The Film Daily (1938)

DAILY Thursday, September 29, 1938 COUNSELS DISCUSS ANTI-TRUST CASE (Continued from Page 1) anti-trust division is directing the government's case. Questioned as to the progress of the talks, Donovan told The Film Daily that "there was nothing to get excited about. We are just quietly exchanging views at this stage. Nothing further will be given out tonight," he added. Invited to appear with Arnold was Paul Williams, in charge of the suit's court procedure. Others on the "guest list" were Austin C. Keough, Paramount's general counsel; J. Robert Rubin, general counsel for Loew's; Ralph Harris, John Kaskey and Attorney Shipman, associate counsels for 20th CenturyFox; William Mallard, RKO, and Robert Perkins, general counsel for Warner Bros. Prior to the meeting, Donovan said that no agenda had been laid down for discussion and indicated that the company counsels would await the pleasure of the Justice Department representatives. It was believed that the conferees would first thresh out the Justice Department's request for status quo in theater expansion while the present suit is pending and that the government's view on industry trade reform might then be sought. Colonel Donovan denied the report that Will Hays was attending the conference or would attend it later in the evening. Warner Defers Trip Abroad Pending Outcome in Europe (Continued from Page 1) to Europe until the situation is clarified. He had booked passage on the Normandie sailing yesterday. Warner stated in New York yesterday that he would remain here a week or 10 days and, if war clouds are lifted, will go abroad for his annual trip. Warner Bros., he said, has no definite plans regarding the safeguarding of its investments in Europe in the event of war, adding that the company was "just watching and waiting" developments. If he does not go to Europe, Warner will return directly to Hollywood. Coast Local Nominates West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — One hundred fortyone members of Local 37, IATSE, yesterday were nominated for the 19 places on the board of directors. Two hundred eighty names were placed on the ballots for the various offices and complete election returns are not expected to be available until today. Indications are that Lew C. G. Blix has been reelected as business representative. REVIEWS Of VIEW f ILmSfBALABAN AND griffis COAST TRIP DELAYED "Mr. Doodle Kicks Off" with Joe Penner, June Travis RKO Radio 75 mins. LAUGH SPECIAL WITH JOE PENNER SCORING STRONG IN GOOFY COLLEGE FOOTBALL ANTICS. Probably the goofiest of the college football screen riots to date, but unquestionably a howl. And as this one was made for laugh purposes only, it must be chalked up as a grand success. Joe Penner turns all the rules of football upside down and inside out, but he certainly has you laughing every time he pulls a boner, and that's all he does when he is on the gridiron. For number of laughs scored, this one tops any of his previous screen efforts, and stands among the leaders for laughs of any of the current feature comedies. Joe's dad is a graduate of Tech college where his son is enrolled, and wants his boy to go out for his football letter, because when he attended the college he was the football hero. But Joe likes checkers or some other nonstrenuous sport. He also has his own amateur orchestra. Dad tells the college prexy that he will give a big endowment if the coach will make a football hero out of his son. So they all go to work on the lad, but no dice. Finally the prexy calls upon his daughter (June Travis), one of the co-eds, to bring Joe around. Joe is nuts about her, and falls hard for the football lure to win her admiration and maybe love. Then begins a series of screamingly funny antics on Joe's part, as he turns college football inside out in an early season game, rolling up a big score for Tech on goofy plays that puzzle the other team. Then comes the big game of the season with the rival college that has always licked Tech. Joe goes in and loses play after play, but finally when June has the cheer section spell out that she loves Joe, he tears back into the game and rolls up the score to win by one point. One funny gag is that Joe has a psychosis that makes him go nuts and kick his feet high like a ballet dancer when they play "Pop Goes the Weasel." The girl has the band play this tune at the psychological moment, and Joe kicks the ball over the goal for the winning play. CAST: Joe Penner, June Travis, Richard Lane, Billy Gilbert, Ben Alexander, Alan Bruce, William Davidson, George Irving, Pierre Watkin, Frank M. Thomas, Wesley Barry, Bob Parrish, Steve Putnam, Jack Arnold, Bob Nash, Edward Arnold, Jr.; Bill Corson. CREDITS: Producer, Robert Sisk; Director, Leslie Goodwins; Author, Mark Kelly; Screenplay, Bert Granet. DIRECTION, Very Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Fine. Locals to Entertain Westchester's stage hands union, Local 366, and operators union, Local 650, jointly are sponsoring a dance and entertainment at County Center, White Plains, on Nov. 19. "Straight, Place and Show" with the Ritz Brothers, Richard Arlen, Ethel Merman 20th-Fox 66 mins. (HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW) PACKS HEAVY TOTAL OF LAUGHS WITH THE RITZ BROTHERS ENJOYING A FIELD DAY. This is the Ritz Brothers at their merriest and the result is a very heavy total of laughs. They employ many new antics and capers and enjoy a field day. David Butler's skillful direction provides a fast tempo and there is never a dull moment. His handling of the wrestling and steeplechase sequences which are uproariously funny is especially good. David Hempstead rates praise as associate producer. The material is refreshing and has been cleverly scenarized by M. M. Musselman and Allen Rivkin. Lew Brown, who supplied additional dialogue, together with Lew Pollack, wrote two catchy songs, "With You On My Mind" and "Why Not String Along With Me," sung effectively by Ethel Merman. Sid Kuller, Ray Golden and Jule Styne supplied special material for Ritz Brothers, which aided materially in the laugh score. Richard Arlen is in love with Phyllis Brooks, but she is so interested in her horse, Playboy, that he induces her to agree to turn over her horse to him if the animal fails to win a race in three months. Arlen gets Playboy at the end of that period and turns it over to the Ritz Brothers, who once played the horse as a longshot and won $3,000 on it. To raise money to enter Playboy in a $25,000 steeplechase race, Harry Ritz poses as an Indian wrestling champion, and with some special tricks, wins from Tiny Roebuck. Arlen, to prove his love for Phyllis, rides Playboy in the big event, while the Ritz Brothers, who learn that Ivan Lebedeff, Gregory Gaye, and Rafael Storm, crack Russian riders, plan to trick Arlen, keep the Russians out of the race and ride in their stead. With Harry Ritz' aid, Arlen rides to victory. CAST: The Ritz Brothers, Richard Arlen, Ethel Merman, Phyllis Brooks, George Barbier, Sidney Blackmer, Will Stanton, Ivan Lebedeff, Gregory Gaye, Rafael Storm, Stanley Fields, Tiny Roebuck, Ben Welden, Ed Gargan, Pat McKee. CREDITS: Darryl F. Zanuck in Charge of Production; Associate Producer, David Hempstead; Director, David Butler; Based on play by Damon Runyon and Irving Caesar; Screenplay, M. M. Musselman and Allen Rivkin; Additional dialog. Lew Brown; Cameraman, Ernest Palmer; Art Directors, Bernard Herzbrun, Lewis Creber; Editor, Irene Morra; Musical Director, Louis Silvers; Dances staged by Nicholas Castle and Geneva Sawyer; Lyrics and Music, Lew Brown and Lew Polliack; Special material by Sid Kuller, Ray Golden and Jule Styne. DIRECTION, Skillful. PHOTOGRAPHY, Very Good. Barney Balaban, president of Paramount, and Stanton Griffis, chairman of the executive committee, have postponed their trip to/1 2 Coast for their annual studio chc„<<up. They intended to leave tomorrow or Saturday, following the board meeting today, but because of the prevailing unrest in Europe they have delayed their departure until the situation becomes more settled. Meeting today is expected to be routine, although the foreign aspects of the company's business abroad probably will be discussed. Jules Levy to Chicago on RKO-Circuit Deals Jules Levy, general sales manager of RKO Radio Pictures left last night for Chicago in connection with negotiations for product deals with Balaban & Katz and the S & S Circuit. Just before his departure Levy closed a deal for RKO Radio's 193839 product to play over the Comerford Circuit of theaters in New York and Pennsylvania. More than 100 situations are included in this chain. Levy announced yesterday that this week's anniversary in tribute to Mickey Mouse and Walt Disney has resulted in the greatest day-andday representation for short subjects in the history of the industry. Every national key situation is playing a Disney this week and four thousand theaters in all will have played a Mickey Mouse or Silly Symphony comedy before the close of the week. 20th-Fox Completes Almost Half of New Season Lineup West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DALLY Hollywood — With 24 pictures completed, delivered or in the cutting rooms on next season's product lineup, 20th-Fox has finished approximately half of its full season's releases. By the middle of October it is expected that total will be increased to at least 33, as six more pictures are scheduled to be added to the three shooting now. Four Zanuck specials will go before the cameras shortly, it was learned. "Tailspin," "The Three Musketeers," "Thanks For Everything" and "Little Princess" are the pictures scheduled for early starting dates by Zanuck. Ahern in Fordham Post Maurice L. Ahern, formerly associated with 20th-Fox in the ad. and pub. department, has been appointed publicity director of Fordham University.