The Film Daily (1934)

Friday, June 1, 1934 DAILY A Little from "Lots" P=Z By RALPH WILK = HOLLYWOOD DOBERT YOUNG will have the V male lead in M-G-M's "All Good Americans", while Franchot Tone aas been assigned the lead in 'Death on the Diamond" at the same studio. ▼ T T Victor Moore, Broadway comedy star, has been signed by Universal and will make his first appearance in "Romance in the Rain." His contract is for seven years with a minimum of two pictures a year. T T T Douglas Montgomery and Bela Lugosi also have been placed unler contract for three pictures on Universal's new program. George O'Brien and Marguerite Churchill are the parents of a ninepound boy. Arthur Hohl has been signed to a lolumbia contract. ▼ T T Joe E. Brown, First National star, is due back from the Orient on June 10. Charles Ray, after a five-year absence, returns to the screen in Paranount's "Should Ladies Behave." Marie Wells, former light opera ind musical comedy favorite, will sing several comic ballads in Paranount's "Ladies First," with George Bancroft and Frances Fuller. Marguerite Roberts is one of the Dusiest writers on the Coast. She wrote "Jimmy and Sally" for Fox md collaborated on the screenplay ;or "Peck's Bad Boy." She is the ^o-author of "Sailors' Luck" and is now at Paramount, where she is collaborating on the scenario for 'The End of the World." Hal Yates has returned to Hal loach's, where he is directing Irvin 3. Cobb in "Angleworms." Recently ne has been writing for Paramount. T T T Fredric March, Elliott Nugent, Warren Hymer, Karl Struss, Gilbert Roland, Harry McKee, David Butler, Martin Cornica, Herbert Bregstein, ?. Hovey, Ted Von Eltz, Jack 3luett, Francis Perret, Solly Biano, Bob Koke, Phil Moore, Wells Root, Albert J. Cohen, T. Thackeray, ^arry Bachman and Norman Krasna ire among the contestants in the innual motion picture tennis tournament being held at the Los Angeles :lub. « « REVIEWS of the NEW FEATURES » » Will Rogers in "HANDY ANDY" with Peggy Wood, Mary Carlisle, Frank Melton, Conchita Montenegro Fox 81 mins. VERY AMUSING TYPICAL WILL ROGERS VEHICLE PARTICULARLY STRONG ON COMEDY MATERIAL. Among the most enjoyable of the Will Rogers pictures, this one ought to have no trouble sending 'em home satisfied. Not so much because of the story, but due more to several hilarious gag sequences, including Rogers doing a Tarzan at the New Orleans Mardi Gras; also in an earlier sequence learning to play golf, breeding pigeons, etc. All this happens after Rogers has sold out his country drug store at the insistence of his socially-minded wife, Peggy Wood. This leaves Rogers with a lot of restless time on his hands, and his various efforts to while away this time supply motivation for much of the fun. Some of the comedy is in the slapstick category, but it's a howl. There is some juvenile love interest on the side and a bit of music, while the supporting cast, particularly the stage star, Peggy Wood, and Frank Melton, is ingratiating. Cast: Will Rogers, Peggy Wood, Mary Carlisle, Frank Melton, Conchita Monte'r negro, Paul Harvey, Roger Imhcf, Robert Taylor, Grace Goodall, Jessie Pringle, Adrian Rosley, Gregory Gaye, Richard Tucker, Helen Flint. Director, David Butler; Author, Lewis Beach (from the play "Merry Andrew"); Adaptors, Kubec Glasmcn, William Ccnselman, Harry Johnson; Lyrics, William Conselman; Music. Richard Whitney; Cameraman, Arthur Miller; Recording Engineer, F. C. Chapman. Direction, Aces Photography, Fine. Louis King has assembled a strong cast for "Wanted," which he >vill direct for Fox. The principals vill include Pert Kelton, Rosemary \mes, Nils Asther, Henry B. Walhall and Russell Hardie. Loretta Young and Cary Grant in "BORN TO BE BAD" with Harry Green, Jackie Kelk, Henry Travers, Paul Harvey United Artists 61 mins. GOOD CAST IS ABOUT ONLY MERIT OF STORY OF ERRING MOTHER AND TOUGH KID. Besides its slim chances of proving satisfying entertainment, the theme of this 20th Century production may kick up some attacks from the movie snipers. Story is about Loretta Young, an unwed mother who seems to be destined for a life of errors, and her young son, Jackie Kelk, whom she nurses along to be as tough as herself. Then the son is taken away from her and she wages a battle to get him back, finally inducing a rich lad, Cary Grant, to effect the lad's release. But when Cary and his wife go further and install Jackie in their home, Loretta resorts to trickery to get him away. She uses her wiles on Cary, falls in love with him, and then, on realizing the muddle she has caused and seeing that Jackie is contented in his new home, she has a change of heart and sets out for a straighter path. Cast: Loretta Young, Cary Grant, Jackie Kelk, Henry Travers, Russell Hopton, Andrew Tombes, Howard Lang, Harry Green, Marion Burns, Paul Harvey, Charles Coleman, Matt Briggs, Geneva Mitchell. Director, Lowell Sherman; Author, Ralph Graves; Adaptors, Ralph Graves, Harrison Jacobs; Cameraman, Barney McGill; Editor, Maurice Wright. Direction, Okay. Photography, Good. Bebe Daniels in "REGISTERED NURSE" with Lyle Talbot, Dorothy Burgess, John Halliday, Minna Gombell first National 62 mins. JUST FAIR YARN ABOUT A NURSE'S ROMANCE. GOOD PERFORMANCES HELP MAINTAIN MILD INTEREST. Enacted almost entirely in a big city hospital setting, this yarn never gets very deep under the skin and the good performances of the cast contribute the main part of the satisfaction to be derived from it. Bebe Daniels, a nurse who married a wealthy man-about-town, Gordon Westcott, returns to her hospital job when the husband is knocked insane in an auto crash. The action then runs the familiar gamut of hospital romancing, gossip, cases, etc., with Bebe as the objective of most of the male staff, and Lyle Talbot as the principal lady killer. Bebe eventually gets hep to Talbot, however, and after her husband dies she finds a happier haven with John Halliday, the chief surgeon. A few bits of comedy are injected by Irene Franklin and Sidney Toler. Cast Bebe Daniels, Lyle Talbot, Dorothy Burgess, John Halliday, Gordon Westcott, Irene Franklin, Beulah Bondi, Renee Whitney, Virginia Sale, Minna Gombell, Milt Kibbee, Sidney Toler. Director, Robert Florey; Authors, Wilton Lackaye, .Florence Johns; Adaptors, Lillie Hayward, Peter Milne; Cameraman, Sid Hickox; Editor, Jack Killifer. Direction, Good. Photography, Good. Margaret Sullavan and Douglas Montgomery in "LITTLE MAN, WHAT NOW?" Universal 90 mins. MARGARET SULLAVAN'S CHARM HIGHLIGHTS INTENSE HUMAN INTEREST STORY WELL DONE ALL AROUND. Considering the nature of the theme as provided by the book, depicting the discouraging misfortunes of a pair of newlyweds trying to make their way, Frank Borzage did a very creditable job with this production. Though the path of the idealistic lovers is continually dreary, Margaret Sullavan and Douglas Montgomery invest the characters with a charm and intensity that holds a good grip on the audience throughout. A swell surrounding cast also helps considerably. Action takes place in Germany, with social upheaval going on, jobs scarce, and Douglas playing the role of a young married clerk who has a hard time getting jobs and holding them, through no fault of his own. Fired by one boss whose dumb daughter he spurned, Douglas goes to live for a time with his philandering stepmother, and eventually winds up in a hayloft apartment, where their baby is born and a happy ending finally is effected. Cast: Margaret Sullavan, Douglas Montgomery, Alan Hale, Muriel Kirkland, DeWitt Jennings, Catherine Doucet, Christian Rub, Alan Mowbray, Frank. Reicher, Monroe Owsley, Etienne Girardot, William Augustin, Fred Kohler, Bodil Rosing, Donald Haynes, George Meeker, Paul Fix, Mae Marsh, Sarah Padden, Tom Ricketts, G. P. Huntley, Jr., Earle Foxe, Max Ascher. Director, Frank Borzage; Author, Hans Fallada; Adaptor, William Anthony McGuire; Cameraman, Norbert Brcdine; Editor, Milton Carruth; Recording Engineer, C. Roy Hunter. Direction, Fine. Photography, A-l. CODE CASES Activities of Local Grievance and Zoning and Clearance Boards 6 DECISIONS BY NEW YORK BOARD Six decisions were rendered yesterday by the New York grievance board. Complaint of Harmon Yaffa vs. Vitagraph asserting that he was overcharged on two pictures was dismissed, as was a second Yaffa claim on behalf of his Gem and Majestic theaters charging overbuying against the Lane and Empress Theaters and the Vitagraph, Paramount, Fox, Universal and RKO exchanges. Four Loew theater complaints of premature advertising were sustained. The complaints were those of Loew's New York against the Tivoli, Loew's 175th St. and Rio vs. Majestic, and Loew's New York vs. Times. On the complaint of Loew's Freeman, the Royal Theater was found guilty of reducing admissions through giveaways of ice cream and cake. BIRMINGHAM PREMIUM VOTE Birmingham — This city and its suburbs has been defined as a zone in which a vote may be taken on whether or not premiums shall be abolished, as provided by the code. An exhibitor vote to decide the issue will be t^ken shortly. 2 PHILLY CASES DISMISSED Philadelphia — An overbuying charge brought by the Great Northern vs. Strand in this city was dismissed by the local grievance 'ioard yesterday. Board also dismissed a cr mplaint brought by the Drive-in-Theater, Camden, vs. RKO on specific performance of contract. FINDS "BANK NIGHT" VIOLATION Charlotte — In a complaint by W. J. Allen of the New Orpheum vs. Harold Kay of the Liberty, North Wilkesboro, the local grievance board found that Kay, in violation of the code, isoperating "bank night" with insufficient notification to the public that purchase of a ticket to the theater to register ind participate in the award is unnecessary. Hearing of the reduced admission case of L. C. Sipe vs. H. F. Kincey, which the local grievance board decided in favor of Sipe, is to be held again before the code authority in New York on Kincey's appeal. CUT-PRICE CASES DECIDED Denver — -Three two-for-one and other reduced admission cases have been decided in favor of the plaintiffs by the local grievance board. They involved complaints of Fred Lind, Grand Theater, Littleton, vs. Thomas Sullivan, Gothic Theater, Englewood, for distributing two-for-one Buddie tickets in Littleton; Black Hills Amusement Co. vs. Rex Theater, Rapid City, for use of twofor-ones, and Black Hills vs. State, Rapid City, on the same complaint. The docket of the local grievance board is now clear. Emmet Thermon, counsel for Sullivan, nlans an appeal of the decision, claiming he code cannot ban giveaways except by a "5 per cent vote of active exhibitors. RULE ON PLACE OF FILING CLAIMS St. Louis — Local zoning and clearance and 'rievance boards have been advised by the -ode authority that_ in cities where exhibitors eceive part of their films from one distribuion center and part from another city all lisputes under the code shall be adjudicated 'iv the comn ittee having jurisdiction over the city from which the exhibitor complained gainst receives his film. Starting Monday, both the local clearance md the grievance boards will hold their meetngs on Mondays. "Rothschild" 3 Weeks in A. C. Atlantic City — "House of Rothschild" has held over three weeks with promise of a fourth. Apollo opened and Strand took second and third week. 143 Special "Monica" Dates Total of 143 special pre-release engagements on "Dr. Monica," starring1 Kay Francis, have heen set by Warners. General release is June 23.