was held for newspaper critics, radio announcers, orchestra leaders and local musical celebrities. A full window display was obtained in Woolf's Department Store, including a 3-sheet size poster of Jeanette MacDonald and a number of mounted fashion stills. The Crown Drug Company, with forty-nine stores in the city, had ten window displays, in the best locations. —Loeu/s Midland, Kansas City, Mo. * * * Souvenir Programs Help "Eskimo" COUVENIR programs used during its Astor theater (New York) showing were distributed throughout Palm Beach, Fla., by Manager Jack Fitzwater, when "Eskimo" was scheduled to be shown at the Paramount theater there. One thousand programs were given away to hotels, doctors' offices, the public library, restaurants and barber shops. Eleven special 22x28 display cards were placed in leading hotels, restaurants and drug stores, as well as on the Main Street newsstand and the ferryboat from West Palm Beach. Five hundred special door knob hangers were distributed from house to house and on automobile handles. — Jack Fitzwater, Paramount, Palm Beach Harold B. Franklin Carmel Myers Al Lichtman