The Film Daily (1940)

Monday, April 1, 1940 SCHOOL SHORTS USE FOR YMGA GLASSES (Continued from Page 1) classes in all American YMCA's, it was announced here yesterday by Will H. Hays, MPPDA prexy. Hays came here to deliver the dedicatory address at the opening; of the city's new YjVICA building. Decision to extend the releasing scope, Hays said, was the result of a request recently made by the MP Bureau of the National YMCA Council. Inquiry developed. Hays said, that less than 50 per cent of the city YMCA's in the U. S. have individuals enrolled in formal educational classes equivalent to 125 colleges with 500 students each, with $250,000 more members enrolled in discussion groups. Latter will be served by 75 special character education shorts prepared recently from dramatic sequences in non-current feature pictures. The same safeguards against theatrical competition will govern YMCA use of the shorts as apply to schools. Hays stressed. Leasing fees start at $5 per reel for two weeks or less and range to $30 for three full school years. Distribs. Expect Decision on Australia Import Rule {Continued from Page 1) trial • period at the week-end. The regulations, if continued, might limit the number of pictures that could be imported into the country and, in turn, would affect the exporting of money from Australia. Decision is expected shortly. The test period was put into effect in order to ascertain in which category film would fall. The regulations became effective in December for a two-month period and then were extended for another two months, to expire at the end of March. Okay Atlas-Curtiss Mergers Directorates of Curtiss-Wright Corp., Wright Aeronautical Corp., and Atlas Corp. approved on Friday the merger plans of the companies. Best wishes from THE FILM DAILY to the following on their birthdays: APRIL 1 Charles E. McCarthy Wallace Beery Harry Green Leon Janney Dorothy Revier S. Loiterstein ALCNG THE WITH I^HIL M. DALTi ▼ ▼ T • • • THE modern history of 6th Ave. and 50th St where snuggles the intimate li'l Radio City Music Hall. . . .can be very tersely written: "1939: El razed by LaGuardia 1940: 'Rebecca' raises 'ell" ▼ ▼ T • • • ON the basis oj the powerjul publicity-ad campaign which rode in advance of the New York engagement of Mister Selznick's newest opus and on the basis of the tremendous popularity of Daphne Du Maurier's novel plus the fact that the said Mister Selznick has a fine way with him in turning out potent pix this corner knew that "Rebecca" would be both a b.o. lure and doubtless send the cash customers home with high satisfaction But what this corner didn't realize was the EXTENT of the power "Rebecca" packs But this wasn't long in showing itself T T T • • • FIRST inkling this corner had that "Rebecco" possessed super-magnetism was the eve of last Thursday's Music Hall opening Mister Arthur Hirsch bobbed into town from north of the border, up Montreal way where he's a Paramount partner and pilot of the Palace, Princess, His Majesty's, and Capitol Theaters Mister Hirsch, shortly after landing at Grand Central Terminal, ran into Monroe (U A) Greenthal The latter exclaimed: "Arthur, I want'ya to see 'Rebecca'!" So did Arthur whereupon the UA solon confidently phoned the Music Hall for reserved seats "We're all sold out for Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and — " chirped the voice at the other end of the line Hirsch, who was returning on the week-end to Montreal allowed as how he (^preciated the invitation to Selznick's latest but on the face of things he'd better wait to see "Rebecca" until it goes down into the subsequents. . . . up in Labrador T T T • • • THAT "Rebecca" shattered the opening-day record of the Music Hall that the cash customers brought campstools and sawed-off chairs whereon to park in the blocks-long waiting lines until they could get to the afar b.o. windows and that a hard-pressed battalion of cops delivered soul-stirring pleas to thousands of fans, who obviously couldn't get into the y)iow, to "please go away!" is now history Maybe Arthur Hirsch's Labrador idea ain't so dusty 'cause there's no indication as to when the storming of the Music Hall is gonna cease T T ▼ • • • SOME producers in light of the present crop of biographical films have been inclined to the belief that musicals are on the wane but that's just one of those ideas which in actuality is crushed under the weight of evidence F'rinstance, take a look at the box office demonstration which has, and is still being, put on by Paramount's "Road to Singapore" In addition to sporting a story geared right to public taste this attraction teams Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, and La Dottie Lcrmour and hence has tremendous pop appeal But it has something more in its treasury of entertainment namely, a bevy of swell musical numbers li producers think musicals are not b.o. magnets it would be enlightening to them to see the enthusiasm oi the crowd in the N. Y. Paramount Not only hereabouts but in some 40 other keys "Road to Singapore" has been rolling up slick biz in many instances topping Para.'s ace grosser of last year, "Union Pacific" which proves that there is always room for good musicals from any producer and at any time «REVI€UJS» 'Florian' with Robert Young, Helen Gilbert, Charles Coburn Metro 91 Mins (HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW) REFRESHINGLY DIFFERENT PICTURE SHOULD CLICK WITH FANS^ "'^ ALL AGES. \ Here is a refreshingly different picture that should appeal to fans of all ages Figuring very prominently in the story are the famous Austrian Imperial horses, with Florian, prize Lippizan stallion, chief equine actor. Producer Winfield R. Shee han, who was the first to see picture pos sibilities in Felix Salten's novel, "Florian," provided unusually good production values. Edwin L. Marin has done a splendid job of directing, providing warm, sympathetic guidance of the human and animal actors Robert Young does fine work as the trainer, who handles Florian from his birth, and Helen Gilbert, in her biggest role to date, is convincing as a member of the Royal family, with whom Robert is in love An outstanding performance is turned in by Charles Coburn, as the philosophical veterinarian and a staunch friend of Robert Reginald Owen does his usual good work as Emperor Franz Josef of Austria. Mak ing her screen debut, Irina Baranova radi ates oodles of sex appeal and gives an ex cellent performance as a ballet dancer, friendly with Lee Bowman, who performs splendidly as a member of royalty. Lucille Watson, William B. Davidson, Rand Brooks, Soke Sakall and George Lloyd reamong the capable principals. Noel Langley, Geza Herczeg and James Kevin McGuinness fashioned an interesting screenplay, based on the novel by Felix Salten. Florian, trained in the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, exhibits the steps taught himself and his ancestors for nearly three centuries. He is the pet of the royal family, but with the World War, followed by the revolution, Florian is placed on the auction block. He is sold for $75 to George Lloyd, an American carnival man, and shipped to New York. Young and Coburn learn of the sale and shipment and proceed to New York. Florian is sold by Lloyd to a junk dealer, who, in turn, sells the horse for shipment West. Young and Coburn arrive at the freight yards in the nick of time and buy Florian While Young is exhibiting Florian to a group of socialites, Helen Gilbert arrives for a happy reunion with Young. CAST: Robert Young, Helen Gilbert, Charles Coburn, Lee Bowman, Reginald Owen, Lucille Watson, Irina Baranova, Rand Brooks, Soke Sakall, William B. Davidson, George Lloyd, George Irving, Charles Judels, Dick Elliott, Adrian Morris, Jack Joyce. I CREDITS: Producer, Winfield Sheehan; I Director, Edwin L. Marin;: Author, Felix . Salten; Screenplay, Noel Langley, Geza I Herczeg, James Kevin McGuinness; Cameraman, Karl Freund; Art Director, Cedric I Gibbons; Associate, Randall Duell; Editor,; Frank Hull; Musical Score, Franz Waxman. I DIRECTION, Splendid. PHOTOGRAPHY, Fine. M. J. Derby Funeral Held St. Louis — Funeral services werei held here for Menard J. "Buns"j Derby, former film salesman and' manager.