The Film Daily (1939)

"Thursday, July 13, 1939 iw DAILY Reasonable freedom ifor industry urged ii (Continued from Page 1) lio), the film industry's No. one ej nan struck out boldly for freedom o >f the screen, declaring, "If the mo ;ion picture had existed when the institution was written, it would i iave bep" surrounded by the same ij laf egua ^^ which were devised for a he pres^^nd speech." "This freedom, so utterly vital, lowever, is not a one-sided matter," lays continued. "It is as important ;o the people and the nation it erves as it is to art-industry itself. The freedom of the screen which ' hust be retained is not only the irop°r liberty of the creators but 'reedom to the universal public vhich they serve." Turning specifically to self-reguation Hays said pointedly: Of course, self-regulation of msiness is the American way. No >ne would suggest that legislation rield its power to interpose upon rasiness reasonable conditions, learly in the public interest. Busiless has progressed in spirit as well is method, in conscience as well as omplexity. "The American business man tolay is entitled, on the basis of his proved intelligence and recognition )f community interests, to reasonible freedom at the hands of Govjrnment — freedom to work out the problems that are equally germane ;o the legitimate successful operaion of business and to the welfare md prosperity of every working nan and every working man's famly. I urge that the method emoloyed shall be such as to cause the esult to coincide with the intent." The MPPDA, said Hays, "has oeen the instrument through wh'ch i great business became effect:vely onscious of public interest" and he added, "The organized industry undertook its job of self-government bv methods thoroughly American in character." Later, in elaboration, the MPPDA prexy affirmed: "The underlying philosophy of the ielf-regulation in the moton picture industry always has been and is based on developing the greatest measure of liberty for the public to choose its entertainment from the variety of themes posed by life or created by literature." Declaring that the industry proposes to protect "the liberty which self-regulation has brought to the screen," Hays acknowledged that "with every right there is a corresponding duty." "More thought about duties and less about rights might be good generally," he added, "We might well talk less today about rights and more about duties The mojtion picture art-industry, for its own welfare and for the maximum service it can thereby render, well intends to make its performances square with its privileges." reviews of new turns "Wyoming Outlaw" with John Wayne. Ray Corrigan, Raymond Hatton Republic 62 Mins. DISTINGUISHED BY FINE DRAMATIC PERFORMANCE OF DONALD BARRY AS THE OUTLAW. The Three Mesquiteers are secondary to Donald Birry, who plays the part of the outlaw. This young actor, who has appeared in four productions this year, including "Calling Dr. Kildare," gives an impressive performance. He is very much on the style of John Garfield, but to this reviewer even more forceful and dominant in his dramatic moments. When the posse corners him in the hills, there are innumerable closeups of him that Drove him to be one of the real fin^s. Seldom has a western been graced with such a fine performance. The Mesauiteers have their share of honors, in a *ast-mov:ng story crowded with l:ve incident The:r efforts are centered in show:ng uo a crooked local politician who has been sellin? state and federal jobs on road work to the imooverished ranchers. The son of one of these is Barry, who, embittered at the outrages, turns against society. The incidents Darallel those of the late Wyoming outlaw who was featured on the front Dages, coming 'o town to rob a bank, and be:ng shot b" one of his boyhood pals. Th;s is also the finale of the current story. Only the outlaw uses the crooked politician as his shield, and both die. CAST: John Wayne. Ray Corrigan. Raymond Hitton, Donald Bsrrv. Adele Pearce, LeRoy Mason, Charles Midd'eton, Katherine Kenworthy, Elmo Lincoln Jack Ingram, David Sharpe, Jack Kenney, Yakima Canutt. CREDITS: Producer, Wlliam Berke; Director. George Sherman; Author, Jack Natteford; S'reenolay, Betty Burbridge, Jack Natteford: Ome'-aman, Reggie Lanning; Editor, T"nv Martinelli. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Fine. Pitts-Roth to Build Suffolk. Va.— Pitts-Roth Theater Corp. will start work here this week rn a 1.000-seat house that will incorporate every modern feature available for theaters. Theater will be air-conditioned and will have a 10 lane bowling alley in the basement. Two More Close In Detroit Detroit — Two mere downtown theaters h^ve closed — the Times Square and the National. National closing was expected, and house is slated to reopen in the Fall, but the Times Square, the subject of recent litigation, closed without warning. John S. Cooper Dead Pittsburgh — John S. Cooper, who recently disposed of his interest in the Strand Theater, St. Michaels Pa., to his partner, M. Younridge because of poor health, died at Mercy Hospital, Altoona. * fORCIGII * "Lenin in 1918" with Boris V. Schchukin, Nikolai Cherkassov Amkino 130 Mins. WELL PRESENTED STORY OF A TURBULENT RUSSIAN PERIOD. Gifted with a talented cast, this latest release from the Moscow studios carries on the Russian film makers' history of the great patriot of the USSR. The characterizations are sharply and skillfully delineated Hy the cast and able direction keeps the film interesting at all times. If any fault 'an be found with the film, it lies in the fact that the scenarists have gone so far out of their way in places to idolize Lenin that 'hey lose the dramatic trend of the story. The Russ fans will like this one very much. CAST: B. V. Schchukin. Nikolai Cherkassov, M. G. Gelovani, N. Bocrolyubov, V. M. Markov, Z. V. Dob:na, N. Okhlopkov, K. V. Korobova, V. V. Vanin, E. N. Muzil. CREDITS: Produced by Mosfilm; Director, M'khail Romm. Presented at the Cameo Theater with Russian dialogue and English titles. DIRECTION, Good. Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, "Kustens Gladct Kavaljerer" (The HaDpy Cavaliers) wfth Carl Barcklind, Inga Vetterlqnd Scandinavian Talk:ng Pictures 85 Min*. AMUSING COMEDY WITH SWEDISH cAVO-MTES WILL ENTERTAIN SCANDINAVIAN FANS. Broad humor is featured in this new Swedish comedy, and it has been projected -n the screen neatly. A cast of favorite Swedish actors will amuse the Nordic audiences no end as they pursue their merrv way through the film. En^Psh titles sun->lement the dialogue. The story concern* fwo bovs who are recruited under protest for naval traln:ng, and a grocer who is antimilitaristic. The end of the film finds the *rio converted as patriots, but not before 'he gamut of comic situations has been exhausted. CAST: Carl Barckl:nd, Inga Vetterlnnd, Fritiof Bi|lqu:st, Karin Ekkelund, Thor Modeen, Karl Holmsten, Ake Soderblom, Rut Holm, Sven Bergwall. CREDITS: Europa Film Production; Di-ector, Ra?nar Arvedson. Presented at the 48th St. Theater with Swedish dialogue and EnsH'sh titles. DIRECTION, 0 K. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good Mrs. Jack Kirsch Hurt Chicago — Mrs. Jack Kirsch. wife of the prexy of Illinois Allied, is reported resting comfortably following injury in a motor crash near Michigan City. U. S. DISTRIBS. FIGHT SWISS QUOTA MEASURE (Continued from Page 1) establishment of the Swiss Film Chamber here on Oct. 27. last, which body was invested by the Department of the Interior with the right to issue film import permits, there have been periodic reports that ouota legislation might be enacted to reduce the number of Hollywood features, although U. S. pix are apnraised as indispensable to the Swiss market. Should the quota legislation materialize, it will be the eventual outgrowth of an existmg law emnowering the Government to establish imnort restrictions on various commodities, films included. Cheapening of South Amer. Money Upsetting Pix Market (Continued f'om Page 1) vice-president in charge of foreign sales, asserted that while conditions in these countries are generally good, an upsetting feature is cheapening of currencies, thus tending to nullify film revenue gains in terms of the American dollar. Two countries, — Mexico and Argentina,— Goodman said, are beset with certain important problems, and therefore must be set down as exceptions to the prevailing good conditions elsewhere. In Mexico, there has been a decline in the peso. This coupled with other political and economic problems, not the least of which is that if labor-industry relations, is retarding Mexican production, and consequently exhibition. Argentina presents a different story, Goodman asserted. The>-e, +he d;sturb;ng factors lie wi+hin th° film industvv structure. System of celling pictures appears faulty, °.dded to which th°re is a tendency to go in for multiple b^ls, utilizing as many as four pictures. Although there has been some falk of quota legislation in Argentina, there is l'ttle support for sn^h a measure. Production numerically, ^e added, has been growing, the predicted studio outmjt being set *>t 75 Poatures, although it is more likely fhat between 50 and 60 w1-ll emerge, which is, nevertheless, an actual ^ain over last year. Republic, Goodman added, is devoting a good deal of attent;on to expansion of its business in PanAmerica. Theater Supply Gain Seen Cincinnati — Herman Hunt, National Theater Supply, predicts 1939 third quarter business will show a considerable increase over last year, and also over the first and second quarters of this year. While business for the first auarter of 1939 fell off somewhat, the second quarter showed a substantial gain ovei lost year.