The Film Daily (1934)

DAILY Monday, Jan. 22, 1934 Sterling Holloway in "Meeting Mazie" Universal 20 mins. Plenty Funny It took some time for Hollywood to wake up to the comedy possibilities of Sterling Holloway, but in this Warren Doane production he comes to front. The two-reeler is one of the funniest seen lately, and the laughs are attained with much less than usual forcing. Sterling is the roommate of Eddie Nugent, who has a date with his girl but learns over the phone that her cousin is going to call. So Sterling goes along as partner for the cousin, who doesnt turn up, whereupon Eddie grabs the first handy dame, a giddy trick who turns out to be the wife of Bert Roach. Plenty doing all the time, and it's all highly amusing. "Hollywood on Parade" Paramount 11 mins. Okay As the background for this Louis Lewyn fan reel, Shipwreck Kelly, the flagpole sitter, takes a bunch of the "Sitting Pretty" chorines up to pole and lets them gaze through a telescope at various film stars in various places around Hollywood. Among those sighted are El Brendel, Joe E. Brown, Charlie Chaplin, Robert Montgomery, Harold Lloyd, Richard Barthelmess, Lupe Velez, Johnny Weissmuller, William Powall, Bing Crosby, Viola Dana, John Barrymore and others. There are comic touches here and there. "Sea Killers" Television Productions 32 mins. Adventure and Thrills Very interesting expedition combining deep-sea fishing thrills with a quest for sunken treasure, and winding up with an unusual scene in which the undersea camera shows a diver crushed to death by a giant octopus. Early part of the film is devoted to catching giant fish, turtles, porpoise, etc., including many thrilling incidents, and then to the exploration on the ocean bottom for more thrills and rare photographic catches. An interesting running comment and musical score add to the entertainment values of the picture. Popeye the Sailor in "Sock-a-Bye" Paramount 6 mins. Swell Cartoon In this animated subject Popeye New Frisco House for Para. San Francisco — Louis R. Lurie has bought the St. Francis and leased it to Paramount Publix, who indicate that a modern new theater building will be erected on the site. is looking after his adopted baby, pushing the sleeping child around in a carriage, and he destroys everything he comes across that makes any noise likely to wake the kid, who sleeps on while skyscrapers fall but finally wakes at the drop of a safety pin. "Goofytone Newsreef No. 3 Universal 10 mins. Good Fun Such items as prosperity, the gold standard, the classic "Belmont Downs" race, an interview with a famous botanist, and a heart balm litigant are cleverly spoofed. The reel is smartly conceived, splendidly executed and funny. "Little Jack Little" (Pepper Pot Series) Vitaphone 9 mins. Song Repertory Seven numbers written by Little are plugged in this one. The frontispiece of each song sheet is shown with Little interposed in a small frame. Action and additional melody are added by Lester Cole, Gloria Taimer, George Taps, Virginia McMaughton and Vercell and Sinnott. Because of the diversification oi song numbers and a few scenic shots, the reel should provide satisfactory entertainment. A LITTLE from "LOTS" By RALPH WILK HOLLYWOOD WALTER CONNOLLY has been signed to play the famous Oriental detective, Charlie Chan, in the next Fox productions dealing with his adventures. Screen play is being written by Seton I. Miller and it will be produced by John Stone. * * * Dore Schary, author of the original screen story from which Monogram's "He Couldn't Take It" was made, has been engaged to write the continuity for Columbia's "Hell Cat." * * * Warner's "A Gentleman from San Francisco" unit leaves today for San Francisco to make location scenes. William Dieterle is directing. Cast includes Bette Davis, Pat O'Brien, Margaret Lindsay, Lyle Talbot, Hugh Herbert, Henry O'Neill, Douglas Dumbrille and others. This is the production formerly known as "Golden Gate." Notes from the RKO lot: Ginger Rogers assigned by Lou Brock opposite William Gargan in "Blarney Smith," with Jane Murfin writing it . . . J. Walter Ruben will direct Clive Brook in "Family Man" . . . Richard Dix and Irene Dunne to costar in "Stingaree" . . . Ralph Spence doing screen play for Jimmy Durante's "Strictly Dynamite" . . . Bruce Cabot, Beulah Bondi, Howard Wilson, Helen Freeman and Sarah Hayden added to "Finishing School" . . . Will Jason and Val Burton to do the music for "Frat Heats," N-E-W-S OF THE D-A-Y Kansas City — Rumor has it that Bill Ranke and Jack Truitt are interested in the proposed reopening of the Pantages theater. Clementon, N. J. — Full week showings have been inaugurated by Warners at the Clementon theater. Kansas City — Double features at 15 cents have gone over so well at the Royal that George Baker has decided to retain the policy, which was put in as an experiment. Woonsocket, R. I. — Frank Murphy, chief usher at the Brockton (Mass.) theater, has been transferred to the Stadium here as house manager. Ben Greenberg is managing director. Boston — Joseph Schmu^k has been appointed New Hampshi and Vermont sales representatn for First Division by Manager Can Crawford. Kansas City — Jay Means is installing new RCA Victor High Fidelity sound equipment in his Bag dad. The Circle, Sioux City, la., and the Egyptian, Denver, also have put in High Fidelity. Madera, Cal.— Safe of the Madera was cracked the other day and taken. Grass Valley, Cal. — Legion theater has been sold to William Esterly by J. E. Ricard and L. A. Bart lett. Reno, Nev. — The Reno theater, recently damaged by fire, has been reopened by Sol Lachman. San Jose, Cal. — Hester Theater Corp. has discontinued the Willow Glen theater, Willow Glen. Providence — Abraham E. Kroll has been installed as president of Local No. 23, I. A. T. S. E., with Ralph P. McDermott, vice-president; Fred W. Newcomb, recording secretary; Frank H. Walker, financial secretary and treasurer, and Joseph A. Prew, business agent. Wheeler-Woolsey picture . . . "Of Human Bondage," with Leslie Howard and Irene Dunne, goes to work Feb. 10 . . . Dolores Del Rio, on her return from New York this week, starts work in "Green Mansions" . . . George Nicholls back from New York with exteriors for "Finishing School." In a last-minute switch, Trem Carr is starting "House of Doom" instead of "Numbers of Monte Carlo" as the next Monogram production. William Nigh will direct. Lou Ostrow is preparing to film "City Limits," starring Ray Walker. * * * A number of players have been added to "The Countess of Monte Cristo," in production at Universal Pictures under the direction of Karl Freund. Stanley Bergerman, associate producer, announced the inclusion of Paul Page, Carmel Myers, Frank Reicher, Richard Tucker Matthew Betz, Dewey Robinson, Rollo Lloyd and Harvey Clarke. Frank Morgan is appearing in Columbia's "Sisters Under the Skin," Jo Swerling story, being directed by David Burton. Elissa Landi and Joseph Schildkraut head the cast. * * * Jack La Rue and Thelma Todd have been signed to head the cast in "Take the Stand," Liberty Special, new in production at the Pathe studios under the direction of Phil Rosen. In support of the leads will be Gail Patrick, Russell Hopton, Paul Hurst, Berton Churchill, Leslie Fenton, Vince Barnett, Bradley Page, Jason Robards, Sheila Terry, Arnold Gray, DeWitt Jennings, Edward Kane, Bryant Washburn, Oscar Apfel, Richard Tucker, Edward Le Saint, Al Hill, Judith Vosselli. Verree Teasdale has been placed under long term contract by Warners. $ sfc ^ Francis X. Bushman, Jr., is an addition to the cast of M-G-M's "Viva Villa." * * * Joe E. Brown's next First National picture will be "Sawdust," by Eert Kalmar and Harry Ruby. * * * Paramount has changed the title of "Baby in the Ice Box," Charles R. Rogers production, to "She Made Her Bed." * * * Leon Errol has been assigned by Paramount to "We're Not Dressing." Adults Like Laurel-Hardy Fifty-nine per cent of the LaurelHardy fans are adults, according to a Hal Roach analysis of fan mail reaching his office. Sexes are evenly divided in the correspondents. " ' .ulu. ,,. 5=B