The Film Daily (1939)

UA COUNTERBLAST TO INTERROGATORY (.Continued from Page 1) ent facts of specific Government charges. Each of the 38 questions provided that if the Government intended to prove a charge as an "ultimate conclusion to be drawn from other fr " then the names of persons h\.mg knowledge of the relevent facts from which the conclusions would be drawn were demanded to be set forth. Interrogatories were confined to the exhibition and distribution fields solely and did not refer to production activities. The first few questions requested the names of witnesses with knowledge of monopoly activity as to quality feature pictures and the alleged exclusion of these pictures from first-run indie exhibitors and metropolitan theaters. Government was requested also to name witnesses who had knowledge of the contention that indies could only obtain first-run films at the sufference of producer-exhibitor defendants and subject to terms dictated by them. Second group of questions were concerned with charges that the defendants had divided territory into given areas and had excluded competition in those areas under a definite scheme and system of franchises, contracts and agreements. Each question required the listing of witnesses who had knowledge of this common plan. The interrogatories also concentrated on charges of favoritism to affiliates and asked for names of witnesses to such Government assertions as that UA makes its product available first to affiliates; that indies are systematically relegated to secondary positions as to firstrun pictures, regardless of price offered or the reputation of the the■ fci ; and, finally, the right to pro' are quality pictures. Concluding interrogatories covered horoughly the Government charges chat UA had imposed harsh, onerous and unfair trade practices on indie exhibitors. UA asked that the Government list its witnesses to the following alleged practices: compulsory block-booking; favoritism to affiliates in giving them exhibition contracts on a selective basis and allowing over-buying; forcing of shorts and newsreels; arbitrary designations of playdates; unreasonable clearance and zoning schedules; unconscionable film rentals; prohibition of double features; score charges; minimum admission prices; and, finally, harsh and unreasonable terms to subsequent-run exhibitors. In reference to harsh practices, UA demanded that the Government name its witnesses to alleged favors and advantages extended to affiliates such as alterations in contracts, privilege of over-age and under-age cancellation of shorts, moveovers, and the allowing to exhibitors of the exhibition of pictures by affiliates without a binding agreement. Reviews of new mms "Espionage Agent" with Joel McCrea, Brenda Marshall, Jeffrey Lynn, George Bancroft Warners 83 Mins. SUSPENSEFUL SPY MELLER SOUNDS KEYNOTE FOR AMERICAN PREPAREDNESS. Packed with action and suspense, and ably projected to the screen by a fine cast, this new Warner film should definitely appeal to audiences in general. It is particularly timely now. Although fictional, this picture emphatically points out a lesson learned during the last war, that this country was not prepared for what happened at that time. The cast, headed by Joel McCrea and Brenda Marshall, is fine. George Bancroft, Jeffrey Lynn, Stanley Ridges, James Stephenson, Robert 0. Davis and a number of other equally capable performers support the principals. Lloyd Bacon has directed the film deftly, building up the suspense with perfect timing. McCrea, an attache in a North African city, meets Brenda when she staggers into the Consulate and faints after crossing the line between two warring countries. McCrea sails for home and Brenda sails on the same boat. Shortly after he returns to his family's home in Washington they get married, and he is assigned to a new post. However, Brenda's past catches up with her and she confesses to her husband that she nad formerly done some espionage work for a European nation when she was broke and desperate. McCrea is cashiered by the State department, but he is determined to uncover the danger of spies in this country. He and Brenda go to Europe and travel to Switzerland where the head of the spy ring operates. Brenda regains their confidence and starts to work for the spy ring again. However, the critical European situation makes the departure of the spy ring imminent and McCrea must get his information before they get out of the country. Action aplenty brings about a dramatic climax which results in McCrea's securing enough evidence to impress the government with the necessity of providing an adequate number of counter-espionage agents to protect the United States. The picture is provided with a prologue in montage form which recalls the sabotage done in this country in the last war as an object lesson of what will happen again unless the spies are stamped out. CAST: Joel McCrea, Brenda Marshall, George Bancroft, Jeffrey Lynn, Stanley Ridges, James Stephenson, Howard Hickman, Martin Kosleck, Nana Bryant, Robert 0. Davis, Hans von Twardowsky, Lucien Prival, Addison Richards, Edwin Stanley, Egon Brecher. CREDITS: Associate Producer, Louis F. Edelman; Director, Lloyd Bacon; Screenplay, Warren Duff, Michael Fessier and Frank Donoghue; Original Story, R. H. Buckner; Cameraman, Charles Rosher; Editor, Ralph Dawson. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. Rep. Sells Great States Chicago — Republic Pictures has closed a product deal with Great States circuit. President James R. Grainger was here over the weekend. "Torchy Plays With Dynamite" with Jane Wyman, Allen Jenkins, Tom Kennedy Warners 59 Mins. FAST-MOVING STORY MAKES THIS BEST OF WELL-KNOWN CRIME SERIES. The fans who have been waiting for another Torchy release will be pleased with this one. The story is good, it moves rapidly, and Jane Wyman and Allen Jenkins, who have taken over the familiar roles played for some time by Glenda Farrell and Barton McLane, are adequate replacements. Tom Kennedy provides his humorous self once again as an adjunct to the film and a number of other capable players bolster the cast. Jane is pinched for speeding. Before she is gotten out of jail by Lieutenant Jenkins she meets another girl who is a friend of a bandit the police are looking for. Jane engineers an escape from jail in order to get a line on the bandit. She and her new-found girl friend who believes that Jane is really trying to help her, head for the city where the escaped bandit is hiding after their jail break. Jenkins and Kennedy fly there in order to be on the scene. Action comes fast and furiously after the crook realizes that he is being trapped, but Jenkins and Kennedy save the day and Jane gets her story. Exhibitors have plenty of exploitation possibilities with this film. New faces, new scenes and new action can be sold to the fans. CAST: Jane Wyman, Allen Jenkins, Tom Kennedy, Sheila Bromley, Joe Cunningham, Eddie Marr, Edgar Deering, Frank Shannon, Bruce McFarlane, George Lloyd, Aldrich Bowker, John Ridgely, Larry Williams, John Harmon, Cliff Clark, Nat Carr. CREDITS: Warner Production; Director, Noel Smith; Screenplay, Earle Snell and Charles Belden; Original Story, Scott Littleton; Cameraman, Arthur L. Todd', Editor, Harold McLernon. DIRECTION, Fast. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. GARL LAEMMLE DIES FROM HEART ATTACK USTG Demands Election Be Voided by the NLRB (Continued from Page 1) tion has been filed with the board by the United Studio Technicians Guild, ClO-backed. Attorney Charles Katz, representing the USTG, was instructed by the board to present evidence and support of his charges that workers that who preferred Guild representation in bargaining with producers, were threatened with blacklisting unless they voted in favor of the IA. That the protest might be essentially routine, however, was indicated by the fact that the USTG gave up its Cosmos St. headquarters Saturday. Floyd Gibbons Dead at 52 Stroudsburg, Pa. — Floyd Gibbons, 52, starred by Warners in several series of Headline Hunter shorts, war correspondent and radio commentator, died at his Saylorsburg farm home yesterday from a heart attack. (Continued from Page 1) Laemmle suffered three heart attacks in succession, the last proving fatal. At his bedside when death came were two physicians and his daughter, Mrs. Stanley Bergerman. Other survivors include his son, Carl, Jr., former head of Universal studios; two brothers, Sigfried and Louis, and two grandchildren. His wife predeceased in 1918. Although he had retired from the production side of the business, Laemmle recently was active in the importation of foreign pictures. He also contributed financially and actively in efforts to get refugees out of Germany. Laemmle started his career in the film industry in 1^06 after a moderately successful" period in the clothing business. He had come over from Germany when he was 17 years old and had held various types of jobs in New York, Chicago and Oshkosh, Wis., when he saw his first moving picture and immediately realized its possibilities. His first theater in Chicago was expanded to include a dozen others and in 1909 he launched himself as a producer, making "Hiawatha" in a small studio in New York City. His fight against the General Film Co. and the Motion Picture Patents Co. won him the loyalty of exhibitors, like himself, who had been forced to accept General's terms. In 1912, Laemmle organized Universal Film Manufacturing Co., with the assistance of W. H. Swanson, P. A. Powers, Charles Baumann and others. Laemmle continued to be active in his company until March, 1936, when he retired. In 1929 he had made Carl, Jr., head of production. According to reports, Laemmle sold his interest in the company for $5,500,000 and then departed for his so-called "permanent vacation." Last year he went to Europe for the purpose of acquiring some French pictures for distribution in the U. S. but his enterprise did not take on important proportions. Longer Opening Period For London's West End London (By Cable)— Partial lifting of the 6 p.m. curfew now governing exhibition in the West End may materialize this week, it was indicated at the week-end. While the Home Office on Friday refused the trade's plea, voiced by a joint CEA-KRS deputation, for a general .extension of the operating hours, the CEA was asked to submit a new proposal. It was stated that the Home Office would be inclined to regard favorably a proposal for the operation of a certain number of West End houses until 10 p.m., the nationally observed closing hour. The new proposal will be submitted by the theaters this week.