The Film Daily (1934)

jan ° 6 mi 1 nti mate in International Independent Ch in in a racter Scope Thought The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Now Sixteen Years Old VOL. LXV. NO. 21 NEW yOEK, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2<5, 1934 <5 CCNII Government to Defend Code Authority in Test Case NEW NRAMANUALTO SPEEDACTION ON COMPLAINTS Paramount Set for 1934-35 Stride With 60 Features Good Signs . . along the film highway By DON CARLE GILLETTE — TEACHING of motion picture apprecia' tion in schools, colleges, civic forums, etc., is developing a momentum that bids fair to have far-reaching, beneficial results. Scattered institutions of varying importance have been doing work of this kind for some years, but it is just lately that the realm of higher learning, such as New York University, took definite steps to include a cinema course in its academic program. It is a significant step, not only because it means recognition of the movies by classes which long have held themselves aloof from it, but also because this kind of education, instead of continual slamming and fault-finding, is the right avenue of approach by those who are interested in making the screen better. A NOTHER good sign of the times is the ** sudden increase in the number of matinees for kids being given around the country, usually on Saturday mornings, and in many cases at an admission price as high as 25 cents! The interesting angle here is that practically all of these programs are composed of animated cartoon comedies, or cartoons and other shorts. Impetus behind this turn of events, as anyone might guess, was "Three Little Pigs" and other creations of the Walt Disney shops. Which goes to show what a succession of beneficial results can come from a little seven-minute cartoon comedy. THIS flocking of youngsters to perform' ances designed particularly for them, incidentally, brings up once more the point that sooner or later producers must make a certain number of pictures for each of various classes of audiences. It is taking the studios a long time to realize that every picture can't be made to appeal to every age and every turn of mind, but there is no reason to lose all hope that they will eventually wake up. Decentralized Theater Setup Planned as Permanent By ARTHUR W. EDDY With a program of 60 features scheduled for the 1934-35 season, and with 14 of the "ace" showmen in the country among its partners, Paramount is now definitely set to continue its work of rehabilitation with a spirit of utmost confidence. Under the guidance of Adolph Zukor as president, George J. Schaefer as general manager and other able ex (Continued on Page 6) 52 FEATURES SLATED BY COLUMBIA FOR '35 Columbia's program for 1934-35 will comprise approximately 52 features, the same as this season's quota. Jack Cohn, who is now en route to the Coast, will confer with Harry Cohn on matters in connection with the schedule. Didn't Intend 10% Clause To Disturb Existing Deals Hullabaloo raised in certain quarters over a reported demand that the 10 per cent cancellation clause in the code be made retroactive as of the effective date of the code drew state(Continued on Page 6) Seek End of Virginia Censors Richmond — A bill to abolish the state censorship division has been introduced in the legislature by Representative A. E. S. Stephens. Wilbur C. Hall, chairman of the House finance committee, has announced he will move to strike out of the state budget "all provisions for the State Division of Motion Picture Censorship." BIG EXPANSION SEEN IN INDUSTRIAL FILMS A great extension in the use of talking pictures by industrial companies in the year ahead is predicted by W. A. Bach, president of Audo Productions, Inc. "Under the NRA, merchandising becomes of extreme importance as costs are up and unfair competition is gradually being eliminated," says Bach. "Sales and dealer training is being eliminated. Sales and dealer training is also of greater impor(Continued on Page 8) Code Authority Names Vaudeville Committee A Code Authority committee appointed yesterday by R. H. Cochrane to investigate vaudeville provisons of the code will meet at 2 p.m. today at the Hotel Astor. The committee consists of: E. A. Schiller, (Continued on Page 6) Defense of C. A. Test Case Being Undertaken by Gov 't Dermody Officially Named *U' New England Manager J. F. Dermody, for some time acting New England district manager for Universal, has been officially named to the post by James R. Grainger, distribution chief. Dermody's headquarters will be in Boston. The Federal Government, through the NRA, will undertake the defense of members of the Code Authority in connection with the test case filed in behalf of Allied seeking to "enjoin the body from refusing qualified assents to the code. Suit is pending in the U. S. District Court, New York. As answers to the complaint (Continued on Page 8) Independents Are Assured Fair Hearing in Code Controversies Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Small independents are assured a fair hearing of their complaints according to the rules contained in a newly issued NRA manual designed to expedite the handling of code disputes. The manual is for the guidance of all code authorities and for the newly appointed state directors. New rulos on the handling of complaints provide three avenues to insure official review of charges and to expedite action. The manual declares that even where a code authority or other industrial agency has been authorized to handle complaints, the complainant can insist (Continued on Page 6) ROSENBLATT, ZANUCK TALK ON STAR RAIDS By RALPH WILK FILM DAILY Staff Correspondent Hollywood — Division Administrator Sol A. Rosenblatt held a conference yesterday with Darryl F. Zanuck, production chief of 20th Century. Rosenblatt did not broach' the question of star raiding with the producer, but the latter finally brought up the question himself. (Continued on Page 8) Wilby Signs With Union At Higher Wage Scale Birmingham — In signing contracts with Wilby houses to run for another year, the operators' union obtained restoration of the wage cuts made during the bank holiday and also received some increases. From Negative to Positive RKO Radio Pictures has changed the title of "So You Won't Sing, Eh?" to "Sing and Like It."