The Film Daily (1938)

Thursday, November 10, 193 : MONO. DEFERS BRIT. PRODUCTION TO '39-40 (Continued from Page 1) Pathe Films general manager, and Arthur Levey, Monogram's British representative, come over from Engand again to presumably attend the Monogram convention, it was reported yesterday. Although the current confabs between Monogram and Pathe Films have been narrowed to discussions between W. Ray Johnston, Gell and Levey. — inasmuch as Scott R. Dun'^p. Monogram studio chief, and Ralph Bettinson, Pathe Film's Coast contact exec, have left New York for Hollywood, — a decision is exnected to be forthcoming shortly on renewal by Monogram of its distribution hook-up with Pathe Films in the U.K. This deal is scheduled to hp settled before Gell and Levey pail for Europe on the week-end aboard the Normandie. At the home office yesterday, it was said that Dunlap may be sent to London as soon as Coast production pressure lifts. It was added that many adjustments must be made to insure continuation of company's production in Hollywood "if we produce abroad." This doubtless mean« that Dunlap will not be sinvpfl from the Coast until the 1938-39 line-up is over the jumps. Chambers Hearing Sought on Equity Action Motion (Continued from Page 1) fensp motion for a bill of particulars in the Government's equity suit in chambers at an afternoon hour. Counsel, preferring this course, will make the formal request to the Court when the case is called in Room 506, Federal Court, at 10:30 a.m. MP Associates Meet Tuesday Final meeting of Motion Picture Associates before the annual dinner and dance on Nov. 26 at the Astor will be held Tuesday, Jack Ellis, president, announced yesterday. Ellis said that publishers and editors of numerous trade publications would be invited, with Eddie Golden, Monogram exec, expected to • the principal speaker. Duffy Loses Senate Seat Milwaukee — Senator Duffy (D), <-f Wisconsin, author of copyright lcffislat;on, known as the Duffy Bill, ran a poor third in Tuesday's elections in this state, final returns show. Alexander Wiley (R) won the race, with Lieutenant-Governor Herman L. Ekern (Prog.) runnerup. Holding "Brother Rat" Boston — Warners' "Brother Rat," now d^v-and-date at the Paramount and Fenway, stays for a second week in both. REVIEWS Of DEW FILMS Prison Tram with Fred Keating, Linda Winters Malcolm-Browne Prod. 64 mins. CLEVER AND SUSPENSEFUL DRAMA IN UNUSUAL SETTING HITS NEW GANGSTER ANGLE. This is one of the best pictures that the state rights field has seen in years. Pity it can't travel on the big time on the distribution end, because it could stand up with a lot of the gangster films turned out by the majors. In fact, it has some fine directorial touches that few major productions can top. The director, Gordon Wiles, is quite evidently a student of the Alfred Hitchcock suspense technique, along with the British director's penchant for deft characterization in little touches that build incidental characters tremendously. With a cast that boasts no outstanding names, the director has done wonders. He has taken a commonplace story, and by the way in which he has embellished it with human incident, natural touches and a steady upsurge of suspenseful incident, turned out a film that really grips you. The camera work of Marcel Picard brings back an artist with the lens who has been out of sight too long. Between the artistry of this craftsman, who paints emotions and drama with his camera angles and his lighting effects, and the original technique of the director, here is a picture that can play any type of house with credit, even though it was turned out on a tight budget. The picture doesn't show any pinching on the budget, for the greater oart of the action is on the prison train, and the action is deftly juggled between the car with the prisoners on their way to Alcatraz, and the rest of the train containing characters vital to the action. Briefly, the story is that of the head of the numbers racket who kills the son of his rival in a brawl, and is sent to the "Rock" for second degree murder. The father of the dead boy vows he will never reach it. His plan to take the prisoner off the train, which is sidetracked at a lonely spot across the continent, furnishes the major portion of the action. The romantic interest is provided by the sister of the prisoner who is a passenger on the train, and the federal agent guarding the brother. A few more like this one, and the indie boys will be eating regularly again. CAST: Fred Keating, Linda Winters, Clarence Muse, Faith Bacon, Alexander Leftwich, James Blakely, John Pearson, Val Stanton, Franklyn Farnum, Peter Potter, Sam Bernard, Nestor Paiva, Kit Guard, George Lloyd. CREDITS: Producer, B. F. Zeidman; Director, Gordon Wiles: Author, Leonardo Bercovici; Screenplay, Shepard Traube; Editor, Edward Schroeder; Cameraman, Marcel Picard. DIRECTION, Very Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Excellent. F. D. Carrico Dead Detroit — Frank D. Carrico. 65, father of Francis Carrico, is dead. His son, a former manager of the Boulevard Theater, later operated the Gladwin Park (now the Booth). "Panamint's Bad Man" with Smith Ballew 20th Century-Fox 58 mins. CLEVER WESTERN WITH GOOD HUMAN TOUCHES AND CHARACTERIZATION LIFT THIS ABOVE AVERAGE. Another of the Singin' Smith Ballew series, with Ballew as the lanky U. S. deputy sent into the territory where in the old days the outlaw gang was systematically robbing the Wells-Fargo express shipments of silver. Ballew impersonates a notorious outlaw who has been reported on the way from Texas, whom Ballew knows has been captured and jailed. Noah Beery Sr. plays the role of the brains of the gang, and does a grand job that lifts the usual part of the western bad man to a high plane. But the outlaw Black Jack (Stanley Fields) whose name the deputy has assumed, breaks jail. Ballew recaptures him before he hits town, and makes a deal with him to allow him to keep using his name on the promise to cut him in on a big deal. A lot of good comedy is thus developed, for the outlaw does not realize he is working for a marshal all the time. The finale is crowded with fast action, excitement, and a pitched battle as the government forces close in when Ballew has set the trap to catch them red-handed looting a silver express shipment. CAST: Smith Ballew, Evelyn Daw, Noah Beery, Sr. ; Stanley Fields. Harry Woods, Pat O'Brien, Armand Wright. CREDITS: Producer. Sol Lesser; Director, Ray Taylor; Authors. Edmond Kelso, Lindsley Parsons; Screenplay, Luci Ward, Charles A. Powell; Cameraman. Allen Q. Thompson; Editor, Albert Jordan. DIRECTION, Very Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Okay. Dallas Interstate Houses Build Stages for Amateurs Dallas — Interstate Circuit has started construction of a stage at the Bison Theater in suburban Oak Cliff to be used for weekly presentations by Alice Stubblefield studio pupils. Construction of a stage at the Varsitv Theater, suburban University Park, has also been ordered. Monthly presentations of dance studio students are takiner place at the Melrose Theater, which is equipped with a stage. Since the Arcadia on Greenville Avenue became an independent operation owned bv Winfield Morton, the Virginia Self Studios have been supplying stage entertainment. Conn. Allied to Meet New Haven — Allied Theaters of Connecticut will hold its regular biweekly luncheon meeting at the Hofbrau Haus next Tuesday, with Mnurice Shulman presiding. Local B-41 of exchange employes meets the same evening at the Hotel Garde with Katherine Fitzgerald in the chair. GOV'T SUES MAJORS ON CONSENT DEGREE1 (Continued from Page 1) films to the public detriment, as wel as that of independent exhibitors. The defendants were also ordere to show cause why they should no be held in contempt of Federa court for conspiring to maint" :n i monopoly in distribution and's_, .hi bition of films in the Chicago area The proceedings are based on a con sent decree signed in 1932 befon Judge Woodward by these compa nies. $3,500,000 Halpern Action vs. Hearst et al, Ruled Oul (Continued from Page 1) fringement of copyright againsj Hearst Publications, Inc., Pepsoden Company, Lord & Thomas, and War Disney. Complainant sued for $3, 500,000. Alleged infringement mat ter consisted of a display advertisement used in newspapers which was captioned "Pepsodent's Moving Pic ture Machine," with two sets oj; color movies featuring Walt Disney's "Snow White and the Sever Dwarfs." The so-called moving picture machine consisted of a cardboard bo?1 serving as a display camera with1 crank for turnnig inserted rolls ol f colored pictures. Complainanll charged that she obtained copyright! for a similar newspaper comic strip;! movie entitled "Tiny Tot Revue" irl 1930. Judge James ruled, however, that! the idea was in the field of common! knowledge. Walt Disney stated, in an inter-j view, that it is his intention to fightl any and all suits of this nature,j however small. Olajos Named Treasurer of Erpi; Succeeds Foster| Charles Olajos, formerly assistant! treasurer of Erpi was elected treas-j urer yesterday at a meeting of the| Board of Directors. Mr. Olajos suc-j ceeds F. B. Foster who resigns the| office at the close of business Nov.( 30 to accept the position of Comptroller. Olajos assumes ■ his new post Dec. 1. "Hell's Angels" Again New Orleans — "Hell's Angels" returned to the downtown area for the third time in the past year and threatens to do heavy biz again. The film's total playing time in New Orleans since its release probably places it among the ace runners. DeSylva to RKO West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — B. G. (Buddy) DeSylva has moved into RKO where he will produce "Little Mother." It is being prepared for Ginger Rogers, and plans are to put it into work Dec. 1.