The Film Daily (1939)

Monday, March 6, 1939 15 S. American Market Increasing In Importance— Kent British production plans of 20thFox for the 1939-40 season call for at least 10 pictures, with a possibility that this figure may reach 13. Definitely scheduled for production are two pictures with Gracie Fields, S^wo with Annabella, and one to hree "Inspector Hornleigh" stories. "So This Is London," "Handley Cross," "Hangman's House," "Husbands Beware," "Old Folks At Home" and "The Dancers" are Dthers set by Robert T. Kane, English production head, for his program. 20th-Fox President To Go To Rio to Attend S. A. Sales Convention (Continued from Page 1) sur-~ving the entire Pan American tei -ry. He pointed out that with markets being curtailed throughout the world by restrictions and unfavorable exchange rates, it was to the interest of every large American company doing world-wide business to give the S. A. market increasing consideration. Kent said that the company planned to make 52 pictures on the domestic program for 1939-40 and expected this figure would be bolstered by about four productions from England which will be distributed here. He expects to return here the end of the month for a few days before going to Chicago for the national sales convention; returning here from Chicago, he will sail for Europe April 20, going from the European meetings to South America for the companv's first large-cale convention in that territory. Herman Wobber, general manager of distribution met Kent iln Chicago and they went directly to the Coast, arriving in L. A. this morning. Anti-Walkathon Measure In Nebraska Seen Passing Lincoln, Neb. — Nebraska's prooosed anti-walkathon bill, offered by 3en. Dick Johnson, was advanced from select file to final reading. Measure seems almost a cinch to oass. _ It is being backed by movie nen, in order to kill out any chances )f endurance shows in the state .vhich might compete with theaters ■)n a 24-hour basis. "400 Million" Ready "The 400 Million," new film depicting the life struggle of China, .vhich is based on a script by Dudey Nichols, is ready for release by History Today, Inc. Opera Interests Majors Dallas — Two major studios have hown interest in "Cynthia Parker," fulia Smith's Texas opera, which iad its premiere at North Texas ■State Teachers College, Denton. Reviews of nem nuns * SHORTS * "A Dream of Love" (A Musical) M-G-M 17 mins. Musical Romance An episode in the life of the composer, Franz Liszt, showing his early struggles teaching music in order to live and give him opportunity to work on his compositions. The romance of Liszt with Caroline, daughter of an aristocratic Hungarian who opposed the affair. The influence of this romance in inspiring his immortal "Dream of Love" is presented dramatically. The story was written and directed by James A. FitzPatrick. "High Peril" (Floyd Gibbons' "True Adventure") Vitaphone 12 mins. Plenty Thrilling A very thrilling yarn concerning a young man who is one of three men delegated to repair a smokestack on a very hot Summer's day. He becomes dizzy and the heat finally drives him temporarily insane. He is finally overcome by one of the other men, after the crazed man imperils their lives by throwing objects down at them as they work below on the scaffold. At the risk of his life, this man climbs up and grapples with the other, knocks him unconscious and thus saves the lives of all three. Gibbons presents the hero with the customary check, he of course being in the group to whom the adventure is related years after it happened. Directed by Joe Henabery. "The Magic Bean" (Walter Lantz Cartune) Universal 7!/2 mins. Mildly Amusing This is a travesty on "Jack and the Beanstalk," wherein Jack's well-known role is essayed by a small mouse. Latter sells the family cow for a handful of Mexican jumping beans; is upbraided by his mother, who, as in the fairy tale, tosses the medium of exchanges out the window; and a great beanstalk transports the mouse to fanciful realms in the sky. On a cloud island lives the giant, — in this instance a huge bloodthirsty cat. The latter's castle is invaded by the mouse who tries to make off with the hen that lays the golden eggs. Yarn ends on a silly angle. It's mildly amusing. "Snow Falls" RKO Pathe News 10 mins. Winter Sports Skiing, as exemplified by the experts in this new addition to the Sportscope series, is fascinating to watch, but there is an over-abundance of would-be comedy injected into the film by shots of numerous falls, which are not amusing to any great extent when you watch a good skiier deliberately fall down. The photographer is good and the shots of the Tyrolean Alps are magnificent to look at. Reel is instructive for the novice skiier and has thrills for the accomplished skiier as the experts do their stuff at breack-neck speed. Frederic Ullman, Jr. was the producer and Frank Donovan the supervisor. "The Story of Alfred Nobel" (Passing Parade) M-G-M 11 mins. Life Drama The career of Alfred Nobel, who invented dynamite as a constructive scientific force, and lived to see it diverted as a weapon of war to main and kill. The action of a mother whose son was mained in war in bringing the inventor to the bedside of the boy resulted in his realization of the terrible use to which his invention had been put. Thus came to be born the Nobel Awards, for the outstanding annual achievements in the cause of world peace. "Robin Hood Makes Good" (Merrie Melody) Vitaphone 7 mins. Funny Squirrels The adventures of three squirrels who find a book all about the career of Robin Hood. So they decide to emulate the ancient hero, and as merry outlaws of the woods start on adventure bent. A fox reads the book they have discarded, and starts to take advantage of their makebelieve game. He lures the two older squirrels into a log cabin, locks them in and prepares to make a nice meal. The younger squirrel rescues them and as his reward insists on being Robin Hood. "New Roadways" (Passing Parade) M-G-M 10 mins. Modern Science Interesting industrial discoveries very entertainingly presented, with commentary by John Nesbitt. The first treats of synthetic products developed from coal, glass, wood, etc. The next subject shows white mice being given psychological tests to show their memory capacity, in winding in and out of mazes of runways, tunnels and bridges to finally reach their objective — food. The final subject is plastic surgery as used in the physical and psychological development of man. "Bank Notes" (Mentone Brevity) Universal 19 '/i mins. Novel Entertainment Producer Milton Schwarzwald has VODE-VISION TO FIGHT MUSICIANS REJECTION Petition of Vode-Vision to Local 802, musicians union, and directly to the American Federation of Musicians, for the use of union musicians to make recordings, has been flatly rejected by both bodies, with V-V set to take court action this week. V-V attorneys will ask that Joseph N. Weber, AFM prexy, be restrained from preventing the use of AFM musicians by ordering them not to work for V-V. It will be claimed that Weber exceeds his constitutional rights in preventing the hiring of union musicians by V-V. fashioned here a swift-moving and novel two-reeler which starts out on the amusing note that if pix theaters go in for bank nights, banks might well adopt the same practice. Accordingly the action takes place in such a financial institution, with the president, Gus Van, acting as m.c. and warbling two songs to contribute to the gaiety. The other entertainment specialists are Minor & Root, skilled dancers; the Barton Harp Quintet; Bernice Parks, pop songstress; the Five Ames Sisters, acrobatic dancers; Ruth Daye, tap dancer; and, finally, a swell routine based on "Dance of the Wooden Soldiers" by the Three Wiles. It's all-around entertainment. Mechanix Illustrated No. 3 (The Color Parade) Vitaphone 10 mins. Lively Arts The manufacture of shotgun shells is followed through the various processes. Then the use of the shells by the skeeshooters, with none other than Grad Sears himself being featured as one of the champs. Looks like a plug for Sears' annual sales drive. The second subject shows the creation of artificial flowers from pulp, which bear a remarkable resemblance to real flowers. The final subject shows the processing of gold leaf, from gold ingots beaten till they are as thin as tissue. "Heroes At Leisure" (Pete Smith Specialty) M-G-M 10 mins. Undersea Excitement The adventures of a group of life guards of the California coast, who spend their winter in the South Sea islands. Here they manage to lead a very thrilling life and at the same time make enough to keep them till they return to their regular jobs. They are seen diving for undersea shell fish which they bring up from the bottom of the ocean and sell to visiting tourists and yachtsmen. They have some exciting undersea encounters, one with a giant octopus.