The Film Daily (1935)

VOL. LXVII, NO. 118 NEW yCCr, MONDAY, MAT 2C, 193.5 14 <I>IS Critics Say Films Have Advanced Despite Curbs ALLIED CARAVANS ARElONVERGING ONTTLANTA Delegates from All Parts of World at S. M. P. E. Meet ia Convention of Engineers Gets Under Way Today in Hollywood By RALPH WILK West Coast Manager, FILM DAILY Hollywood — Delegates from many ; )f the far corners of the earth, indueling Japan, Holland, Germany, [ndia, England and other places, ire among those here for the spring onvention of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers starting today {Continued on Page 8) 14 HOUSES REOPEN IN NORTHWEST AREA in m TO Minneapolis — Fourteen theaters in his territory were reopened last nonth, in addition to the opening if the new Wentworth Theater Co. louse in New Ulm, while only four :losings occurred in the same pe•iod, the Film Board of Trade's nonthly report shows. The reopenngs were: Triangle, Howard Lake; Liberty, linckley; Lakeville, Lakeville; (Continued on Page 8) Plan Special Handling For "Lamps of China" Special handling is planned by Varners for "Oil for the Lamps of 3hina," the company's second Cosnopolitan Production. It is underwood that Charlie Einfeld, adverising and publicity executive for s iVarners, is planning to do this folowing the picture's world premiere it the New York Strand Theater he latter part of this month. Eineld plans to send several exploiteers (Continued on Page 8) Rosenblatt Quitting? ash. Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Authoritative sources turday said that Sol A. Rosenblatt, ead of the compliance division of the NRA, is resigning shortly, following the reported resignation of Donald R. Richberg. Rosenblatt is also division administrator in charge of the motion picture code. 352 Critics Participated in Third Annual Forum Critics participating in the third annual Forum had reached a total of 352 at the time of winding up this year's symposium on Saturday. Last year more than a dozen replies to the questionnaire straggled in after publication of the survey had concluded. At the rate that late-comers have been coming in during the past week, the number who missed the train this year will be even greater. However, the combined views of 352 of the nation's leading film authorities are contained here; and that, the biggest weight of cinema critical opinion ever assembled, ought to be weight enough to impress Hollywood, New York and the industry in general. Summary of Critics ' Forum — And a Dozen Major Squawks Bucking the restrictions imposed by the Legion of Decency campaign, motion pictures in the past year made more progress along the lines of artistic achievement and general entertainment values than in almost any similar period in their history, according to the majority opinion of 352 of the nation's leading motion picture critics and editors who participated in the third annual Critics' Forum conducted by The Film Daily. Only a very few of the critics believed that the Legion campaign had anything to do with this improvement. Many of them, on the other hand, declared in strong terms that the film industry should have fought for its rights to free expression instead of bending backward to meet the wishes of the few crusaders who sought to impose their ideas on the mass public. Answers to 10 specific questions in the blank forms sent to the critics resulted as follows: 1. Legion of Decency campaign did not impair the entertainment value of films. Movie attendance since the drive began has increased, but due chiefly to general business conditions. 2. Critics are divided on the question of whether theaters are entitled to higher admission prices than the present depression low levels. Consensus is that an increase at this time would be difficult to effect even though many movies are worth more money. 3. Best way to improve press material sent out by film companies is by having it prepared by trained newspapermen. 4. Short subjects are very poorly exploited by theaters, though it is almost unanimously believed the public would prefer one feature and a variety of shorts, instead of two features, if exhibitors helped to put the people in that frame of mind by publicizing meritorious shorts. 5. Classification of theaters, according to adult, family, juvenile, sophisticated, artistic and educational type of films, is believed a good thing, but considered impracticable at present except in a few large cities. 6. Musical films are clicking in almost 90 per cent of the communities, and historical films in about 80 per cent. The critics point out, of course, that the quality of picture has a lot to do with it. 7. Movies are holding public interest more consistently than the radio, in the opinion of 92 per cent of the critics. 8. Widespread use of color would not help films to any great (Continued on Page 8) Plenty of "Plain Talk" is Expected at Allied Convention By DON CARLE GILLETTE Atlanta — Like overland covered wagons of yore trekking to a new promised land, auto caravans of Allied conventioneers are converging on this city for the exhibitor organization's four-day conclave which begins this afternoon and runs through Thursday at the Hotel Piedmont. Not all delegates, of course, are coming by the hitch-hike highways. The railroads, airlines and bus-lines are getting a little business, too. (Continued on Page 8) PARA. NAME CHANGE AUTHORIZED BY COURT Certificate authorizing ParamountPublix Corp. to change its name to Paramount Pictures, Inc., was approved Saturday by Federal Judge Coxe. Definite change of name will not be effected until June 3, when the stockholders vote on the proposal, but no opposition is expected. Improved Sound Systems Announced by Pacent Corp. Two new types of improved sound system, embodying the High Fidelity developments with simplicity of operation and made to sell at moderate prices, are announced by Pacent Engineering Corp. A few test installations already have been made and turned out highly successful, according to L. G. Pacent, president. Latin Consuls at M. P. Club Latin-American consuls of New York will be guests of honor at the Motion Picture Club Forum luncheon tomorrow. Former Ambassador James W. Gerard will head the sp i;ers under the chairmanship of Lour Nizer. Consuls for Cuba, Mexico, Costa Rica, as well as other personalities, including Jaime Yankelevich, president of Nacional Radio Corp. of Argentine, will be present.