The Film Daily (1934)

THE End of Double Bills Looms in St. Louis (Continued from Page 1) is understood to be awaiting final consummation of the reorganization of the Ambassador, Grand Central and Missouri theaters. If control of these houses goes to the SnyderKoplar interests and Fanchon & Marco takes over the management, it is believed they will favor a single feature policy. Loew's State always has been for singles, and with F. & M. controlling the Fox and the St. Louis, end of the duals in firstruns is held an early possibility. With the major houses in line, the neighborhoods are expected to follow. The M. P. T. 0. also will seek exhibitor representation on the committee in charge of the Municipal Auditorium, which has been able to book some entertainment films in competition with theaters. "Blue Light" Holds Over "The Blue Light," the Leni Riefanstahl alpine drama which is having its first American showing at the Little Picture House on East 50th St., has attracted such interest that it will be held over through next Monday. Columbia Signs 4 More Players West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Inez Courtney, Robert Allen, James Blakely and Leo Bulgakov are the latest Broadway players to be signed by Columbia. Disney Awarded Medal For his service to art in the production of animated cartoons, Walt Disney this week was presented with a gold medal by the American Art Dealers' Ass'n. New Paris House Opens paris — The Cinema Artois has been opened with "S.O.S. Iceberg." Another house, the Cinema Marbeuf, will be reopened this month by M. C. Wyn, with "Let's Fall in Love." "Uncle Tom" in Color Exhibitors' Pictures Corp. will start production within ten days at Irvington en a feature length version of "Uncle Tom's Cabin," to be made in Photocolor, it was said yesterday by M. Kleinerman, president. ■%2H DAILY Thursday, May 10, T|4 GOVT, AGENCIES TO GET CODE REPORT THE CRITICS* FORUM (Continued from Page 1) (Continued from Page 1) House, for their respective analysis and abstraction. Meanwhile the President has not yet accepted the resignation of John F. Sinclair, minority member of the Board. "does not have enough faith in ultimate success of best kind of picture to go through critical period; consequently is too much in a rut." SEX THEME OVERDONE "It makes little or no effort to lead public taste, and in fact has depraved it," is the charge of E. W. Opie of the "Leader and News-Leader," Staunton, Va. "The sex theme is overworked and falsely presented. Surefire stars are gratuitously given coarse, suggestive lines, unnecessary to the success of a picture; they are frequently starred in questionable pictures, when clean pictures with the same stars would earn as much or more. Hollywood has broken good actors by giving them only one part to play." Walter L. Browne of the "Moon-Journal," Battle Creek, believes "too much stress is placed on pull of tieup of story and outstanding current event, with hastily prepared productions designed to tie up with current news interest." Jack Sellers of the "Casper Tribune-Herald," Casper, Wyo., doesn't care to see "picture after picture with almost the same players end apparently little variation in casts." A better feeling toward Hollywood would be created, in the opinion of Eleanor Campbell Spencer of the "Daily News," Hamilton, 0., if "hard and heartless" Hollywood would soften up a bit and make a picture with a group of the old cinema stars. Miss Spencer thinks such a picture would attract millions on sentimental appeal alone. "Too many pictures with morbid themes; too much polite infidelity; not enough low comedies; refusal to strike out on new paths," are the kicks from Kenneth Nichols of the "TimesPress," Akron. "NAMES" WITHOUT ABILITY The influx of radio personalities without acting ability, the featuring of "name" performers merely because they have been publicized, and the low percentage of good family entertainment are among the things Hal Jenkins of the "Daily and Sunday Tribune," Coshocton, 0., would like to see corrected. Needless extravagance in some scenes is criticized by Calvin D. Myers of the "News," Newburgh, N. Y. Robert Baral of the "Journal-Gazette," Fort Wayne, deplores "Ballyhoo of insincere stars who admit Ihey arc in the movies to get their minds off their private troubles." "It is not awake to the widespread influence it exerts on youth, or else lacks a feeling of responsibility along this line," says Hazel A. Smith of the "Pubelo Star-Journal," Pueblo, Colo. "Can't seem to create a new star without making her a woman of the streets — in a refined (?) manner." Margaret Bean of the Spokane "SpokesmanReview" calls Hollywood "blinded with sex," and L. C. Gifford of the "Daily Record," Hickory, N. C, declares Hollywood has allowed its sex-consciousness to become a mania to such an extent that they feel they can't do without it. "Directors condemn the public's desires and produce for the artistic and technical viewpoint," is the charge of B. H. Boyd of the "Commercial Appeal," Paris, Tex. "Hollywood recognizes talent only after they have made a name elsewhere," says Denton R. Merwin of the "Daily Leader-Times," Kittanning, Pa. "Inefficiency and waste in production, resulting from neglect to plan ahead and continued altering of stories," is criticized by Dan Albrecht of the "Elkhart Daily Truth," Elkhart, Ind. Francis Arthur Robinson of the "Nashville Banner" says too much of Hollywood's work has the appearance of just being done to make a certain release date. There are too many "big shots"; they are too smart and nobody else knows anything, complains Alfred W. Rose of the "Camden News," Camden, Ark. Cosman Eisendrath of the "Daily Herald," Biloxi, disapproves of "executives that are financiers instead of showmen." W. E. J. Martin of the Buffalo "CourierExpress" is amazed at the "plethora of writers trying to make screen material from shoddy ideas." "Lack of imagination, backed up by one of the most magnificent inferiority complexes the world has ever known," is the charge of Pettersen Marzoni of the "Birmingham NewsAge-Herald." OVERWORKED PLAYERS Not enough attention to the artistic cinema, and overworking of any players that happen to click, are among the complaints of Frederick J. Topping of the "Evansville Courier," Evansville, Ind. "Hollywood is over-run with temperament that neither amuses nor is understood in the hinterland," says Ted Wear of the "Topeka State Journal." "Waste of material and too much unintelligent supervision," declares Elinor L. Hughes of the "Boston Herald." "Too much hokum. False gods. Unrea' things. But all that is necessary to fool half the people," is the way it is put by R. G. Miller of the "Daily Oklahoma," Oklahoma City. William G. Stiegler of the Cincinnati "TimesStar" deplores over-exploitation of the sexy and sensational in screen personalities and too little stress on real acting ability. Jack Gordon of the "Press," Fort Worth, is another who wonders why the same supporting players are used in every other picture by certain companies. Lack of self-confidence is considered Hollywood's chief trouble by Harry Martin of the Memphis "Commercial Appeal." He adds: "Hollywood needs more execs with guts enough to admit they don't know everything and sense enough to get out and learn a few things." Productions by foreign directors who seem to know nothing of American home life are disliked by Charles A. Leedy of the "Youngstown Telegram." APING OTHER ARTS W. Ward Marsh of the "Cleveland Plain Dealer" hands out this sock: "Hollywood has tried to ape all arts and has neglected its own. Ever since the talkies came in, it has played the fool, hiring those who ridicule it squandering money on those who can't write in terms of the screen and can't act before the camera." Misuse of talent by wasting trained actors in thankless roles is berated by Jack Bryan of the Memphis "Press-Scimitar." Max Sien of the "Cincinnati Post" deplores Hollywood's "total submission to a clumsy superstructure of distribution and retailing which demands high-speed production." William H. Haskell of the Albany "Knickerbocker Press" and "Evening News" and R. A. Higgins of the "Gazette," Xenia, 0., compare the mediocre films with the "second" and "third" companies of legitimate plays in the old days. It was these poor traveling troupes that killed "the road," they contend, also pointing out that roadshows of flops were never sent out, and suggest it would be worth while for Hollywood to scrap its clucks rather than send them out to do the whole industry harm. Other things complained about include cycles, sameness of plots, imitation, forcing of new stars prematurely, strong buildups for weak attractions, over-emphasis on wealth, high salaries of some individuals who do little work, too many relatives, and too many people with nothing to do. More about Hollywood tomorrow. more 1 STUDY 200 REQUEST; FOR CANCELLATIOiv (Continued from Page 1) will be billed for their share of{ code financing costs. Some confusion has been cal at Code Authority headquarter:) exhibitors who assented for one I ater but who pay assessments '» y nv other theaters which they opeiBf \ pu Mike Meehan and RKO ' Make 60-Day <<W m (Continued from Page 1) cuit by Bob Sisk, who will later|fc firOlip vote his entire time to the RKO .a .policy dio Picture department. Operaon --.natein, of the K-A-0 houses in the I'd '.an & ( group will also continue to beM-:ffllpi pervised by the RKO theater Biohnston, cials. ip insui -it Lif Inter-Continent Gets Short* Inter-Continent Film Corp., hqi ed by M. D. Strong, has taken J distribution rights for all New w State and Southei'n New Jerseii the one-reel short produced bj ( John Predari, entitled "Two I la Workers," featuring Molasses I January, the "Showboat" rfii stars. Additional contracts 1m been signed with this company I ering the entire world rights a side of the U. S. :. Monogram Reissuing "Twis In view of the recent intt shown in Charles Dickens and hi works, Monogram will reissuelt production of "Oliver Twist" season, with new prints and t accessories, W. Ray Johnston a nounced yesterday. Six Diclai works are scheduled for producoi by major companies next season :llt to 1111 CO' i to the to paiancf : from ■■ of G. Reopening the Mecca on 14th i The Mecca, 2,000-seater at I Street and Avenue A, is being* decorated and will be reopened) two weeks with a large Photoplli' High Fidelity sound equipment^: the same group which is now off ating the Geo. M. Cohan and Gat\ houses on Broadway. Grand, St. Louis, Closing St. Louis — The Grand is scllluled to close today, with no reoin ing plans announced by Fanchoi 4 Marco. Harry Koplar has been*sociated in managing the house. ■Sim New Silly Symphony at Rox "Bugs In Love," Walt Disly Silly Symphony, will be on the : program which opens tomorrow it the Roxy. Rosenblatt Forwards Budget Division Administrator Sol A. Rosen-1 blatt has transmitted to the Code Authority his approval of the motion picture code budget. His statement describes it as "fair and reasonable irl all particulars." 1