The Film Daily (1939)

12 1W DAILY Tuesday, August 29, 1939 «REVI€UJS» "The Women" (HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW) with Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, Rosalind Russell M-G-M 132 Mins. SMART, BRILLIANT PLAY BECOMES SURE-FIRE SCREEN FARE FINELY PRODUCED AND ACTED. Clare Boothe's famous play has been transferred to the screen with telling effect. It has lost none of its bite, smart dialogue or shrewd observations on the rivalries of members of the fair sex. It has been expertly directed by George Cukor, who blended the comedy, satire and pathos effectively. To Hunt Stromberg goes considerable credit as producer. Norma Shearer is fine as Mrs. Stephen Haines, whose pride loses her husband to Crystal Allen, a Fifth Avenue sales girl, a role excellently enacted by Joan Crawford. Rosalind Russell is a delight as a gossipy, inquisitive wife, who feels she has a stranglehold on her husband, only to lose him to a beautiful, smart showgirl, cleverly portrayed by Paulette Goddard. Phyllis Povah gives a splendid performance as a socialite eager to get the latest gossip. Joan Fontaine has never done better work than as a young wife, who goes to Reno, only to discover that she is madly in love with her husband and that he is eager to have her return. Mary Boland is a riot as a countess, who sheds her fourth husband, only to annex a singing cowboy as her fifth. Lucile Watson is a standout as the wise, old mother of Mrs. Haines, while Virginia Weidler does brilliant work as the daughter, who brings her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Haines, together after they have been divorced and Mr. Haines has married Crystal Allen. Marjorie Main gets much comedy out of her role and Dennie Moore is good as a manicurist, whose gossip starts much trouble. A fashion show, in Technicolor, is eye-filling and will be especially popular with femme fans. Anita Loos and Jane Murfin fashioned an amusing screenplay. Oliver T. Marsh and Joseph Ruttenberg furnished high-class photography. CAST: Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, Rosalind Russell, Mary Boland, Paulette Goddard, Phyllis Povah, Joan Fontaine, Virginia Weidler, Lucile Watson, Florence Nash, Muriel Hutchison, Esther Dale, Ann Morriss, Ruth Hussey, Dennie Moore, Mary Cecil, Mary Beth Hughes, Virginia Grey, Margaret Main, Cora Witherspoon, Hedda Hopper. CREDITS: Producer, Hunt Stromberg; Director, George Cukor; Based on the stage play by Clare Boothe; Screenplay, Anita Loos and Jane Murfin; Cameramen, Oliver T. Marsh and Joseph Ruttenberg; Art Director, Cedric Gibbons; Associate, Wade B. Rubotton; Editor, Robert J. Kerns; Musical Score, Edward Ward and David Snell; Recording Director, Douglas Shearer. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, A-l. Beery Prexy of Flat Light Chicago — Wallace Beery, on arriving here yesterday en route to Cleveland, announced his election as president of the Flat Light Screen Co., of Hollywood. Otto Engle has been named secretary of the company. WHO'S WHO IN HOLLYWOOD • • • Introducing Interesting Personalities: No. 214 • • • A LBERT RAY. Born in New Rochelle, N. Y. Attended Townsend Harris Hall and City College of New York. Spent summer vacations as a member of Vitagraph stock company, 14th Street in New York. Appeared with summer stock in Harlem Opera House, New York City, White Plains, N. Y., and Florida. Directed short subjects for Pathe in the East. Came to Hollywood in 1915 and directed Ben Turpin for Vogue Film Company. Directed Sunshine Comedies for Fox. Played opposite Ruth Clifford and Mildred Harris at Universal. Co-starred with Eleanore Fair at Fox. First directorial feature was "Scrap Iron" starring Charlie Ray for First National. Directed nine features starring Ray. Returned to Fox and directed "Helen and Warren" series. Made 19 features for Fox. Directed Slim Summerville at Universal. Directed for Warners and Paramount in the East. Directed "Molly and Me" co-starring Joe E. Brown and Belle Bennett, and "My Lady's Past." Directed at RKO, Columbia and 20th Century-Fox. Produced two features for Universal. Newspaper Critics Launch Own National Organization {Continued from Page 1) nearly 100 critics who had attended the world premiere of Universal's "The Under-Pup." Purpose of the organization, according to a prepared announcement, is to "elevate standards of criticism and comment on movies co-operate toward the advancement of the film department as an important factor in the American press, co-operate in every way for the betterment of the film industry." Harry Martin of the Memphis Commercial Appeal, was named temporary chairman and Buck Herzog of the Milwaukee Sentinel temporary secretary-treasurer. Keith Wilson of the Omaha World Herald and Merle Potter of the Minneapolis Tribune were elected to serve with Martin and Herzog as the planning committee. A national convention will be held, probably in February of each year, when the editors and critics will distribute their own awards for the best acting performances, best pictures, etc. Mono. Sets Circuit Deals Additional circuit deals for Monogram product are announced by George W. Weeks, general sales manager. Among the national chains which have closed commitments for the 1939-40 line-up are: The Interstate and Texas Consolidated Theaters, Atlanta; Cumberland Amusements, Tenn.; the Forkey Circuit, Mass.; John Keogh, Los Angeles; Baehr Bros., Minneapolis; and the Hall Industries, Inc., Dallas. Ingram to Castle Irvington, N. J. — Marty Ingram, formerly of the Ritz, Newark, has been made manager of the Castle. He starts his new assignment for Warner Bros, this week. New Newsreel Chain Opens First Unit in S. F. Sept. 2 (Continued from Page 1) to the building at 928 Market St. Local and world events, edited from the five international newsreel companies, M-G-M, 20th Century-Fox, RKO-Pathe, Universal and Paramount, will be featured in nine daily shows of a little over an hour in length. Arrangements have been made to fly latest newsreels here by plane. The Telenews is small (400 seating capacity), but luxurious with streamlined orchestra chairs; a downstairs recreation and lounge room equipped with music, newspapers and easy chairs. Ellis Levy is the manager, and Albert S. Roller architect of the new theater. The Telenews is the first unit in a chain, capitalized in the millions, planned to expand all over the west. Herbert Scheftel is president of the company; Edward Reeves, vicepresident; Alfred Burger, secretary; and Paul Warburg, W. French Githens, and Angier Biddle Duke, are directors. Oklahoma Allied to Launch First Conclave Sept. 26-27 (Continued from Page 1) tel in Oklahoma City named as convention headquarters. The buying pool plan which received much discussion here a few months ago will be brought before the convention, Orville Von Gulker chairman of the organizing committee of Allied has announced. A constitution for the organization will be presented and adopted, Von Gulker also stated. A number of national speakers are being sought to address the convention on legislation, monopolistic practices and similar subjects, Von Gulker also stated following a meeting here of the organization committee which drafted preliminary plans for the meet. NEBRASKA'S FALL BIZ DEPENDS ON ITS CROPS (Continued from Page 1) good generally. And the film prospect, along with everything else and twice as sensitively, depends-* on a happy agricultural situation^ >re. Nebraska's major keys have seen transfusion into their ebbing business bloodstream via the rip-roaring historicals, the family pictures, and the better comedies during 1939. The small priced, and low budget action pictures, be they westerns or otherwise, have seen a tough year, probably because their clientele has been hardest hit financially. In this bracket, Gene Autry 'is the sole exception. In the past, Nebraska's legal battery in the attorney general's office has popped Bank Night, Bingo, Job Night, and made widely interpreted rulings on the state's stringent lottery law. Giveaways of all kinds, and for any reason, are frowned upon. The state seems determined, whether the film business has faith in its ability to do so or not, to make it stand on its own feet. Currently, a new stunt is being tried, called "Check Night," but it's being watched and may be in the news soon. Legislatively, 1939 was a good year. All bills aimed in detrimental vein at the industry were pocketed, but one which would have helped, the one making it illegal for operation of free shows as a merchant come-on in small towns, was killed, which was a blow to the small showman. In Nebraska, this has been a great year for the family films of the better type, especially the series kind. Mickey Rooney came around just often enongh for the exhib to lift off the ledgered red, and use black ink for a change. Had it not been that this area was four times in a year the target of junketed premieres — "Boys' Town," Omaha; "Dodge City," Dodge City, Kan.; "Union Pacific," Omaha; and "Career," Des Moines, la. — it might have been worse. Nebraska has been made keenly aware of the movie business again. Robinson Bros, to Reopen Madison Theater, Detroit Detroit — Arthur Robinson, of the Robinson Brothers Circuit, will reopen the Madison Theater, downtown house, on September 15, after remodeling, including reseating, and installation of new booth •equipment. House has been closed a year. It was formerly a first-run, and head quarters of United Detroit Theaters until a year ago. ... Balcony will not be used, reducing seating to 1,000. Policy for the house has not been determined, but it will be booked independently of any existing combine, Robinson said.