The Film Daily (1933)

THE •2&H DAILY Monday, July 24, 193] TIMELY TOPICS All-Star Casts Easy to Handle •"QYNAMITE!" is the expressive word whispered by Hollywood folk when two or more film stars are cast in the same picture. "Their clashes of temperament will make the director's life miserable," is the usual prediction. But this view is contradicted by every film director who has had two or more stars to put through their paces at the same time. Players of star calibre today are interested in contributing their talents to one ultimate end — the attainment of a good picture. No one heard a complaint during the entire filming of "If I Had a Million." And just take a look at the talent in that picture. Gary Cooper, George Raft, Wynne' Gibson, Fredric March, Jack Oakie — that's mentioning only a few in the cast. Not only that, but seven famous directors had a hand in the production. The harmonious working order of that unit is still being talked about in Hollywood. Such successful pictures as "Grand Hotel," and "State Fair" were produced with complete cooperation by members of the all-star casts. Right now I'm directing two of the biggest stars of the screen in "Midnight Club." They are Clive Brook and George Raft. Both command a sensationally large audience throughout the country. Here's sufficient proof that the old theory is out. — Alexander Hall M. BURNETT VACATIONING Dayton, 0. — Marty Burnett, manager of the local Loew house, is away for a two-week vacation in Michigan. Ray Jones, Loew reliei manager, at the helm. "Genevieve Tobin is one of Hollywood's few harp players and the only sfar who can actually elicit music from the strings." —FIRST NATIONAL P^V#"r >. : L-w' I } 1»E — M*m Mr MONGTHE • • • THEY USED Showmanship in those M-G-M sales conventions at Kansas City and Detroit the Big Smash of both conventions was a beaucoup showman stunt "Dramatizing the Product" it literally knocked the boys right off their seats at both cities and brought 'em to their feet cheering at the curtain here's how it was done • • • THE LIGHTS went out complete darkness Felix Feist on stage under a baby spot speaking "You gentlemen are in the DARK on our new season's product. We will now enlighten you." then came a ruffle of drums as a brigade of smart young boys in snappy red uniforms with brass buttons and gold braid marched across the platform in single file as each youngster took his place a spotlight played on him revealing the silk banner he carried each banner listed one of the series in the M-G-M program for the coming season for instance Sevefl Specials Two Dresslers Three Harlows etcetera till the entire 28 units of production had been displayed • • • AS THE youngsters filed on the stage singly and their bannered message was revealed under the spotlight . sales manager Felix Feist gave the subject matter on the banner a snappy build-up, explaining concisely just what the particular product would embrace then came the Dramatization of the Shorts Product with big six-footers in uniform and plumed hats carrying banners flashing the series of M-G-M shorts 9 series Feist explained these also then full lights on stage revealing the Parade of Product a brass band blared a drop curtain came down in the form of an immense banner 20 x 30 bearing in enormous letters the current slogan of Leo Lion: "OUT FOR OUTPUT!" it was then that the assembled boys of Emgeem came to their feet yelling and stamping the surprise show literally had 'em gasping it lasted very briefly and that was the only reference practically to the Product but were they SOLD ! Felix Feist's own idea staged as usual by Billy Ferguson • • • TO THE Roxy 7th Avenue theater has fallen the honor of holding the elimination contests for the selection of "Miss New York" for the 14th Annual International Beauty Pageant the eliminations will be held over a number of nights with girls from the metropolitan and suburban sections competing among the judges who will appear on the Roxy stage to select "Miss New York" will be such celebrated artists as Haskell Coffin, Penrhyn Stanlaws, Leslie Thresher and Jules Cannert the winner has a chance to become "Miss Universe" in competition with girls from all over the United States and Europe * * * * • • • THE ONLY holdover on Broadway this week is "Hell's Holiday" at the Mayfair Fred Waring and His Pennsylvanians return to Broadway Friday after a year's absence from local stages they will headline the Paramount stage show in their own Radio Revue in addition to Fred the entertainers will comprise Tom Waring, Evalyn Nair, "Babs," "The Three Smoothies," The Lane Sisters, "Poley" McClintock, Johnnie Davis and Stuart Churchill A swell yarn on the Inside Story of Charlie Chaplin starting in the current issue of "Liberty" by Carlyle Robinson in which he shows what a prominent part John R. Freuler played in Charlie's career EXPLOITETTE Theater Front Uses Mirrors « €< « » » » J-[OWARD WAUGH of th. Warner Memphis, pulled ; real classy bit of advance ex ploitation for "Gold Diggers o 1933." Taking advantage of the fact that the Cotton Carniva which takes place yearly ir Memphis draws thousands ol out-of-towners as well as Mem-! phis crowds, Waugh set up a special display on the Warneil musical special covering the en-l tire front of the theater build-| ing. Huge letters announcec the coming of "Gold Diggers of 1933" across the roof of the building. Underneath, Waugh had 12 large mirrors in the form of stars, suspended across the face of the building. Right across each mirrored star, he had signs carrying the name of the 12 stars in the picture, using one mirror to a name. By day, I the reflection of the sun on thel mirrors attracted the eye to the! building. At night, Waugh trained a battery of floodlights on the building, making the reflection of the lights visible for blocks. — Warners, Memphis Bannered Street Car Plugs "42nd Street" J^ STREET car completely covered with "paper" on "42nd Street" was used to sell the musical when it played at the Capitol in Calgary. The display was a most pretentious one and sold the immensity of the picture's production, its 14 stars and the 200 beautiful girls, besides announcing that the picture was showing "At the Capitol Theater Today!" This stunt created quite a furore in Calgary, as the car passed through the busiest sections of the locality fairly screaming "42nd Street" to the onlookers, of whom there were thousands. — Capitol, Calgary. «,&, MANY UAPPY RETUM Best wishes are extended by THE FILM DAILY to the following members of the industry, who are celebrating their birthdays: July 24 Nick Tronolone