The Film Daily (1942)

Wednesday, December 16, 1942 -REVIEWS* "Tennessee Johnson" with Van Heflin, Lionel Barrymore, Ruth Hussey M-G-M 103 Mins. BIOGRAPHICAL FILM RATES TOPS IN EVERY DEPARTMENT; SHOULD RAKE IN PLENTY OF COIN. Andrew Johnson is the latest man of history to have his life placed on celluloid by M-G-M, which has managed the transference with surprising success. The studio has taken a few liberties with the facts as the historians have set them down, but on the whole the picture follows pretty faithfully the lines of the stormy career of the man who succeeded to the presidency when Lincoln was assassinated. Metro has done a most creditable job of resurrection. It is to be heartily congratulated for having made history so palatable. Audiences should have little difficulty in being entertained and instructed via "Tennessee Johnson." The film takes much time and care in establishing the motivation for Andrew Johnson's being. It is a task which it executes absorbingly. As result of all this preliminary groundwork to explain the character of Johnson audiences will have no trouble understanding his conduct on his attaining the presidency. The pattern cf his life is so well set by the authors that every act of his rings with plausibility. Little inconsistency is noticeable in the character as it is created on the screen. The picture opens dramatically with Johnson's escape from the tailor to whom he is indentured. His political rise is traced in a series of excellently conceived episodes which reach their crescendo with his appearance on the Washington scene. The film gains tremendously in dramatic o tch when fate places Johnson in the presidential chair. From that moment on the picture becomes a tense and exciting struggle between Johnson and his enemies, with the action mounting until it attains a smashing climax in the sequence where he stands up to Thaddeus Stevens and his other tormentors in the Senate and pleads his case with a simple eloquence that is both moving and heroic. This portion of the film is extremely fascinating and gripping. When the battle is over and Johnson is victorious one cannot but help feeling a sense of relief, for the suspense in these scenes is at times painful. "Tennessee Johnson" makes much of the social consciousness of Lincoln's successor. He takes an early stand on the injustice of denying the vote to those possessing no material goods and never deviates from his determination to end the evil practice. It is this bull-dog attitude of Johnson's that causes a break between him and Stevens. The film clearly shows what a man must expect for clinging to his ideals. The film has wisely skirted the Negro problem which was at the bottom of the struggle between Johnson and his opponents in the government. To have gone extensively into this phase of the dispute would have led to needless controversy and might have had an adverse bearing on the box-office showing of the film. It is the film's good fortune to have a superb cast. Fine acting distinguishes almost every role. With Van Heflin enacting Andrew Johnson, there can be no question about the quality of the film's top performance. Acting could hardly be more sincere. Lionel Barrymore does a whale of a job as Stevens. He drives Hef Gloria, Brooklyn, Files Trust Action (.Continued from Page 1) merit Corp., Samuel Rinzler, Louis Frisch and William Yost. Conspiracy on the part of the defendants unlawfully to favor Yost's new Clinton Theater in fixing runs for films and alleged intention to drive independents out of business in that Brooklyn area are charged in the suit. According to the complaint, Randforce, booking for the Clinton, has exercised its "vast buying power" to prevent the Gloria, formerly a first-run house, from competing freely in the securing of films from the five major companies named. Since the Clinton was completed in December, 1939, the suit alleges, the Gloria's gross income has dropped $200 weekly. An injunction to restrain the defendants from continuing the alleged monopoly and unspecified damages are sought. 9-State Blackout Cuts Theat. Biz 5-20 Percent (Continued from Page 1) EWT and lasted 20 minutes. Range of business off at the b.o. was from 5 to 20 per cent. Theaters cooperated fully, it was indicated. Mrs. Huber Glidden Dead Weston, Mass. — Mrs. Alice C. Glidden, 42, wife of Huber Glidden, M & P's head auditor, died in Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston. 20th-Fox Signs Auster West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Islin Auster has signed with 20th-Fox as producer. lin hard for the acting honors. Ruth Hussey rises nobly to the occasion as Mrs. Johnson. There are other sterling performances by Marjorie Main, Regis Toomey, J. Edward Bromberg, Grant Withers, Charles Dingle, Carl Benton Reid, Montagu Love and many others. William Dieterle's direction is wellpaced and highlights the dramatic content of the story. First-rate is the word for the John L. Balderston-Wells Root screenplay. The late J. Walter Ruben gave "Tennessee Johnson" a superb production. It is a fitting valedictory. Praise must also be accorded the photography of Harold Rosson, the musical score of Herbert Stothart and the art direction of Cedric Gibbons. CAST: Van Heflin, Lionel Barrymore, Ruth Hussey, Marjorie Main, Regis Toomey, J. Edward Bromberg, Grant Withers, Alec Craig, Charles Dingle, Carl Benton Reid, Russell Hicks, Noah Beery, Sr., Robert Warwick, Montagu Love, Lloyd Corrigan, William Farnum, Charles Trowbridge, Lynne Carver, Russell Simpson, Morris Ankrum. CREDITS: Producer, J. Walter Ruben; Director, William Dieterle; Screenplay, John L. Balderston, Wells Root; Cameraman, Harold Rosson; Musical Score, Herbert Stothart; Art Director, Cedric Gibbons; Special Effects, Warren Newcombe; Film Editor Robert J. Kern. DIRECTION, Aces. PHOTOGRAPHY, Aces. Show Nip's Sub to Boost Bond Sales A two-man Jap sub, which was washed ashore on the Island of Oahu, opposite Pearl Harbor, the day after the Jap attack, is being exhibited across the country by the Treasury to boost War Bond and Stamp sales. One sales plan is to place sub in front of a film theater and "sell" tickets — Bond and Stamps only — to see the craft inside. Other stunt is to give a peek at sub's workings, plus two tickets to any performance at the theater, to purchaser of largest denomination Bond. In approximately 40 days of touring, sales have totalled over $1,000000. WMC's Job-Freezing Plan Originated by WB's Budd (Continued from Page 1) plied on a wide scale by Paul V. McNutt's War Manpower Commission, was originated in the World War I by Ralph W. Budd, at that time superintendent of the U. S. Employment Service for the Waterbury district, and now director of personnel for Warners. The plan was credited with reducing labor turnover by 200 per cent in 1918. Budd submitted details of his system to McNutt's office last July and shortly thereafter was informed the plan was being studied and very likely would be put into effect. The procedure just adopted in Detroit follows the identical lines of Budd's Waterbury Plan. In carrying out the job-freezing plan, Budd originated a series of reports, records and cards to be used by the U. S. Employment Service, as well as by employers and employes. He is now working out procedures applicable to the film industry for use when, as and if required. "Subject Matter" Films To Solve Talent's Loss (Continued from Page 1) plots — it was said yesterday by Maurice Bergman, Universale Eastern ad-publicity chief, following his return from the Coast. Bergman reported Universal's production hitting a steady pace, with the fulfillment of its program for 1942-43 anticipated. Remarking tht it was impossible to say what the next year would bring, the "U" exec, said that the company was sanguine as to its own position. While on the Coast, Bergman saw "Arabian Nights," the new Walter Wanger pic; "Shadow of a Doubt," the new Abbott and Costello and Deanna Durbin features, 65,000 feet of documentary footage which will be drawn upon for its corvette story and two hours of shooting for "We've Never Been Licked." Find Hirsch Guilty On Perjury Charge m (Continued from Page 1) sistant U. S. Attorney Boris Kostelanetz stated that he had reason to believe Hirsch could be of aid to the Government in its attempt to identify gangster "higher-ups'" hind William Bioff and GeorA? Browne in their extortion of" than $1,000,000. In the course of the trial Mathew G. Ely, foreman of the Grand Jury, stated that it had been seeking "what happened to the million dollars which the racketeers obtained from the industry." "The trail appeared to lead to a criminal organization in Chicago familiarly known as 'The Syndicate,' " Ely added. During the two-day trial Nick Circella, serving sentence on charges leading out of the Browne-Bioff Trial, testified that he did not know Hirsch and had no knowledge of where the $25,000 bail posted by Hirsch for Circella had come from. Indictment of Hirsch had followed his explanation as to the disposition of the Circella bail, which he had supplied. After announcement of the jury's verdict Hirsch was continued on $5,000 bail. Theater Deals Get Okay From Canadian War Board (Continued from Page 1) sire of the Board to co-operate with the industry when legitimate grounds are apparent. The board has halted delivery of film to two other undisclosed theaters for alleged infraction of regulations. A meeting of the board with the Advisory Council of the industry called for next week to review cases and also hear arguments from independents for revision of product groupings for this season by major exchanges. The indies contend there are too many pictures in top brackets for higher rentals. The board approved the submitted film groupings some weeks ago. George Klimt Dead Chicago — George Klimt, 72, veteran theater manager and producer, died at his home. If Santa Wouldn't — Well, Pete Wood! Columbus — ITO of Ohio isn't depending upon Ole Kris Kringle to fill the stockings of many of the lads in Uncle Sam's fighting forces. So, the organziation has empowered its secretary, Pete Wood, to tie-in with this city's radio stations and newspapers to collect Xmas gifts for the armed services. ITO member theaters will act as depositories for the gifts which will be picked up at intervals between now and Dec. 21.