The Film Daily (1947)

w DA1LV Tuesday, April 15, 1947 Kincey Qf Carolinas' MPF (Continued from Page 1) committee were voted by the 75 representatives of the industry attending the meeting. Members were empowered to appoint two additional persons to the committee, one representing the small-town exhibitor, the other representing theater employes. Plans are to set up a $10,000,000 fund within two years, the interest from which will be used for Foundation purposes, to assist needy persons connected with the industry and affiliated businesses and to carry on a charitable, educational, benevolent and scientific program. Complete local autonomy will be observed in each of the 31 membership areas, and all donations will be voluntary? Kincey explained. Those named for one-year terms were J. C. Long, Charleston, S. C; Roy B. Rowe, Burgaw, N. C, and H. H. Everett, representing distributors here, and Blake Gryder of Charlotte, representing allied industries. Two-year members included Ben Strozier of Rock Hill, S. C; H. F. Kincey and H. D. Hearn of Charlotte; J. H. Holston and Dean House of Charlotte, distributors; John Vickers and Jay Schrader of Charlotte, allied industries. Poppele Tells Video Meet Of Cross-Continental Tele J. R. Poppele, TBA president, speaking yesterday at the inaugural session of the second annual conclave of Television Institute at the Commodore Hotel, predicted a crosscontinental video broadcasting chain within the next three years and a vastly expanded network service within a shorter period of time. Poppele said that the vigorous coaxial cable installation program being pursued by AT&T may make it possible to link sufficient tele stations into a chain by the 1948 presidential elections so that video service will be within the reach of well over 40% of the nation's population. The meetings, sponsored by Televiser Magazine, will conclude today with several topics relative to the role of films in television set for panel discussion. SICK LIST MRS. WILLIAM HORNE, wife of William Home, Eastern rep. for the Jack H. Skirball-Bruce Manning Productions, underwent an operation at the Women's Hospital yesterday and will be confined to quarters there for a couple of weeks. LARRY STRONG, head of Essannay Electric Co., Chicago, is ill at the Wesley Memorial Hospital. HEDY LAMARR was hospitalized in Hollywood yesterday because of bronchial pneumonia. Her physician stated that she will be given a blood transfusion. REVIEWS Of nEUJ flLfllS UA 'Monsieur Verdoux' with Charles Chaplin 120 Mins. CHAPLIN "COMEDY OF MURDERS" WILL PROVOKE CONTROVERSY; SPELL THAT OUT AS PERSONAL INSPECTION BY THE WORLD AUDIENCE. Already there are a dozen points of view regarding this latest Chaplin film and hourly new schools of thought, acceptance, rejection, analysis and consideration of the ultimate are coming into being. Without a doubt all these signs are healthy. Controversy rules the roost. Every spoken and written word will serve to provoke interest, sell tickets. Let the barbs and laurels fly. This is not the first time Chaplin has discarded The Tramp. Nor is it his initial bout with elements, forces and sociological trends that are strewn in the path of The Little Man to bedevil him into utilizing basic instincts to combat extinction. As a "Comedy of Murder," "Monsieur Verdoux" is at once a preachment, a philosophy, an entertainment and a plaint against a social system. It is a broad comedy — admittedly confused at times — with deft touches of satire and with theatrical business that ranses from the mere lifting of an eyebrow to the fundamental pratfall. The Chaplin name is international. "Monsieur Verdoux" is for the world audience. As it makes merry with basic comedy, so should it make merry in the monetarv sense. It should be noted about here that this Chaolin is a model job of film-making. He is credited with direction, writing, production — the music, tro, is his composition. It is unmistakably personalized; the imprint is constantly aDoarent. The audience coming to see two solid hours of Chaolin will not have time to fidget. Direction is of such quality that movement, action, dialogue, are vivid and variation is constant. Thrown out of emnlnvment bv the bank where he has labored 30 vears. Chanlin. is f'i-ed with the care of his invalided wife and his child. The neriod is the earlv Thi-ties. The last deoression isi in full swing. Unknown to his immediate family he makes many marriages with women of means and property, dispatching them from time to time as his need for solvency demands. He is A Man About France, constantly abroad from his home, making new contacts, "utting into operation his lethal schemes. Away from home he is Varnav. Bon^pur, Flnrav and his various wives are duoed for the most part. They accept this dunlicity 'i"t thpn. of course, in short order thev are no longer on the scene to ccmpla:n. Meanwhile, Chaolin is afield for new ventures. The tone is generally episodic. Contributory plot elements are worked in =>t various times to divert from lethal pursuit and there is alwavs rn hand great comic skill. As s»Hdenlv as the storv is oroiected and hits! its stride so does it conclude It is run full-length. When Chanljn's wife an^ child! die. he fives up the same an'* after a '""woll meeting with a ffirl he befriended for experimental purposes — noi^on — hp ^ives himself uo whpn he U identified bv the survivors of an early victim. His same is over and while in the limelight of his trial he sets off the defense of his motive*. As a m*ss murderer, he says, he is a small time roerator, hardly worthy of the appellation whpn comparison is made with war mongers. And shortly thereafter he walks to the gui'lotine. "Monsieur Verdoux" is ably, skillfully cast. The attention to this selection results in some better playing. CAST: Oarles Chaolin, Madv Correll, Allison Roddan, Robert Lewis. Audrey Betz, Martha Rave, Ada-Mav. Isobel FUom. Mariorie Bennett. Helene Heigh, Margaret Hoffman, Marilyn Nash, Irvinq Bncon, Edwin Mills. Virginia Brissac. Almira Sessions, Eula Morgan, Bernard J. Nadell, Charles Evans, Arthur Hohl, Vera Marshe, John Harmon. CREDITS: Producer, Charles Chaplin; Director, Charles Chaolin: Associate Directors. Robert Florev, Wheeler Dryden; Original story written by Charles Chaplin; Photography, Roland Totheroh; Art Director, John Beckman; Assistant Director, Rex Bailey; Film Editor, Willard Nico; Sound, James T. Corrigan; Music composed by Charles Chaplin; Musid Arrangement, Direction, Rudolph Schrager; Art Supervision, Curtis Courant. DIRECTION, Excellent. PHOTOGRAPHY, First Rate. Producers Will Negotiate For Actors' Pact Jointly West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAI&Y Hollywood — Representatives of AMPPA, SIMPP and IMPPA agreed to suggestion, of Screen Actors Guild to undertake negotiations jointly with SAG in connection with proposed new contract with actors. $103,780 Net for ET Montreal — Eastern Theaters, Ltd., reports for 1946 net profit of $103,780 against $60,625 in 1945. Operating profit before depreciation and income and excess profits taxes amounted to $240,216, a year before it was $219,986. Income and excess profits taxes were considerably lower at $133,663. Republic Tells Studio Plans At Final Sales Meet West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Third and final session in Republic's annual series of sales meetings began here yesterday with James R. Grainger presiding over meeting attended by Western district and branch managers. Herbert J. Yates addressed opening session, outlining studio's production plans for coming year and explained in detail studio's trend toward production of more top-budgeted pictures and closing of an increasing number of important deals. Columbia Dividend Declared A quarterly dividend of $1.06 hi per share on the $4.25 cumulative preferred stock has been declared by the Columbia board, payable May 15 to' holders of record on Mav 1. more® more ftWf Released thru (©