The Film Daily (1938)

Tuesday, October 4, 1938 1HE< DAILY GRAHAM, PARAMOUNT REVIEWS Of REW flLfflS BRITISH HEAD QUITS {Continued from Payc 1) aging director in England. "Since joining the early Paramount or£■;. Ration in 1917," Balahan said. "henas been a dominant factor in our foreign department." Graham joined the staff of the late E. E. Shauer in 1917 as a special representative and made a number of important South American surveys before being appointed to his post in London in 1919. Kent Trade Practice Group Waiting for Counsel Report {Continued from Page 1) tant U. S. Attorney General, Sidney R. Kent, 20th-Fox prexy and committee chairman, told The Film Daily yesterday. Attorneys representing the majors were reported to have held another session yesterday, but there was no statement forthcoming. Kent, accompanied by his wife, arrived in New York yesterday morning on the Century after a visit to the Coast studios of the company. He reported that with the European situation eased, 20th-Fox execs, were looking forward to a fine year. The English production schedule has been maintained despite the recent war scare, he said. It is possible that he will go to Europe next month to meet Walter J. Hutchinson, director of foreign distribution for 20thFox, who will have completed his South African survey tour by that time. No additional pictures are scheduled to be added to the present program, and about half of next season's lineup has been completed, Kent said. He reported that "Suez" would probably have the most intensive newspaper campaign the company has ever given one picture. Charles E. McCarthy, director of advertising and publicity, who accompanied Kent to the Coast, returned to New York Saturday after looking over the new product lineup. STO Pittsburgh — Paul Reith, booker for the local RKO exchange, is the father of an 8% -pound boy. Pittsburgh — Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Spreng are the parents of a 7-pound girl. Mrs. Spreng formerly worked on Film Row, and is a sister of Francis Guehl, booker for the Universal exchange here. Loretta Guehl of 20th Century-Fox and Cecila Guehl of Gaumont British. * SHORTS * "The Men on the Rock" (Historical Mystery) M-G-M 11 mins. Highly Interesting A highly interesting subject, posing the question as to whether Napoleon really died on St. Helena, or whether it was a double. To bolster up this bizarre proposition, evidence is submitted of an obscure French farmer who bore a remarkable resemblance to the Little Corporal, and who was substituted on the island with the help of a friendly physician. Various incidents and documents are submitted to bolster up this idea, finishing with supposed death of the real Napoleon as he, escaped from St. Helena, journeys to the Austrian castle, where his son is held, and is shot by a sentry as he tries to climb the wall. Pretty far-fetched, but very dramatically and colorfully presented by Carey Wilson. "Fishermen's Paradise" (Sportscope) RKO Radio 9 mins. Fine Sport Reel Some great fishing sport off the Bahamas, with a boat going out after blue marlin. The excitement attendant upon the landing of several of these monster fish that fight and leap high out of the water as the big pole bends double will give any lover of sport a great thrill. One big marlin succeeds in getting away after putting up a terrific fight. One of the best fishing reels ever filmed. Supervised by Frederic Ullman, Jr. Produced by Frank Donovan for Pathe. "Mildewed Melodramas" (Paragraphic) Paramount 11 mins. Old Time Thrills Presentation of scenes from three old mellers, "Nellie the Beautiful Typist," "The Eagle's Prey," "The Power of the Eye." These are reedited in order to get the laughs, and serve to show how the screen technique has changed from the early days. Good effort. Avoid Foreign Political Themes for Pix — Ruggles (.Continued from Page 1) vacation in Europe. Ruggles expressed the belief that motion pictures should be made strictly for entertainment and that stories with any hint of propaganda are bound to offend one side or the other of a political issue. There is no need, he said, in aggravating any portion of the public. Ruggles will leave for the Coast in about a week to start work on a picture co-starring Irene Dunne and Fred MacMurray. The picture also will feature his brother, Charles Ruggles and will be the first time that he has directed his brother. While in Europe, Ruggles visited most of the larger studios in the major countries. He expressed the belief that France has made the greatest progress in production among all the European countries. Italy, he said, has excellent facilities for turning out top-notch pictures but so far has not utilized them. Hammons Off Oct. 12 to Set United Kingdom Pact Deal {Continued from Page 1) expected to continue in the same capacity. Edward L. Alperson, general sales manager, arrives in New York today from Chicago where he conducted a meeting of Western branch managers over the week-end. A similar meeting for the Eastern managers will be held in New York Saturday and Sunday. It was learned yesterday that four of the announced pictures for the 1938-39 season will be produced in the East. This means that the remaining 40 will be made in Hollywood. All the shorts are scheduled for Eastern production. Tri-National Films, Inc., New Name for Otterson Firm Levee Denies There is War Between Agents and Actors {Continued from Page 1) by the Guild to confer on plans will work harmoniously. He says there are no real difficulties between the agents and the Guild and that the actors are not interested in destroying the agents. Peter Tender Dead Elyria, 0. — Peter Tender, 50, partner of John Pekras in the operation of theaters here and in Lorain, died Saturday of a heart attack. {Continued from Page 1) of which John E. Otterson, is the president. The company's first English production, "Peg of Old Drury," starring Sir Cedrie Hardwicke and Anna Neagle, opens at the Plaza Theater, New York, on Oct. 11. Picture was produced by Herbert Wilcox. "Garden," "Daughters" Big Warners' "Garden of the Moon" is doing exceptional biz in key city prerelease engagements heard from to date, WB home office said yesterday. Situations include Stanley Theater, Pittsburgh, and the Palace, Cleveland. Company's "Four Daughters" has exceeded the business of "Green Light," the company's high grosser for last season, in 14 first-runs. SELZNICK TO MAKE 7; RELEASE PACT WAITS {Continued from Page 1) mitments are "The Young in Heart" and "Made for Each Other," both for UA, and "Gone With the Wind," for Metro. Other four planned are "Titanic," "Rebecca," "The Married Life of Helen and Warren" and "Second Meeting." While it is anticipated that S-I eventually will renew with UA, it was reported yesterday that Selznick may make no deal until "Gone With the Wind" is finished or at least well under way. At least, there will be nothing in the S-I direction for consideration of the UA directorate at its New York meeting this week. Small Ontario Theaters May Escape Admish Levy Toronto — Smaller theaters charging 25 cents or less admission will receive special consideration from the provincial government when legislation for the re-enactment of an amusement tax is introduced, according to Premier Mitchell Hepburn. In some quarters, it is felt that such theaters will be granted tax exemption. Hepburn declares that a survey establishes their operators generally kept faith by passing along the benefits of the 1937 tax elimination to their patrons while owners of larger houses broke faith. When the provincial levy was lifted in June, 1937, Hepburn specifically reauested the public be given the benefits. Cobb Funeral Held Harrisburg, Pa. — Funeral services for Arthur Lyman Cobb, 62, former stage manager at the old Majestic Theater and at the State Theater, were held yesterday. Cobb had been associated with amusement enterprises in New York, Boston and San Francisco. WEDDING BELLS West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Ronald Colman, English actor, and Benita Hume, English actress, were married at Santa Barbara. Quebec — Marriage of Margot Grahame, English actress, and Allen McMartin, Canadian mine operator, was disclosed here. Lincoln, Neb. — Klara Hanneman, booker for the Lincoln Theaters Corp. here, was married to Bert Cook, manager of Huber Mfg. Co. plant here.