The Film Daily (1944)

"&% DAILY Friday, October 20, Detroit Nabe Houses Trying Vaudeville (Continued from Page 1) a possible alternative are not new. However, most attacks on the acknowledged evil locally have centered upon common agreement of exhibitors to end duals on a certain date — an agreement inevitably and repeatedly thwarted by the refusal of some one exhibitor in a given area to concur. Stage shows, in the meantime, disappeared from the local houses almost completely. Until the Paradise started it a couple of seasons back, there was not a single major theater regularly running "flesh." Upstate, the situation was operating more smoothly with some occasional stage shows, as business conditions warranted, bocked in the Butterfield Circuit and other houses. However, dual bills were not generally prevalent in Michigan beyond the Detroit area, with a few local notable exceptions. In the past three years, a number of neighborhood houses in Detroit have tried to put on stage showsplus a double bill, thereby making a bad situation much worse. Currently, however, Howard Bruce of the Amusement Booking Service is working up a small circuit of neighborhood houses to play vaudeville— with single bills. Policy opened at Nicholas George's Allen Pa'k Theater in the suburb of Allen Park, fol.cwed by the Krim Theater, operated bv the Krim Brothers. Next on the list is the Abington Theater, being readied for opening by the Krims at present. Other houses are under negotiation. Builds Acts Into Unit Bruce is interested in the matter from the talent standpoint, and is bu:lding on a sound, if modest foundation. His maximum objective for the present is a two-week circuit of houses, to play about three days aniece. He is using six standard acts plus a band, bu:lt into a regular unit to day the circuit. Bv offering this much straiglr woik. he is again making vaudeville attractive to acts who have been consistently lured by night clubs. At the same time, by limiting the total run to a small number of theaters. he assures that the acts do not repeat too soon in the same neighborhood, which maintains local patron following. By offering acts of component showmanship, but not big name value, and offering several consecutive dates, he brings the talent cost within the buving range of the neighborhood theater. Can Be Over-Done The one thing against the development is that it can speedilv be overdone if too manv houses follow the same policy — although the existing ta'ent shortage w-uld probably stop this. The Allen Park Theater tried s*-age shows once before and dropped them because of the then more acute talent situation — before the increased REVIEWS Of D6UJ FILMS "The Very Thought of You" with Dennis Morgan, Eleanor Parker Warner 99 Mins. TENDER TALE OF ROMANCE IS CERTAIN TO WIN HEARTS OF WOMEN PATRONS. Here is a tender tale of two young people in love that will hit the women squarely in the heart. The direction cf Delmer Daves succeeds in keeping the interest constantly alive despite a story that is not possessed of too much substance. The film owes much also to the attractive production accorded it by Jerry Wald. The lovers are Dennis Morgan and Eleanor Parker. Their rmance blossoms when Morgan comes back to Pasadena, Calif., after a long hitch w'th the Army in the Aleutians. Most of the drama is supplied by the opposition of Miss Parker's mother i Beulah Bond i ' and her older sister (Andrea King) to the match. Nothing st"ps the lovers and they are married as the youth is about to go overseas. The two are happily reunited at the end. There is a secondary romance involving Morgan's buddy (Dane Clark) and a pal of Miss Parker's Faye Emerson I . Clark, who has the comedy assignment, steals the attenri'n from Morgan and Miss Parker make a fine romantic pair. CAST: D3nnis Mcrgan, Eleanor Parker, Dane Clark, Faye Emeison, Beulah Bondi, Henry "ravers. William Prince, Andrea King, John Alvin, Marianne O'Brien. Georgia Lee Settle, 3lck Erdman, Francis Pierlot. CREDITS: Producer, Jerry Wald: Director, ■/elmer D3ves; Screenplay, A'vah Bessie, Delmer Daves; Based on story by Lionel Wiggam; Musi:al Score, Franz Waxman; Cameraman, Bert Tennon. Art Director, Leo Kuter; Fi'm Editor, Alan C osland, Jr., Sound, Everett A. Brown "pecial Effects. Warren Lynch; Set Decorator Tred M. MacLean; Musical Director, Leo F, :orbstein. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Fine. * SHORTS * "The Cross-Eyed Bull" UA 10 mins. Excellent As the first of a new Technicolor ".artoon series known as "Daffy Dittys," produced by Larry Morey "nd John Sutherland, formerly with he Disney organization, this episode in dimensional anhnation mie?ges as a highlv entertaining and clever subject. Not only is the -olor and lighting remarkable but he direction and animation is obviously progressive. The story deals with the determination of a crosseyed bull to win the affections of a ?ow-eyed lovelv by defeating a dangerous bull fighter. "ax on cabarets became effective. Proof that the lo^al public will go "11 out for vaudeville, but that even "hat volume of demand can be exaggerated as well, is shown in the mod°ra*e, but n-^t snectacu^r, business if four topflight first-run houses a "ounle of weeks back when all four offered stage shows at once for the first time in perhaps a dozen years. "The Rainbow" with Natasha Uzhvey, Natalia Alisova Artkino 93 Mins. A WARNING MESSAGE AGAINST "SOFT PEACE" TERMS WITH THE ENEMY, REALISTICALLY DELIVERED. Portraying the indomitable spirit of the partisan women in their sacrifices f:r the ultimate freedom of the civilized world, here is a Russian film with English subtitles that will reach the core of hatred against the Nazi rule and the atrocities for which they have earned infamy. The story dwells on the ruthless acts of a Nazi captain, G. Kler'ng, in attempting to learn of the hideout cf a group of guerrilla fighters whose families are located in a small Ukranian village under Boche rule. Highlight of the film is the fiery appeal by Natalia Al'sova, as the partisans return to liberate the village, when she stops a group of raving women from killing German prisoners with the warning, "let the Germans see what the future holds in store f"r them. Those who die now will be getting off easy . . ." Accenting character portrayals, the film has b^en effectively d'rected and acted. CAST: Natasha Uzhvey. Natalia Alisova, Elena Tiapkina, Vera Ivasheva, Anton Dunaysky, Anna L:syanskaya, G. Klering. N'kolai Bratersky, Vitya Vinogradov, Alik Letichevsky, Emma Pearlstein, Vova Ponomariov. CREDITS: Story and Scenario. Wanda Wasilewska; Producer, Kiev Studios in U.S.S.R.; Director, Mark Donsky; Cameraman, Boris Monastirsky; Music, Lev Shvartz English titles, Charles Clement; N-rrator, Anne Sevmour. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. 100 New Theaters To Cost 7 1-2 ^KO, Union Expected to Resume Talks Next Week (Continued from Page 1) snag early this week when the union insisted that the circuit set a retroactive date are expected to be resumed next week. The union, which notified the comnany it would take the case to the State Board of Mediation if the circuit failed to name such a date, r-hanged its mind yesterdav when Monroe Goldwater, RKO attorney, announced that management was nrepared to expedite negotiations, although not prepared at this time <~o name a definite date of retroactivity. The union covers managers and assistants in 41 RKO houses in the Tietropolitan area. ^ & L's Board Chairman, William Bausch, Is Dead 'Continued from Page 1) :n his organization's research laboratories until his unexpected death ,vhich follows that of his brother. Edward Bausch, former board chairman, last July. For 6S years. William Bausch had b^n with the firm and is credited wifh the foresight to have started an '-mtical glass plant here in 1915, saving the countrv from visual chaos when the product became unavailable in Europe during World War I. (Continued from Page 1) built because of fire loss virtual their entirety, is explained, asserted, by the fact that mar each category were small oi serving communities of modest ulation. Furthermore, some sa' was possible, which brought down. Average seating capacity o: 100 theaters built was placed a tween 700 and 800, and the co each house per seat was said in the neighborhood of $100. E ment needed was higher propo: ately than is so in normal tim< Standard System Soug For Mex. Distribution (Continued from Page 1) producers and exhibitors here. The Mexican Motion Picture ducers Association suggested oarleys as a means of betterir lations between the two grouj ter the exhibitors had entei strong protest against the a: ment of exclusive exhibition : in the city of Tampico to th< ater chain headed by William ins. Emilio Azcarraga, Roberto ] vantes Casasus, and Chavez ( i are representing the thea^ero » ^t the talks while executivi't ^inns Mundiales, Trust Films, Films, and Grovas P'-oductior the spokesmen for the produjf Although the opening si °nded without the conferees c\ •"o any agreement, both s^'des ! "onsented to continue the discu in an effort to arrive at a so"! "U" to Hold "Hearing" Universal is holding a "he; b mstead of a showing of the J t> Kern music from the Deanna 3 bin Technicolor production, Help Singing." Inasmuch as , of the picture won't be av. until next month. Universal bii a sound track of the music tc York and is using this novel r of introducing the score to the j trade. Lt. James Crawley Missing Springfield, 111. — Lt. Jam Crawley, former manager c Kerpsotes Brothers' theater a licothe, is reported missine •■ion since Sept. 17. Craw y. flight officer, was pilot of e§/ plane engaged over Holland. Sidney Spiegel Dies Chicago — Sidney Spiegel, r.| in the Essaness Theater Circu jd yesterday afternoon. He was re urer and vice-prexy of the E< Circuit. His widow survives