The Film Daily (1940)

W*^ DAILY : Wednesday, April 3, 1940 FEWER FEATURES SEEN Short Subject Reviews BY TRI-STATES EXEC. Des Moines, la. — G. Ralph Branton, general manager of Tri-States Theaters Corp., returned from an extended trip to Hollywood, predicts better pictures because Hollywood is "discovering America." Branton said that because of the loss of foreign markets since the outbreak of the European war, producers have been forced to revamp production schedules and concentrate on stories for the domestic market. "You are going to see a lot more pictures like 'Dodge City,' 'Trail of the Lonesome Pine.' 'Union Pacific' and 'Virginia City'," Branton declared. If, as some producers have predicted, the double feature goes out of existence, Branton said it will be because fewer — and better — pictures are going to be made. The pictures will be fewer in number, he said, because labor is being paid more money, actors who are good box-office are getting larger salaries, and more money is being paid for good stories. The movies are moving fast to take their place in drawing North and South America closer, Branton said. The South American market is being worked hard, he declared, and some companies are even talking of producing movies there. "Biscuit Eater" In Demand Atlanta, Ga.— Fifty prints of "The Biscuit Eater" will be delivered for showing in more than 100 theaters, principally in Georgia, during the week following the world premiere of the picture at the Albany Theater, Albany, on April 11, it is announced by John Kirby, local Paramount branch manager. Maximum number of prints of a picture ordinarily handled by Kirby's office is five. WB Drops Hornell House Operation of the Majestic Theater, Hornell, has reverted to its local owners, Mr. and Mrs. Fred F. Peters. Lease held by Warners expired. Tom Gaffney Stricken Boston — Tom Gaffney, operator of the Casino theater at Taunton, is dead. What? Only Films? ? ? Cleveland — Douglas George, manager of the Winadeer. an Associated Theaters circuit house, thinks he is playing a unique policy. He regularly shows single features, and he offers no games, no premiums, no giveaways of any kind, and claims to be the only local subsequent run indie house playing such a policy. Neighborhood PTA is backing him. "Swing With Bing" (Produced and Directed by Herbert Polesie and Bing Crosby) Two-reeler 13 mins. This is a very cute little short which will be of interest to golf fans because of the glimpses of some of the game's biggest names in action, and to picture fans because of the tuneful warbling and merry antics of Bing Crosby as he is without benefit of grease paint and a script. There is little eff"ort put forth to tell a story. Arthur Q. Bryan, of the radio, playing a comedy role, a dub golfer, helps carry the audience through the maze of big names, assisted by a clever narration by Roger Keene. The whole picture has the charm and informality of a day on the greens with good friends. Appearing, in the film, produced by Bing Crosby and Herbert Polesie, and photographed well by Al Wetzel, are Ty Cobb, Byron Nelson, Jimmy Thompson, Bud Ward, Walter Hagen, Clayton Heafner, Jimmy Demaret, Jug McSpaden, Lawson Little, Ed Oliver, Frank Rodia, Leo Deigel, Tony Penna, Scotty Chisolm, former golf champion, Henry McLemore, sports writer, and Richard Arlen, screen-star-golfer. An original song, "The Little White Pill on the Little Green Hill," by John Burke and James Monaco, as rendered twice by Bing in the picture, should become very popular. It's a natural Crosby number with lots of swing. The short was made at Crosby's Rancho Santa Fe course with the co-operation of The Professional Golfers Association of America. * commcRCiflL * "Aristocrats of Fashion" Al Bondv 10 Mins. "Working on the Railroads" "The Country Goes to the Dogs" (Going Places No. 73) L-niversal 9 mins. Satisfactory Elimination of the "clickety-clack" sound as railroad cars speed over the tracks due to a welding process on -SQ-foot rails comprise the first part of this interesting short. Reel shows how the replacement of the old tracks is increasing the pleasure of i-ailroad travel. Second half of the reel shows how dogs get expert care in a Long Island dog hospital. Scenes at the swanky Morris & Essex dog show in New Jersey also are shown. Dog lovers should like this one. Excellent Ad Short Resplendent in the hues of Technicolor, this fashion reel, — a Roland Reed production for the account of the American Bemberg Corp., — is manna for the feminine eye and heart. Consequently, it is a "natural" for women film patrons everywhere, depicting as it does the versatility, tastefulness and practicability of rayon in the style creations of today. The particular modes presented in the footage are those conceived by the eminent Tobe, whose designs are world-famed. While the reel is, of course, aimed at exciting the feminine gender, nevertheless it is one of those rare fashion shorts capable of interesting the male coterie of fans. This quality is due both to the physical beauty of the production itself, plus the physical beauty of the bevy of John Powers models displaying the garaients. Throughout, there is smooth, natural action which impresses even the most professional eye with the fact that it represents a far cry from the stitlted, wooden-like fashion productions which, of yore, brought little grace to film programs. "Aristocrats of Fashion" is, in brief, expertly styled and thoroughly in the mode of currently advanced showmanship. Film will be made available without cost to first-runs, — one in each key city. "Darkest Africa Comes to Light" (Going Places No. 72) Universal 9 mins. Worth While Rhodesia, a land carved out of veldt and jungle, is revealed in this informative short. Due to Cecil Rhodes, who foresaw the possibilities of the fertile plains, this country in .50 years has become a land of rich cities and modern industries. A panorama of this prosperous African territory is unfolded in an interesting manner. Graham MacNamee narrates. "Tree of Liberty" Start to be Plugged by 2 Nets start of production on Columbia's "The Tree of Liberty," will be signalized by broadcasts on major networks on successive nights, the programs emanating from Williamsburg, Va., used for location. On Monday, NBC's "True or False" program, in which Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Richard Carlson, Frank Lloyd, and pix cast will participate, will be aired from the College of William and Mary campus. On Tuesday, at 9 p.m., remote control broadcast is set via CBS from the "Tree of Liberty" location site. Latter will be re-broadcast at 12:30 a.m. for Western audiences. Nortown Scale Boosted Chicago— With B & K's Nortown theater going into "B" week from "C," b.o. scale has been upped from 20 to 2.5 cents for matinees and from 25 to 40 cents evenings. Two Circuits Book "Face" Both RKO and Skouras circuits have booked "The Face Behind the Scar," according to Norman Elson, sales manager of Film Alliance of the U. S. MPPDA AIR PROGRAMS GET WORLD APPLAUSE Weekly broadcasts on American pictures, inaugurated in six languages last July to Latin-America and Europe over NBC and CBS shortwave facilities "have I'thr. excep tionally well received H. M 'isteners all over the world," WilTH. Hays has informed the MPPDA board. Scripts for the broadcasts, now in their 40th week, are prepared by the Hays Office Public Information Department under Ken Clark's direction from material submitted by the majors. According to Hays, the MPPDA has been advised by one of the nets that "the quality and quan tity of the material thus furnisheJ has surpassed anything of the kin| done for us by any other industry." Hays informed his directors, "Notwithstanding the war, a large por tion of the letters received from for eign listeners commented especiall; on the movie broadcasts prepared bj the Association." m Hays Office Com. Service Dept. On Coast Active in Radi West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAIL% Hollywood— MPPDA's Community Service Department here is becomj ing increasingly active in the radic field. During the past year, scripts prepared and distributed on request to hundreds of community workers included: "Americanism the Keynote foi 1939 Pictures," "Reviewing Motior Pictures," "Films for the Family,' "Newsreels Cover the World," "Selecting the Family Picture," "M*; tion Picture Music," "Americana ill Motion Pictures," "Motion Picturi Research," "New Faces in Holly wood," "Films from Stage Plays,' and "Children Making Screen Mu sic." In addition there were man; script based on outstanding picture: and technical sidelights in studios. Eastern Hoodlums Trying to Muscle in on Extras: West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAIL" Hollywood — Sheriff's office here investigating reports that Eastei hoodlums are trying to muscle in al|i extras and bit players, followii complaints said to have been filed 1 i SAG members. Hamden Opening Apr. 10 Hamden, Conn. — New 936-3ei Whitney "Theater Corp. house open next week. 'w (Un) happy Vacation Cincinnati — While vacationing in Florida, burglars broke into his Norwood Theater three times, and a fire in the stock room caused $100 loss, to Andy Hettisheimer.