The Film Daily (1942)

W%\ DAILY Thursday, December 10, 194i Set 32 Chairmen for United Nations Week (Continued from Page 1) this special activity. Listed alphabetically according to the key city of the exchange territory, chairmen are: Albany, Lou Golding; Atlanta, William *K. Jenkins and Oscar Lam; Boston, Sam Pinanski; Buffalo, Charles Hayman; Charlotte, North Carolina, H. F. Kincey; Chicago, John Balaban; Cincinnati, Ike Libson; Cleveland, William Skirball; Denver, Rick Ricketson; Des Moines, Emil Franke; Detroit, E. C. Beatty and Carl Buermele; Indianapolis, Marc Wolf; Kansas City, Elmer Rhoden; Los Angeles, Charles Skouras and Robert H. Poole; Memphis, M. A. Lightman; Milwaukee, Harold Fitzgerald; Minneapolis, E. R. Ruben; New Haven, I. J. Hoffman; New Jersey, Harry Lowenstein and Don Jacocks; New Orleans, E. V. Richards; New York, Fred Schwartz and Sam Rinzler; Omaha, Joe Kinsky; Philadelphia, David Barrist; Pittsburgh, M. A. Silver; Portland, Oregon, 0. J. Miller and Albert J. Finke; St. Louis, Harry Arthur; Salt Lake City, Tracy Barham and John Rugar; San Francisco, D. J. McNerney; Seattle, Frank Newman; and Washington, D. C, A. Julian Brylawski. Storm Lake, la., Exhib. Wins Complaint on Runs (Continued from Page 1) pictures were being offered to the Lake theater at Storm Lake. The award, made by Arbitrator Clyde H. Doolittle, stated as follows: Distributor Vitagraph is directed to offer major product for license to E. M. Tracy, complain ant for exhibition in Tracy theater, on a run to be designated by said distributor upon terms and conditions fixed by distributor which are not calculated to defeat purpose of Section VI of consent decree. Schaefer to Coast for WAC Program Parleys (Continued from Page 1) wood tomorrow to confer with Y. Frank Freeman, chairman of the Producers Division, on next year's WAC program. Beetson came to New York to attend the WAC meeting on Monday. reviews of n€iu mms Carroll Named to Board Boston — Edward J. Carroll, owner of the Stuart here and the Park-In Theater, Agawan, has been elected for a three-year term as director of the National Association of Amusement Parks, Pools and Beaches. Washburn Funeral Held St. Louis — Funeral services were held here for Franklin Bryant Washburn, 74, father of Bryant Washburn, and Herbert Washburn, latter manager of the St. Louis branch of National Screen Service. "Stand by for Action" with Robert Taylor, Brian Donlevy, Charles Laughton M-G-M 109 Mins. STIRRING AND PATRIOTIC FILM OF NAVAL HEROICS IS SOLID BOX-OFFICE ENTERTAINMENT The cause of patriotism is more than nobly served by "Stand by for Action," which is a stout tribute to the men of our Navy who guard with their lives the procession of precious cargoes that supply the vital needs of fighting men and civilians across the oceans. The film is a recounting of deeds of valor and unselfish devotion to duty that cannot but strongly appeal to Americans of every stripe. Like all films dealing with the activities of service men and red-blooded and thumping heroics, "Stand by for Action" levels its sights with greatest effect on the male population. Romance has little place in the serious make-believe that faces those who man the cast of this M-G-M boxoffice hit. Romance be damned! Here is a production that can stand its ground and win its public without becoming a slave to boy-meets-girl formula. It isn't often that a war film rings so true as does "Stand by for Action." The action in the picture is believable and smacks of reality. Consequently, its impact is so much the more powerful. The presence of Lieut. Com. H. D. Smith, USN, during the filming in the capacity of technical advisor made it possible for fiction not to deviate too far from truth. Its authenticity is one of the most impressive things about the production. George Bruce, John L. Balderston and Herman J. Mankiewicz wrote the screenplay from a story by Captain Harvey Haislip, USN, and R. C. Sherriff which was suggested by a tale called "A Cargo of Innocents," authored by Laurence Kirk. A more happy collaborative effort could scarcely have been conceived. The result of this unity of writing talents is something to cheer about. The authors have made "Stand by for Action" a tremendously thrilling and exciting film packed to the gunwales with entertainment of a superior brand. They have strung together a succession of incidents that make the pulse pound and guarantee a fervid response from all who see their handiwork. Most of the action in "Stand by for Action" — in fact, virtually all of it — takes place on the high seas. The rousing deeds that give the film its smashing tempo are performed aboard a recommissioned destroyer which in the blasting climax of the picture saves the convoy to which it is attached by destroying a Jap battleship vastly more powerful than itself. The engagement between the two men-of-war has been managed with a startling realism and a dramatic punch that shove you to the edge of your seat. It's one of the best things of its kind, if not the best, ever attempted on the screen. While the story follows a somewhat familiar pattern, it has been told with much freshness and with a fine grasp of dramatic details. It relates the story of an egotistic and cynical naval lieutenant (Robert Taylor) who is taken off desk duty by the rear admiral (Charles Laughton) to whose staff he is assigned and ordered to active service so that he may be tumbled from his high-and-mighty attitude and imbued with the real spirit of the Navy. The young officer is assigned to the recommissioned destroyer, which is under the command of a veteran of the service (Brian Donlevy) who is hard-boiled and steeped in the tradition of the Navy. Laughton feels that if anyone can knock Taylor off his perch Donlevy can. The expected happens. Taylor's character alters to the complete satisfaction of everyone. His supreme test comes when Donlevy is wounded and he takes over command and destroys the Jap battleship. The going in "Stand by for Action" isn't all heavy. A boatload of children rescued from the sea serves to supply the picture's chief comedy relief. Most of the laughs stem from scenes showing Taylor and the tough members of the destroyer crew acting as nurses to the kids. The picture is filled with first-rate acting. Taylor, Donlevy and Laughton carry the top roles with distinction. Walter Brennan is right on their heels in the role of an old-timer. His is the most affecting performance in the production. Also deserving of praise are Henry O'Neill, Chill Wills, Douglass Dumbrille, Richard Quine, William Tannen, Douglas Fowley, Tim Ryan, Hobart Cavanaugh, Byron Foulger and several others. Robert Z. Leonard has given the film superb direction. He doubled as producer in collaboration with Orville 0. Dull. Charles Rosher, director of photography, and Arnold Gillespie and Don Jahraus, special-effects men, are chiefly responsible for making "Stand by for Action" the technical triumph that it is. CAST: Robert Taylor, Brian Donlevy, Charles Laughton, Walter Brennan, Marilyn Maxwell, Henry O'Neill, Marta Linden, Chill Wills, Douglass Dumbrille, Richard Quine, William Tannen, Douglas Fowley, Tim Ryan, Dick Simmons, Byron Foulger, Hobart Cavanaugh, Inez Cooper, Ben Welden, Harry Fjeischman. CREDITS: Producers, Robert Z. Leonard, Orville 0. Dull; Director, Robert Z. Leonard; Screenplay, George Bruce, John L. Balderston, Herman J. Mankiewicz; Based on story by Capt. Harvey Haislip, R. C. Sherriff; Suggested by story by Laurence Kirk; Cameraman, Charles Rosher; Musical Score, Lennie Hayton; Art Director, Cedric Gibbons; Special Effects, Arnold Gillespie, Don Jahraus; Film Editor, George Boemler. DIRECTION, Excellent. PHOTOGRAPHY, Excellent. Reeling 'Round WASHINGTON i (Continued from Page 1) able largely because of the efforts of Chris j Dunphy, who's been in there scrapping foi jj them every minute. . . • Drew Pearson Newsweek and others have been tellng the nation of the fine team of Short and Sweet in the Navy Press Se<-':on— what a pleasure it is to get th , srt sweet and efficient service thos«~*uoy! hand out. The Short part of the team is Lt. Paul Short, who used to be Southern Division Manager for National Screen Set vice and was before that with Bob Con nolly's Interstate Circuit, in Dallas. Foi a few months before going into the Navy Paul was assistant to Chris Dunphy at WPB • • IT looks as if Warner Brothers decided}" against Washington as a site for their executive offices — and after only a week trial. Maybe papers got lost between the Carlton and the Mayflower. At any rate they left vee-pee Joe Bernhard at the Mayflower, already hard at work for the Navy. And after the plaudits they tossed him at that Mayflower luncheon, Bern 0, hard's not likely to return to his peacetime | desk before the last shot is fired. ARMY Air Force picture people herejK don't know anything about Clark Gabletjj doing a morale for that branch. They sayL there was some discussion of it while he j| was still at the school, but are doubtful tha it was made. . . • Newsreel Co-ordina tor Claude Collins back in town all steamed up after Monday's WAC meeting. Says he wishes some of the Government agen cies could take the war as seriously and operate as efficiently as the WAC. • • EYES here still hurt from the flash of so much gold braid, all rounded up by Carter Barron, Loew's district manager for his smash preview Monday night of "Stand By for Action." Looked like home coming at Annapolis, with at least 10 admirals and dozens of other top-rankers crowding the attractive little projection room at the National Archives. And all mighty pleased with the job M-G-M has done on the Navy. . . • Incidentally credit for the naming of the picture goes^ to Carter. The Navy didn't care for the original title, "Cargo of Innocents," where upon Carter suggested the present monicker NSS, SOPEG Sign Pact For White-Collar Help (Continued from Page 1) Office and Professional Employes Guild, Local 109, UOPWA. The two-year pact is retroactive to Sept. 1 and provides for reopening of negotiations at the end of a year, maintenance of membership, two-day notice of dismissal, arbitration of disputes and one-week severance pay for each year up to a maximum of 12 weeks. The agreement sets a minimum wage of $20, with a $3 increase on earnings up to $30 per week. Increases on wages over $30 will be adjusted individually. No discrimination because of race, creed or color is permitted under the pact. Yesterday the union opened nego Fill "Bernadette Lead West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAI Li Hollywood — Twentieth CenturyFox has ended its search for an actress to fill the title role in Franz Werfel's "The Song of Bernadette' by signing Jennifer Jones, an un known discovered by David 0. Selz nick, who in the future will share her services with the company. The girl is the daughter of an Okla homa theater circuit operator. Mrs. Ruth Gaby Dead Canton, O. — Mrs. Ruth Alma Gaby, 34, for many years cashier at the Ohio theater here, died in Akron. tiations for white-collar workers at three Paramount units — home office maintenance and the company's music subsidiaries, Paramount Music Co. and Famous Music Co. The ne gotiations will be continued next week.