The Film Daily (1934)

Thursday, Jan. 11,1934' -. &m OAILV BLUMENTHAL GROUP AFTER ROXY THEATER (Continued from Page 1) of the M-G-M program. HalseyStuart has heen identified with considerable film financing. Deal may be closed today or tomorrow. S. L. ("Roxy") Rothafel, who has been reported from time to time as acquiring the house, will not be connected with the project. Copyright Hearing Likely to be Called (Continued from Page 1) had been received from exhibitors regarding the film code. His resolution for a film probe, still on the House calendar, is receiving added support this session, Sirovich said. Bondholders Lose Suit Over Fox B'klyn House Application of Jennis Wiand for an order compelling Continental Bank & Trust to account for moneys received in connection with the management of the Fox Theater building in Brooklyn was denied yesterday by Supreme Court Justice Paul Bonynge, Brooklyn. The petitioner contended the bank had no right to carry on a theater business. She alleged that the Fox Theater Corp. executed a 32-year lease in September, 1926, amounting to $17,700,000, and quit the theater January 1, 1932. No action has been taken to recover from the Fox organization, she said. Martin Starr Gets Contract The Martin Starr office has been assigned the contract to stage and publicize the Monster Guest Reunion of the 500 Sullivan County Hotels. The event is sponsored by the Federation of Hotelmen Association, and it is the first time that all the summer resorts have united together in such a reunion. One of the considerations insisted upon by Starr is that the greater part of the profits of this huge undertaking, be diverted to worthy New York charities, including the Milk Fund, Jewish Sufferers of Germany and the Film Daily Relief Fund. Rudy Vallee has been contracted to play all evening. Closing St. Louis Fox Deal St. Louis — -Receivers for the Fox' Theater have gone to New York to close the deal for Fanchon & Marco to operate the house. Giving Photoplay Course An evening course in photoplay composition is to be held at Columbia University from Feb. 12 to May 21. Mrs. Frances Taylor Patterson is the instructor. "The Strange Case of Hennessy" with Cliff Edwards RKO 22 mins. A Nifty This is another Meyer Davis-Van Beuren musical comedy and it scores with a goodly portion of genuine entertainment. Many of the sequences have been made in rhythm, with catchy melody and snappy lyrics. Edwards plays the part of a nut who escapes from the asylum and masquerades as Silo Dance, a famous detective. He gets away with the disguise until the real Silo shows up. There is a bit of uke playing, some tuneful ensemble numbers, a bit of suspense and a wealth of laughs in this one. Clark and McCullough in "Hey Nanny Nanny" RKO 21 mins. Same Old Stuff This series needs a change of pace in the way of stories that do not always have these comedians masquerading as someone else. On this occasion they take the place of a masseur who is away on a vacation, and after mistaking a bottle of horse liniment for alcohol, they decide to become magicians. At a swell pai'ty, Clark manages to make a mess of every trick he attempts and with the help of a goat puts over a few laughs, but too few for a two-reeler. "In Venice" (Terry-Toon) Educational 6 mins. Fair Animated An average number of cartoon comedies go. Action takes place in Venice, where the characters in their gondolas keep time with an operatic music background, going to welcome the return of Balboa. A big car escorted by police races to the scene and Will Rogers in caricature decorates Bolboa. During he ceremony a call for help is heard ;n the water and the little hero ^oes to the rescue of his sweetheart, who is pulled to the bottom by a devil-fish after which the scene centers around the hero rescuing the girl. "On Approval" with Julia Sanderson and Frank Crumit RKO 17 mins. Swell This "Headliner Comedy" will prove an attraction wherever played and whether or not the audience is composed of Sanderson-Crumit radio fans. The story is cleverly woi-ked out for laughs, action, suspense and all too few musical numbers. The couple decide to adopt a child, and after an interesting and humorous sequence which works up to the adoption, they take the little lad to their home. The boy immediate ly starts in to break up everything that isn't nailed down. Finally they return the boy to the asylum, but have become so used to having the kid around the house that they take him back as a household pet, or pest. The film has a swell ending. The radio couple sings one or two short numbers which seem a lean sei-ving. "Moorish Spain" (Vagabond Adventure) RKO 7 mins. Okay The beauties of Southern Spain are shown in this reel, with Alois Havrilla handling the narrative in interesting fashion. Methods of agriculture, large herds of goats, the production of cork from bark, the Alhambra, and some Gypsy dances complete the reel. It is a very satisfactory travelogue. "Canyon Of Romance" with Claud Fleming Educational 9 mins. Fine Scenic in Color Produced by Harry C. Brown and Curtis F. Nagel and photographed by Harry Perry, this one presents Claud Fleming in a trip through the Grand Canyon showing the interesting spots of the historic country. Audiences will find it interesting as well as entertaining. The Little King in "Jest of Honor" (Soglow Cartoon) RKO 8 mins. Not So Good This animated portrayal of the strip cartoon character loses considerable humor in its transposition to the screen. It lacks gags and pep. This story concerns the King, who is discovered riding a surf board in the wake of the royal yacht. He dives overboard for a rendezvous with a mermaid. Later, in port, he is welcomed by a roaring populace and introduced by the mayor. His disrespect to that civic official forces the King to escape back to the yacht and while en route is hailed by the mermaid who presents him with six little baby mermaids. CODE UPS STUDIO NUT A MILLION— GOLDWYN (Continued from Page 1) ments to the effect that admission prices must be gradually raised to offset enlarged production and other costs. "Twenty-five cents is too low an admission price for houses in large cities," asserted the producer. Goldwyn assailed double featuring, especially in situations in which such bills are supplemented by 10 acts of vaudeville, all for 25 cents. He has not signed the film industry code. After several weeks in New York, working on arrangements for the premiere of "Nana" and also the next Eddie Cantor story, Goldwyn will sail for Russia. Before his departure he plans to set, tentatively at least, his 1934-35 schedule, which will include one Cantor picture. Dietrich Sets Record in Sydney Hurdling a censorship barrier which for some time appeared insuperable, Marlene Dietrich's "Song of Songs" has broken a four-year attendance record at the Prince Edward Theater in Sydney, Australia, according to cable advices received yesterday by John W. Hicks, Jr., vice president of Paramount International Corp. The message stated that in addition to "Song of Songs," five other Paramount pictures had first releases in Sydney theaters during the Christmas show week. Wilmer & Vincent in Deals Richmond — Wilmer & Vincent have just acquired the land occupied by the Colonial Theater, one of the W. & V. circuit. They also have sold the Old Strand to Associated Builders, Inc. Terry-Toon at Music Hall Another Educational Terry-Toon, "Sunny South," has been booked by the Radio City Music Hall starting: today. "The Village Blacksmith," also a Terry-Toon, has been booked to play the entire RKO metropolitan circuit starting Saturday. it's not a production! it's a Creation! 2C TEAKS RESEARCH BEtilNE IT