The Film Daily (1934)

II nti mate in Character nternationa! in Scope ndependent in Thought II The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Now Sixteen Years Old OL. LXV. NO. Ill NEW yCCI\, S4TLCDAy, MAy 12, 1934 <S CCNTX Iptimism is Hollywood's Chief Merit, Say Critics iODE AUTHORITY UPHOLDS FIRST BOARDJECISION Estimate $1,500,000 for Paramount in First Quarter ompany Is Building Up Cash Position from Operations Earnings of Paramount Publix r the first quarter of this year are timated in a Dow-Jones summary over $1,500,000 before interest larges which are not being dd. Reporting progress in pre-ninary steps before reorganiza•n, the article states that, "as near as can be estimated, the real liality of the parent company totals {Continued on Page 3) RODUCT CURTAILMENT FEARED IF HOURS GUT "Any further shortening of hours I work would reduce production and lereby diminish the supply of vailable product for the operation f theaters," says the report of the ode Authority committee which inestigated possibilities of the indus•y further increasing wages and (Continued on Page 4) L O. Boards' Rulings Not to Be Made Public New Orleans — Rulings and aeons of the local grievance and zonlg-clearance boards will not be lade public, according to Norman i,. Carter, grievance board member nd connected with Saenger Theters. From another source it is ;amed that Carter's motion, while rarmly debated, was not adopted, ut instead it was suggested to 'rite the Code Authority for adice. Plans Theaters on Continent London — A. L. Ward-Woodgcr, financier, is to build a group of modern movie houses throughout Belgium, Switzerland and Spain, it is announced. CRITICS' FORUM QUESTION NO. 7 What's right — or wrong — with Hollywood? (Concluded) RESULTS OF CRITICS' REPLIES The "right" side is given recognition in today's concluding discussion on the subject of Hollywood. LJAVING given the critics their say on what's wrong with Hollywood, we come now • ' to their comments on what's right with the cinema city. Not so many scribes had a good word to say, or as many good words as they had bad ones, about the movie capital, but there is plenty of logic and significance in the few defense statements. Perhaps the best compliment is that tendered by Mary Brooks Parham of the "Charlotte Observer" and several others who say that, although Hollywood is the most vilified and most abused city in the world, it still maintains its optimism and its enthusiasm, and even in the darkest days of the depression it turned out the highest quality of pictures in its career. "If Hollywood was anything but what it is, it wouldn't be Hollywood, and who in America would like that?" says Ed L. Campbell of the "Daily Graphic," Pine Bluff, Ark. "We cuss it, we praise it, we shun it, we flock to it. It's amazing, disgusting, wonderful* asinine, magnetic, repulsive, etc., etc. But it's Hollywood and there's no other place in the world like it." CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT Quite a number of critics entered on the credit side of Hollywood the continual improvement in technique, mechanical and artistic. "Hollywood is doing a good job of entertaining the public, its real mission," writes Robert Randol of the Fort Worth "Star-Telegram." "The standard of films continues to be improved and the mechanics of production also are being mastered rapidly. Better acting comes out of film studios today than at any time since motion pictures were invented. It is remarkable that so many serious stories are filmed, since the public evidently would Be satisfied with even less artistic pictures than are being made." Helen Clinton of the Schenectady "Gazette" remarks that "the way pictures have come along this year, just as big, gorgeous, etc., as in prosperity has certainly been one of the most optimistic influences for hope in a time of despair." "Hollywood is turning out the finest entertainment of all time," says Dennis R. Smith, veteran scribe of the "Repository," Canton, 0. "It is learning that most people are human beings and that there are others in the country besides smart sophisticates and morons looking for fan dances and bedroom sessions." "I think Hollywood hands out some swell entertainment and is improving all the time," states Grace Calvin of the "Houston Press." The general level is getting just a little higher each year." "Pictures have done more to preach the doctrine of beauty than any other thing in the history of mankind," declares Josephine Hughston of the "San Jose Mercury (Continued on Page 3) Ruling is Upheld Giving Saxe 30 Warner Pictures Sustaining a decision of the Milwaukee grievance board, The Code Authority yesterday afternoon affirmed its overbuying award giving Saxe Amusement Managemen operating the Capitol, M; .1. Wis., 30 Warner-First Nation. J features bought by the Ashley The Corp. of that city. This was the first appeal to reach the Code thority since its establishment. Th< decision was rendered follov i hearing at which counsel for v n.a ( Continued on Page 3) DELAY DARROW REPORT FOR NRA'S REJOINDER By WILLIAM SILVERBERG FILM DAILY Staff Correspondent Washington — Clarence Darrow's code hearing report, which it was learned yesterday was turned over to NRA division administrators to give them an opportunity to prepare an answer, is now expected to (Continued on Page 3) 5 CBS Radio Announcers Will Appear in Pictures Five leading announcers of the Columbia Broadcasting System will appear in ,shorts to be made at the Eastern Service Studios in Astoria starting next week. They are David (Continued on Page 2) Hard Up for Material Philadelphia — Though gangster films have become comparatively extinct, a lengthy attack on these pictures by Dr. Bernard Sachs, neurologist, marked the luncheon held yesterday at the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel to launch the local chapter of the Motion Picture Research Council. He blamed crime on gang films.