The Film Daily (1939)

Friday, November 3, 1939 NAZIS WAGE CAMPAIGN FOR MEXICAN MARKET By MARCO-AURELIO GALINDO FILM DAILY Staff Correspondent Mexico, D. F. — Outside signs to tl contrary, Mexico is the battlegi^und of intense commercial warfare between Nazi trade agencies and those of the U. S. for domination of the native film industry, particularly in the matter of motion picture equipment and raw stock. The A. E. G. organization here and the Compania Importadora de Peliculas Ufa, chief distributor of German-made films in Mexico, are endeavoring to install German-made projection and sound-reproduction equipment in Mexican film houses. Both organizations recently have enlarged their local quarters, and seem confident that imports will be available to meet any local market demands despite the British blockade. A strenuous campaign by Agfa is under way, long-time credits and other facilities being extended to native film makers. At least a dozen native pictures within the last 12 months have employed negatives and positives supplied by Agfa. A new arrangement reportedly is the making between A. E. G. Cia. Mexicana de Electricidad, Mexican representatives for the German A. E. G. organization, and Klangfilm which will enable the latter to sell more equipment to new film theaters as well as supply replacement units. Despite all German efforts, howevter, RCA High Fidelity sound system and Simplex projectors were chosen for the recently inaugurated Cine Colosa, a 6,600-seat neighborhood house, largest in the country, as well as for the new 5,000-seat Teatro Coliseo in Puebla, in the State of Puebla. In the matter of fieatures, the invasion by Nazi distributors has been far from successful. Very few German-made films get anv playing time, while propaganda films are refused. For the past 12 months or more, not one German-made feature picture has played any of the firstrun theaters in the Mexican capital. A bid is being made by Japan to introduce feature pictures via a distributing office established locally under the management of R. Nishiiima, Japanese businessman who has been conducting: trade in Guadalajara, in the State of Jalisco, for several years. Nishijima is importing product from the Japanese studios of Shochiku, Nikkatsu and Toho. 50c for '40 World's Fair Admission charge when the New York World's Fair reopens in late May next year will be 50 cents, it is officially announced. Interstate Books Legit. Dallas — Interstate has booked Edward Everett Horton in "Springtime for Henry," legit, for the Melba in February. A"£UtU By RALPH WILK HOLLYWOOD Para. Starts Six In January PARAMOUNT will start the new year with a bang, six features starting production during January. They are "I Want a Divorce" based on the popular radio feature of the same title to be produced by George Arthur from a script by Adela Rogers St. John; "The Ghost Breaker," taken from the stage hit of the same title and scheduled for production by Arthur Hornblow, Jr., with Bob Hope in the starring role; "Triumph Over Pain," another Arthur Hornblow production to be directed by Henry Hathaway; "The Night of January 16th" based on the Broadway stage hit of the same title; an untitled feature to be produced by George Arthur with an all star cast, and "King of the Ice." T ▼ T 5 Stars In DeMille's Pix Five stars will head the cast of Cecil Be DeMille's "Northwest Mounted Police." Two of them already have been cast — Joel McCrea and Robert Preston. Another male star and two feminine stars remain to be selected. DeMille is planning two location expeditions, one into Canada and the second to one of the western states to start before the first of the year. T ▼ T 'Twill Be "New Moon" "New Moon" has been selected as final title for the forthcoming Jeanette MacDonald-Nelson Eddy nicture. which had been temporarilv titled "Lover, Come Back to Me." It will include the outstanding musical numbers of Sigmund Romberg's operetta, "New Moon." T T T To Re-make "Divorcement" Maureen O'Hara, young Irish actress, has been signed to star for RKO Radio in a new version of "A Gibraltar Shifts Managers Denver — Buster Morris, manager of the Teton, Powell, Wyo., has been moved to the managership of the Mesa, Douglas, Wyo., as one of the changes made by Charles R. Gilmour Gibraltar Enterprises president. Harold Johnson goes from Douglas to Glenwood Springs, Colo., to manage the Orpheum and Colorado theaters, recently taken over by the company. Everett Haxby, manager of the Bluffs Theater, Scottsbluff, Neb., has been promoted to be assistant to William Boston, manager of the Gibraltar properties in that section; Harry Rodel. recently manager of the Crystal, Mitchell, Neb., has been made manager of the Bluffs; and Morris Rock will have charge of the exploitation for the Gilbaltar houses in Bridgeport, Morrell and Gering, all in Nebraska. Bill of Divorcement," which will go into production late this month with Adolphe Menjou and Fay Bainter also in leads. T T T They'll Tour With Lolly Ronald Reagan and Jane Wyman, young Warner screen players whose engagement was reported in Hollywood earlier this week, are joining the Louella Parsons personal appearance junket that will take off in about two weeks. Reagan will act as master of ceremonies in the show the Hearst columnist is assembling. T T T Kate Smith to 20th-Fox? Don't be surprised if 20th-Fox signs Kate Smith for a pix. Studio has acquired Harold Darnton's "Moon Over the Mountain" with the radio star in view, it is understood. ▼ T T Title for Fields-West Pix Tentative title for that W. C. Fields-Mae West pix for Universal is "My Little Chickadee." T T T Wanger Borrows Pidgeon Walter Wanger has borrowed Walter Pidgeon from Metro for "The House Across the Bay." T T T "Skylark" for Norma Shearer? Metro is reported seeking pix rierhts to Samson Raphaelson's play, "Skylark," for Norma Shearer's use. ▼ ▼ T Hull In "My Son, My Son!" Henry Hull has been engaged for the role of Dermot O'Riorden in Edward Small's forthcoming production of Howard Spring's best-seller, "My Son, My Son!" Alreadv cast in the other leading roles are Brian Aherne as William Essex, and Louis Hayward in the role of Oliver Essex. Argus Completes First West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Argus Pictures has completed "Double Deal," the first of a series of six pictures to be made with all-colored cast. Arthur Dreifuss directed with Mack Stengler handling the camera. Four songs used in the picture were written by Peter Tinturin and Henry Tobias. Claude Gillingwater Dead West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Claude Gillingwater, 69, veteran screen and stage actor, died here from a self-inflicted bullet wound. Character actor had been in ill health for the last three years, following a studio fall. N. Y. Thanksgiving Nov. 23 New York State will observe the Rooseveltian Thanksgiving Day on Nov. 23 by proclamation of Governor Lehman. 20TH-F0H "DRUMS" GETS 5 PREMIERES (Continued from Page 1) pix, adapted from Walter D. Edmonds' story of Revolutionary War days hereabouts, a multiple premiere. Locally, the pix bowed in at the Palace last night before an audience largely official. P.a.'s were made by Lynn Bari, Joan Davis, Arleen Whelan and Arthur Shields. There were the traditional gala trimmings. Gov. Herbert Lehman, Mayor John Boyd Thatcher and State Police Superintendent John A. Warner v/ere among those who attended the local opening. Opening at Schenectady's Proctor was marked by an unprecedented display of lighting effects. The four 20th-Fox players made p.a.'s there following earlier appearances at Schine's Rialto, Amsterdam, scene of another "world premiere." Amsterdam staged a parade for the event, as did Gloversville where the pix bowed in at the Glove during the afternoon. Four players also made p.a.'s there, following a Schine luncheon in their honor at the Kingsborough Hotel. Gloversville went to town for the premiere, even declaring a school holiday. Fifth in the series of premieres took place last night at the Olympic Theater, Utica, with seats at $2.50. Jane Withers, who made a p.a., was guest earlier at a tea and reception. Edmonds, author, came on from Cambridge, Mass., for the festive opening. Schines Win Compensation Suit Against Mass. Firm Gloversville, N. Y.— Schine Theatrical Enterprises, Inc., were the victors here in a suit involving six years of litigation, when Supreme Court Justice Ellsworth C. Lawrence gave them a verdict totaling more than $1,200 against the Massachusetts Bonding and Insurance Co. The judgment comprises $378.70 in interest on $3,004 compensation paid by the Schine chain, $800 in attorneys' fees and $88.40 in expenses incurred in carrying the case through the Compensation and other courts. The case grew out of the death of William Brady, Aug. 30, 1933, from burns sustained in a projection booth fire at the Empire Theater, Glens Falls, a Schine house. Insurance company claimed the particular type of fatality was not covered by its policy. The Schines were represented by Attorneys Howard Antevil, head of the home office legal staff, and Harold W. Ward. John J. Scully of Albany represented the insurance company. -„ -