The Film Daily (1935)

Intimate in Character International in Scope f Independent in Thought The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Now Seventeen Years Old VOL. LXVII, NO. 112 NEW YORK, MONDAY, MAY 13, 1935 1€ CENTS £00,000,000 Weekly World Movie Attendance big sumTare seekingjnvestment Olm biz Critics Dubious About Value of All-Color for Films Movies Are Seen Holding Public Interest Better Than Radio Motion picture critics and editors f the country do not share the enhusiasm felt in some sections of he trade over the prospects of color oon replacing black and white films enerally, it is shown in views exressed by the film scribes in The 'ilm Daily's third annual Critics' 'orum. A majority of them defiitely express the opinion that widepread use of color will not help {Continued cm Page 11) iALLING SPECIAL MEET IF FOX MET. CREDITORS Special meeting of creditors of 'ox Metropolitan Playhouses, Inc., s to be called shortly to approve he amendments to the WeismanIchenck reorganization plan, it is earned. After approval of the intendments, Federal Judge Mack rill sign an order that the plan is {Continued on Page 10) Preparing 6 New Ones At RKO Radio Studios 'est Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Six productions are iow being readied for filming at he RKO Radio studios. They inlude "Alice Adams," Katharine lepburn vehicle, to be directed by Jeorge Stevens; "Jalna," with Kay bhnson, Nigel Bruce, Peggy Wood, {Continued on Page 10) I Many "G Men" Editorials Warner's "G Men" has inspired newspaper editorials in practically all spots where it has opened to date. Three were accorded it in New York, in addi ion to comment in Arthur Brisbane's ndicated column, and additional ones ■ave appeared to date in Boston, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Baltimore, Mansfield and other cities. Picture is highly lauded as , being of public service in connection with the government's fight on crime. l/uUc&L Jo/u§m AH, A COMPLIMENT! "It is nice to note that there are more intelligent business men in the industry today than at any time before. With a few more eliminations and additions to the executive personnel, the motion picture business should be less vulnerable. Here's hoping!" —BUCK HERZOG, Milwaukee Sentinel. I REPETITION "As in types of pictures, which come in floods after one has made a hit, when we like a star in a type of role the studios don't give us anything else. What a relief it was to see Charles Laughton in 'Ruggles of Red Gap.' And what a relief it would be to see Will Rogers in something new." —DEAN WILDE, St. Joseph, Mo., Gazette. CARELESS WRITING "My chief complaint is that the movies pay too little attention to the writing of a picture. They'll start out with an excellent idea, either original or adapted, and before they're through, the scenarist has bungled it. Suspect that the writers are satisfied to do just enough work to get by and draw their salary checks and aren't putting out enough effort. Or maybe it's the producers' fault. 'Sweet Adeline' was spoiled, for example, by that phony dance sequence in the stage number and the ham melodrama climax, probably insisted on by some executive master-mind. "Less fooling around with weird photography and lavishness on dance numbers and more emphasis on sustaining interest in story will bring about even more improvement. Independent producers, like {Continued on Page 11) Movies Pay $100,000,000 In Annual Taxes to Gov't Start Nationwide Studies Based on Motion Pictures Nation-wide use of the screen as an educational medium in which current films will speed the teaching of history, English, social science and other subjects to high school students throughout the country is announced by Ernest D. Lewis, president of the Department of Secondary Education of the National Education Association. Carefully planned study guides for selected photo {Continued on Page 10) World attendance at moving pictures is now in the neighborhood of 200,000,000 weekly, of which about 70,000,000 weekly is in the U. S., and the film industry in this country pays the Government some $100,000,000 a year in taxes, it is shown in a compilation of movie statistics by the Department of Commerce. Motion Picture Division, Washington. The data, some already familiar {Continued on Page 9) Improved Status of Movie Business Attracts Capital A vast supply of money is being offered for investment in motion picture enterprises, The Film Daily is informed. Reasons given for the willingness of investors to pour their money into the film industry are the increased earnings of several major companies, the emergence of Paramount from reorganization with earnings for the first quarter of 1934 reported exceeding $2,000,000, the demonstrated soundness and stability of the industry itself and the plethora of {Continued on Page 4) FEW PARA. THEATERS CLOSING THIS SUMMER Only about a dozen theaters affiliated with Famous, Paramount theater subsidiary, are expected to close this coming summer, it was stated at the circuit's headquarters yesterday. Of this number, virtually all are located in Florida. The Paramount in Omaha also is scheduled for seasonal closing. Warner-F. N. Studios Prepariiife 7 Films Hollywood — In addition to six features currently before the cameras, the Warner-First National studios have seven stories in preparation for early shooting. The latter group includes "Dr. Socrates," {Continued on Page 4) Reincarnated Philadelphia — Twenty former picture theaters which in recent years have been converted into stores, garages and other places of business have been revamped back into film houses during the past year, according to a local checkup. These rejuvenated theaters are generally playing at 20 cents top evenings and 10 cents matinees.