The Film Daily (1942)

Cr'\ DAILY: Monday, June 1, 1942 » «REVIEl'JS "Yankee Doodle Dandy" with James Cagney, Joan Leslie, Walter Huston, Richard Whorf, Jeanne Cagney, Frances Langford Warner Bros. 126 Mins. SUPERB MUSICAL ROMANCE, PACKED WITH COMEDY AND HUMAN INTEREST. EASILY ONE OF YEARS ACE PICTURES. With "Yankee Doodle Dandy" the Warners attain a new high in the fashioning by them of biographical feature films. Lest the significance of this statement be lost, it is well to recall that a number of the screen's greatest biographical productions have come from the WB lot, among them such resounding pictures as "Story of Louis Pasteur," which ranked 6th among the Ten Best of 1936; "Life of Emile Zola," first among the Ten Best of 1937; "Juarez," eighth of the Ten Best of 1939; and "Sergeant York," second in the Ten Best of 1941, and exceeded in the critics' eyes only by the immortal GWTW. Until one has seen "Yankee Doodle Dandy," the aforementioned features may impress as being difficult to top, particularly "Sergeant York," one of the truly fine films of '41, and a prodigious grosser. But the new Cagney-starring vehicle does in so many respects that it is headed for fame, — and its makers and their customer-outlets for fortune. Certainly it is one of the most valuable properties yet to emerge from Burbank or the other Coast lots. Strangely enough, the Warners in "glorifying" the biographical film, went to France's halls of fame, then to Mexico, and finally to our own Tennessee mountains, for the inspirational, the colorful, and the glamorous. But it remained for the life to date of George M. Cohan, — a living story, right on the "doorstep" of WB's home office — , to provide the richest and most rousing of material. Not only is "Yankee Doodle Dandy" a patron's picture, but a showman's picture, for it throbs with all the lore and action so dear to the entertainment profession. Superbly directed by Michael Curtiz, the screenplay by Robert Buckner and Edmund Joseph recounts the birth of George (for Washington) Michael (for the Irish in him) Cohan (for the same good reason) on July 4, 1878, — the son of Jerry Cohan, the dancing Irish Minstrel of the gaslight era. Young George's early years on the vaudeville stage; his natural flare for histrionics; and his headstrong behavior and conceit, are delineated in the initial sequences, which are followed by his courtship of Mary (Joan Leslie), the rise of Georgie to the status of a stage producer, and his partnership with Sam Harris (Richard Whorf). It is at about this point that the footage, always humor-packed and delightful, commences to progressively pick up momentum until it blossoms into one of the most dynamic musicals of all time, what with the George M. Cohan tunes sparkling in a galaxy of production numbers, and built against a background of triumph mingled with personal tragedy. Highlights of the climactic action include Cohan and Harris' only flop, a play called "Popularity"; the writing by Cohan of "Over There," shortly after our entry into World War 1; the post-War dissolution of the firm of Cohan & Harris; and George's returning to the stage at the behest of his WACs Theater Div. Opens Bond Drive (Continued from Page 1) Division of the War Activities Committee. Among the larger purchasers were those of Arthur Mayer, $10,000; Leopold Friedman, $50,000; Joseph Vogel, $5,000; C. C. Moskowitz, $10,000; J. Robert Rubin, $10,000; David Bernstein, $25,000; and Nicholas M. Schenck, three $150,000 bonds. At the solicitation by Ruth Herbst, of AWVS, a man in the crowd, later identified as Morris Dorfman, of 110 W. 47th St., bought a $1,000 bond with cash in his pocket. There was also an anonymous purchase of bonds amounting to $50,000. Jimmy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Don Albert, and the Dixieland Jazz Band, furnished the music at the rally, a feature of which was the group of Powers Models with the flags of the United Nations. Richard C. Patterson, chairman of the New York State War Bond and Stamp Division for the Treasury Dept. drive, urged the crowds to attend the movies regularly, and to buy Bonds and Stamps regularly. Others who addressed the crowds were Burgess Meredith, Martha Scott, Jean Arthur, Joe E. Lewis, Lynn Overman, and Monroe Greenthal. Durkee's 25th to Open Annapolis, Md. — Capitol, 700 seater, opens June 6 with a Navy Relief Fund benefit. It's Duikee circuit's 25th house. former partner to appear in a role which calls for him impersonating the President, from whose hands he subsequently receives the Congressional Medal for having written "Over There" and "It's a Grand Old Flag." In addition to running the gamut of emotions, the story is splendidly acted by the entire cast, with Cagney turning in his finest screen performance. Technically, the picture is top-flight in every department, including the impressive photography. Highly exploitable, it should pack in the customers everywhere. It is an ideal attraction for every American theater, every American theaterman, and every theater-goer in America. CAST: James Cagney, Joan Leslie, Walter Huston, Richard Whorf, Irene Manning, George Tobias, Rosemary DeCamp, Jeanne Cagney, Frances Langford, George Barbier, S. Z. Sakall, Walter Catlett, Douglas Croft, Eddie Foy, Jr., Minor Watson, Chester Clute, Odette Myrtil, Patsy Lee Parsons, Capt. Jack Young. CREDITS: Director, Michael Curtiz; Screenplay, Robert Buckner, Edmund Joseph; Vice-President in Charge of Production, Jack L. Warner; Executive Producer, Hal B. Wallis; Associate Producer, William Cagney; Cameraman, James Wong Howe; Film Editor, George Amy; Original Story, Robert Buckner; Lyrics and Music, George M. Cohan; Montages, Don Siegel; Sound, Everett A. Brown; Dialogue Director, Hugh MacMullan; Technical Advisor, William Collier, Sr.; Orchestral Arrangements, Ray Heindorf; Musical Director, Leo F. Forbstein. DIRECTION, Aces. PHOTOGRAPHY, Top Flight. THIS WEEK'S RELEASES REPUBLIC: "Moonlight Masquerade," with Betty Kean and Eddie Foy, Jr., June 3. RKO: "Come On Danger," Tim Holt, June 5. PRC: "Bombs Over Burma," Anna May Wong and Noel Madison, and The Lone Rider in "Texas Justice," George Houston and Al St. John, both June 5. MONOGRAM: "Do Not Disturb," John Beal and Wanda McKay, June 5. WARNERS: "Lady Gangster," Faye Emerson, Julie Bishof, June 6. Parkside, Camden, Wins Part Arbitration Victory (Continued from Page 1) ever, he found that the 21-day clearance on first-run pictures at the Broadway, Tower, Lyric, Victoria and Rio over the Parkside was unreasonable and set the maximum clearance at 14 days. Appeal Filed in Sun Theater, Wheaton, III. Arbitration Case Chicago — Attorneys for Paramount, RKO, 20th Century-Fox, B & K, York Theater and Lombard Theater have filed an appeal in the Sun Theater, Wheaton, 111. arbitration case now set for June 16. Kupper Named Aide To Tom Connors (Continued from Page 1) Fox. Following the first World War he joined the ranks of the old Fox Films in 1919. His first promotion to field service was as Dallas assistant manager. Later he became branch manager at Charlotte, Dallas, Chicago and Pittsburgh. In 1924 J. R. Grainger promoted him to a Home Office Representativeship. He held that post until the late John D. Clark elevated him to the Western divisional managership in 1932. Permanent Status for Canadian Pix Council (Continued from Page 1) Board making the Motion Picture Industrial Advisory Council a permanent branch of the board organization to deal with film problems for the duration of the war under direction of R. G. McMullen, Administrator of Theaters and Films. The Council comprises nine members, representing distributors, chains and unaffiliated exhibitors, with J. J. Fitzgibbons. FPC head, as chairman, all of whom have permanent Government roles without remuneration. Previously the Council was only a temporary body. Sign Horton for "Rockies" West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Edward Everett Horton has been signed for a featured role in 20th Century-Fox's "Springtime in the Rockies." Warner Biz Better With 35 Than Old 48 (Continued from Page 1) season's successful results of concentrating studio attention on highbracket productions that are good for longer playing time, the compaiy is expected to carry this poli^ still further in the season ahead. V Although only about 35 features are being released for 1941-42 — evidence of Warner's seriousness to make "fewer and better"— the company's business is running well ahead of previous seasons when 48 pictures were distributed. This is due to unusual amount of extented playing time and repeat engagements on about half a dozen big pictures, notably "Sergeant York" in its special dates, "Kings Row," "In This Our Life," "Man Who Came To Dinner," "They Died with Their Boots On" and others. To make up for any reduction in number of releases, pictures will be more intensively merchandised so as to get maximum results on the basis of each picture's potential audience. Company is understood to be convinced of the wisdom of high-bracket productions on which the expenditure is largely for talent, instead of materials. To this end, and also with a view to offsetting loss of male stars to the army, Warners have been building up their personnel of producers, directors, writers and other talent, as indicated by such recent additions as Herman Shumlin, George S. Kaufman, Mark Hellinger, Norman Krasna, Vinton Freedley and others. Following the "Yankee Doodle Dandy" premiere and home office conferences, S. Charles Einfeld, director of advertising and publicity, returned to the Coast over the weekend. Lt. Col. J. L. Warner is making a trip to Washington on government business before going back to Hollywood. H. M. Warner, Joseph Bernhard, Ben Kalmenson and Mort Blumenstock were among other executives who took part in the meetings. Ned Buddy Made Editor Of United Newsreel (Continued from Page 1) formerly was Paramount's newsreel man in Continental Europe and more recently was in charge of Dumont television activities in Hollywood. Consolidation of material from all the newsreel companies was decided upon as a means of facilitating transportation to foreign countries. Each of the newsreel organizations will be responsible for distribution in assigned territories. Date of the first issue has not been determined. Roberts Hospitalized George A. Roberts, 20th-Fox MidEast district manager entered the Booth Memorial Hospital Saturday for an operation.