The Film Daily (1939)

TNI DAILY Tuesday, November 21, 1939 [TRUE STORIES FROM ALTEC FILES JOHN B. EAMES President, Interstate Amusement Co., Inc., Littleton, N. H. Helps Exhibitor Move Equipment to New Location LITTLETON, N. H.— "When we decided to move our theatre operations in Colebrook, N. H. from the former location at the Halcyon Theatre to the new Jax Theatre, we only gave ourselves from Tuesday afternoon to Thursday afternoon. "When you consider the headaches involved in moving all the complicated machinery a theatre contains in so short a time, and that we announced our opening at the Jax for the Thursday matinee at 2 P.M., you can realize how worried I was. "Not only did the Altec inspector, Jennings, do a fine job of supervising, but he rolled up his shirt sleeves and helped our men in every way throughout the entire change over. When he saw how worried I was about opening on time, he quietly assured me we would be ready with both perfect sound and projection. ' "As Jennings promised, we opened in perfect shape at the time we announced!' Throughout the country, Altec inspectors have won the respect and friendship of exhibitors, managers and projectionists because of their willing cooperation in matters "over and above the contract." wmviiAMA.vt j^mnrm 250 West 5^th Street, New York City THE SERVICE ORGANIZATION OF THE MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY B.O. UP IN 6 CANADIAN REVIEWS Of fl € UJ FILfllS PROVINCES, OFF IN 2 'Geronimo' (Continued from Page 1) Quebec, 2.2 per cent and British Columbia 0.8 per cent. On the other hand receipts in Saskatchewan declined 2.4 per cent and in Prince Edward Island they dropped 1.2 per cent. Where provincial totals were above 1937 this was due mainly to increase in the number of theaters and patrons in rural districts. Theaters in Toronto, Ottawa, Saint John, Hamilton and London, Ont., increased their receipts while there was a falling off in Montreal, Quebec, Halifax, Windsor, Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, Calgary and Vancouver. The highest average price of admissions was recorded by Prince Edward Island with 27.5 cents. Next came Alberta, 25.6 cents; Ontario 25.5 cents; Saskatchewan, 24.7 cents; Quebec 23.3 cents; Nova Scotia, 23.3 cents; British Columbia, 23.1 cents; Manitoba, 22.7 cents and New Brunswick, 22.4 cents. A survey of proprietors and firm members actively engaged in Canadian theaters, in addition to the regular paid employes, shows that 251 male and 36 female proprietors draw regular salaries amounting to over $392,000, while 556 male and 213 female proprietors and members of proprietors' families are employed without stated pay, their compensation consisting of the profits of the enterprise only. Active proprietors and working members of their families were reported almost exclusively from independent or two and three unit firms. Ontario reported 275, Saskatchewan 193, Quebec 152, Alberta 135, Manitoba 110, British Columbia 101, Nova Scotia 52, New Brunswick 32 and Prince Edward Island 6. Fire Chief Finds His Own Theater Building Burning Gloucester, O. — When Fire Chief John Crawford answered an alarm, he did not know until he arrived at the scene that his own structure, the Crawford Theater, was burning. Fire fighters battled 24 hours to control the fire, which destroyed the building with a loss placed at $50,000. House was operated by L. A. Martin. Cincinnati — The Ward theater, operated by The Black Diamond Theater Co., Gene Hensley and Arch Clemons, was destroyed by fire. The company also operates a number of theaters in W. Va. Standard Retains Van Leer Standard Pictures Distributing Co., Inc., has appointed Arnold Van Leer Associates of 521 Fifth Ave., as their advertising, publicity and exploitation representatives. Harry Segal, General Sales Manager of Standard, set the deal. with Preston Foster, Ellen Drew, Andy Devine Paramount 89 Mins. (HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW) STIRRING PICTURE OF APACHE WAR CARRIES SUSPENSE AND INTEREST TO THE END. Here is a stirring picture of the days when Geronimo, an Indian Chief, was on the warpath and the government waged a campaign against the Apache warrior and his redskins who terrorized the Southwest. It was after the whites had massacred his family that Geronimo dedicated his life to warfare with the paleface. Director, Paul Sloane, who also wrote the screenplay, created much suspense and the picture holds interest to the end. Fine performances are turned in by Ralph Morgan, as the General, who is sent to Camp Grant, Arizona, to cope with the Indian chieftain; William Henry, as his son, a young West Point graduate who has not seen his father since childhood. Andy Devine as the Indian scout; Preston Foster as the Captain; Gene Lock hart, as a civilian, who incites the Indians against the whites, and Chief Thundercloud as Geronimo. Ellen Drew who plays the love interest opposite Henry, Marjorie Gateson, as Morgan's estranged wife, and Kitty Kelly have little to do. Joseph Crehan is convincing as President Grant. Morgan, a strict disciplinarian, insists on having only seasoned frontier campaigners to cope with the Indians, and shows no affection for his son who has joined his company. Morgan's attitude makes Henry rebel against the army life and he submits his resignation which Morgan takes under advisement. The stagecoach carrying Ellen Drew and Marjorie Gateson, who plan to join Henry and go to California with him, is attacked, Marjorie is slain and Ellen wounded. Infuriated, Henry goes in search of Geronimo. He and Foster are captured by the Indians. He escapes but Foster is slain. The Indians attack Morgan and his small band of men and Morgan is badly wounded. Disguised in an army uniform, Geronimo is ready to attack Morgan when he is pounced upon by Henry and Devine. The dying Morgan is happily convinced that his son is a worthy soldier. Cameraman Henry Sharp has gotten unusual fine results with the fine grain film developed by Paramount engineers and made by duPont according to their specifications. CAST: Preston Foster, Ellen Drew, Andy Devine, Gene Lockhart, William Henry, Ralph Morgan, Marjorie Gateson, Kitty Kelly, Chief Thundercloud, Pierre Watkin, Addison Richards, Monte Blue, Joseph Crehan, Hank Bell and Frank Cordell. CREDITS: Directors, Paul H. Sloane; Screenplay, same; Cameraman, Henry Sharp; Special Effects, Farciot Edouart; Art Directors, Hans Dreier and Earl Hedrick; Editor, John Link; Sound, Harry Lindgren and Don Johnson; Music, Gerard Carbon ara and John Leipold. DIRECTION, Suspenseful. PHOTOGRAPHY, Very Good. Brown's Father Dead Portland, Ore. — Bishop Wallace E. Brown, 71, father of G. Carlton "Carky" Brown, Hollywood film writer, is dead here. "Tower of London" with Basil Rathbone, Boris Karloff. Barbara O Neil, Ian Hunter Universal 92 Mins. (HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW) OUTSTANDING HISTORICAL DRAMA BRILLIANTLY PLAYED SHOULD CLi'K % With his vivid picturization of tTc 15th Century, when cunning, heartless "Crookback" Richard III, Duke of Gloucester, sought to sweep away all human obstacles in his path for the throne of England, producerdirector, Rowland V. Lee has delivered one of the best historical pictures yet screened. He has gained brilliant characterizations from his cast, and interest is held to the end. Topping the list of performances is that of Basil Rathbone as Richard III, while Boris Karloff is his loyal, clubfooted executioner. Ian Hunter has never been better than as King Edward IV, while Barbara 0 Neil is decorative and capable as his wife, Queen Elizabeth. Vincent Price does fine work, especially in his drunken bout with Richard, which ends with his death by drowning in a barrel of wine. Nan Grey, Ernest Cossart, John Sutton, Leo G. Carroll, Miles Mander, Robert Sinclair, Ralph Forbes, John HerbertBond, Frances Robinson, John Rodion, Lionel Belmont, Rose Hobart, G. P. Huntley, Walter Tetley and Donnie Dunagan are among the pirncipals in the large cast. Robert N. Lee, who did much research work, supplied a gripping screenplay, showing the court intrigues and rivalry of the 14 years from 1471 to 1485. Jack Otterson's sets are eyefilling and impressive. Richard IV in succession to the throne, is determined to make a short cut to the crown. He has John Wyatt (John Sutton), who is in love with Lady Alice Barton (Nan Grey), banished to France, and King Henry VI (Miles Mander), a weakling, slain by Mord (Boris Karloff). With the aid of Mord he puts the Duke of Clarence (Vincent Price) to death. On this deathbed, King Edward IV orders Wyatt returned to England and names Richard for the protector for the boy King Edward (Ronald Sinclair) and his brother. With the death of King Edward IV, Richard loses little time in having Mord slay the young ruler and his brother. Henry Tudor (Ralph Forbes) returns to battle with Richard and in the fighting both Richard and Mord meet their death. CAST: Basil Rathbone, Boris Karloff, Barbara O Neil, Ian Hunter, Vincent Price, Nan Grey, Ernest Cossart, John Sutton, Leo G. Carroll, Miles Mander, Lionel Belmont, Rose Hobart, Ronald Sinclair, John Herbert-Bond, Ralph Forbes, Frances Robinson, G. P. Huntley, John Rodion, Walter Tetley, Donnie Dunagan. CREDITS: Producer, Rowland V. Lee; Director, same; Author, Robert N. Lee; Screenplay, same; Cameraman, George Robinson; Art Director, Jack Otterson; Associate, Richard H. Riedel; Editor, Ed Curtiss; Musical Director, Charles Previn; Orchestrations, Frank Skinner; Sound, Bernard B. Brown, William Hedgcock. DIRECTION, Fine. PHOTOGRAPHY, Tops. F. W. Rodgers Dead Corning, Calif. — F. W. Rodgers, 76, manager and owner of the Rodgers Theater here, died after a short illness.