The Film Daily (1939)

"■"I Thursday, December 28, 1939 DAILY 11 FLORIDA ANTI-TRUST SUIT IS DISMISSED (Continued from Page 1) Jmount, M-G-M, Warner Brothers, RKO Radio, Universal, Columbia, United Artists and 20th CenturyFox The suit charged conspiracy to monopolize distribution and showing of new films in the Greater Miami area. Action was dismissed by Federal Judge John W. Holland, at the plainstiff's request. The dismissal, obtained with prejudice to the plaintiffs, thereby barring further litigation, came as a surprise after nearly a year of controversy. Attorney Henry K. Gibson, counsel for the plaintiff, said the dismissal action resulted from the sale of the Surf theater and the leasing of the Cameo theater to Wometco. "Everything," said Gibson, "has been settled amicably and to everyone's satisfaction." Gibson intimated that Weingarten would retire from the exhibitor field in this area, and added that Wometco would assume operation of the Cameo at midnight, Dec. 31, and probably would reopen the Surf, now dark, sometime later in the season. Gibson, however, would not reveal the sale price of the Surf nor the terms of the Cameo lease. The suit was filed Jan. 19, last, and was scheduled to go to trial in federal court here early next month. Seven House Records Set by "Hunchback" on Monday {Continued from Page 1) yesterday. New all-time marks were set up at Keith's, Boston; Hillstreet and Pantages, Los Angeles; Palace, Chicago; Keith's, Washington; Orpheum, Kansas City; Park. Reading, ; and Senate, Harrisburg. In some cases, yesterday's gross almost equalled those of Monday's. Bonuses In Oklahoma Oklahoma City— Standard Theaters Corp. distributed holiday bonus checks of $10 each to all employees of the local eight-theater circuit. The State theater also distributed bonuses. Enid, Okla. — Employes of the Royal theater were given a week's holidav bonuses. Scoville Convalescing Cleveland — James E. Scoville, of the Scoville, Essick and Reif circuit is in the convalescent stage following the flu. Announcement was made yesterday of the marriage of Oliver Unger, sales manager of J. H. Hoffberg Co., to Miss Virginia Speed. Ceremony took place at the week-end. reviews of new rums "Last Desire" with Raimu, Jacqueline Delubac Transatlantic Distributors, Inc. 80 Mins. WEAK STORY MATERIAL DEFEATS FINE PERFORMANCES BY A TALENTED CAST. Some of the best French performers of the day have been cast in this new import, but the story material is weak, repetitious and not particularly appealing in theme. Miss Delubac and Raimu give expert characterizations and the rest of the cast is equally impressive. Director Jeff Musso has given the picture a cetrain degree of moody tragedy, but it is not enough to make it entertaining as a whole. Theme of the story deals with the love of Raimu, a I drunkard and aging profligate, for Jacqueline, a young girl he picks up on the streets and shelters. Film ends tragically for all concerned with some moral apparently being in the minds of the script writers. CAST: Raimu, Jacqueline Delubac, Pierre Brasseur, Tramel, Alice Tissot. CREDITS: Produced by Lumen Films; Director, Jeff Musso. Presented at the Belmont Theater with French dialogue and English titles. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. "Re di Danari" (King of Diamonds) with Angelo Musco, Rosina Anselmi Esperia Films 84 Mins. HIGHLY AMUSING COMEDY, ABLY CAST, WILL PLEASE THE ITALIAN AUDIENCES. The capable and amusing Angelo Musco has a field day in this new Italian import, with the film itself a highly amusing comedy which will entertain the Italian fans. Film has no English titles. Musco is supported by a strong cast that includes Rosina Anselmi, Mario Pisu, Vanna Vanni and Maria Denis. Musco and his sister, Miss Anselmi, are the wealthiest people in the Sicilian town in which they live, but thorough provincials who have never been to Rome or any other big city. Mario Pisu, their nephew, is studying in Rome. The film really gets riotous when Pisu gets in a jam and Musco and his sister have to go to Rome. Everything is neatly worked out for a pleasing ending. CAST: Angelo Musco, Rosiju Anselmi, Mario Pisu, Vanna Vanni, Maria Denis, Ermanno Roveri, Nerio Bernardi, Albertina Bianchini, Mario Ferrari. CREDITS: A Capitani Film Production; Director, Enrico Guazzoni. Presented at the Cinecitta Theater with Italian dialogue and no English titles. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. N. Y. CRITICS SELECT "WUTHERING HEIGHTS" 'Tevya" with Maurice Schwartz, Miriam Riselle Edwin A. Relkin 100 Mins. SPLENDIDLY PRODUCED YIDDISH FILM IS FIRST RATE VEHICLE FOR MAURICE SCHWARTZ. The brilliant Maurice Schwartz, talented star of the Yiddish stage for many years, makes a belated but auspicious debut in talking pictures with this film. The picture has been splendidly produced from a technical standpoint regarding detail of authenticity and characterizations, and the entire cast is able. Miriam Riselle, attractive and promising as an actress, Rebecca Weintraub, Paula Lubelska, Leon Liebgold and Vicki Marcus are cast in strong supporting roles. Schwartz's characterization is a splendid example of subtly serious comedy, never < overemphasizing in the wrong place. Schwartz also gets credit for the direction of the film, with Sholem Aleichem contributing a well knit screenplay. Story concerns the love of Miriam, Schwartz's daughter, for a Christian, finally returning to her family when everything seems darkest. CAST: Maurice Schwartz, Miriam Riselle, Paula Lubelska, Leon Liebgold, Vicki Marcus, Perle Marcus, Julius Adler, David Makarenko,, Helen Grossman, Morris Strassberg, Louis Weissberg, Al Harris, Boez Young. CREDITS: Produced by Henry Ziskin; Director, Maurice Schwartz. Presented at the Continental Theater with Yiddish dialogue and English titles. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. "The Golden Key" with A. Shagin, S. Martinson, G. Uvarov Amkino 70 Mins. PUPPET FANTASY IS AMUSING, BUT BELOW STANDARDS SET BY U. S. STUDIOS. Departing from the usual theme of propaganda and glorification of the Soviet in all departments, the Russian film makers have produced a puppet picture for their latest release here. Film is amusing and cleverly conceived, but not up to the fascinating realm of fantasy produced by creators here. Film also uses a number of live actors in important roles, combining the whole. Principal character among the puppets is Burratino, not unlike Pinocchio in many respects. The picture was produced from a story by Alexei Tolstoy. CAST: A. Shagin, S. Martinson, G. Uva J rov, O. S. Obratsova, T. Adelheim, R. Khai j rova, M. Dagmarov. CREDITS: Produced by Mosfilms; Direc j tor, Alexander Ptushko. Presented at the Cameo Theater with Russian dialogue and English titles. DIRECTION, 0. K. PHOTOGRAPHY, Fair. Harry Sherman, Paramount Sign New Two-Year Pact West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Harry Sherman and Paramount have made a deal whereby Sherman will continue to produce the "Hopalong Cassidy" series starring William Boyd for the next two years. In 1940 he will make six "Cassidy" features, two Zane Grey features and a special. Boyd will receive a substantial increase in salary and will be permitted between pictures to make personal appearances in connection with showing in de luxe theaters. (Continued from Page 1) required before "Wuthering Heights" received the necessary two-thirds majority to take the award. wRli?,ne^"Vp were "Gone With the Wind' (Selznick-Metro) and "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" (Columbia), it was disclosed. Other pictures nominated were "Goodbye Mr Chips" (Metro), "Stagecoach" (UAWanger), "Ninotchka" (Metro) and Juarez" (Warners), it was further stated. Other 1939 honors conferred by the Critics organization are: Best performance by an actor: James Stewart in "Mr. Smith". Best performance by an actress: Vivien Leigh in GWTW. Best direction: John Ford, for "Stagecoach." Best foreign language picture: "Harvest" (French Cinema Center). Awards will be formally presented at the Critics' annual invitation party Jan. 7 in the Rainbow Room. Mayor F. H. LaGuardia will be emcee for the program which NBC will broadcast Coast-to-Coast. Broadcast will originate both in New York and Hollywood, and if arrangements can be completed, players in "Harvest" will be picked up by short wave from Paris. Kate Cameron of the Daily News is chairman of the Critics. Others participating in the balloting were: Frank S. Nugent, B. R. Crisler, Bosley Crowther, Times; Wanda Hale, Dorothy Masters, News; Howard Barnes, R. W. Dana, HeraldTribune; Bland Johaneson, Mirror; William Boehnel. World-Telegram; Rose Pelswick. Journal and American; Archer Winston, Irene Thirer, Post; Leo Mishkin. Telegraph; Herbert Cohn, Brooklyn Eagle; Edgar Price, Brooklyn Citizen; David Piatt, Daily Worker. Norton Wins Rep. Date Drive Cleveland— Nat L. Lefton, Republic franchise owner imports the following winners of the Date drive just finished: First prize $100, Rudy Norton, Cleveland salesman; second prize, $50, Jack Lefton, Cleveland salesman; third prize, $50, George Kirby, Cincinnati booker. Beginning Jan. 1 and continuing for 16 weeks, Republic will hold a collection drive, -with $500 in prizes to be awarded. RCA Engineer In Air Races Richmond, Va. — Bill Attmore, the flying RCA engineer, has entered the Miami Air Races. While away, he will be relieved by "Slim" Petarseck, of Baltimore. WB Closing Lake Theater Cleveland— Warners confirms that the Lake Theater, which re-opened the middle of October with a firstrun double feature policy, will fold again Jan. 4.