The Film Daily (1940)

Tuesday, January 16, 1940 THE< DAILY STEFFES SAYS N. W. TRUST SUIT LOOMING {Continued from Page 1) Steffes said, adding that the situation had been placed before the sales inar.'i^rs. 1 Sw./es is here en route to Washngton to attend the annual Allied >oard meeting. Also here and Washngton-bound are Benny Berger, Minneapolis; Jack Kirsch, Illinois Allied eader, and Ray Branch, president >f Michigan Allied. 'Rebecca" for Music Hall David 0. Selznick's "Rebecca," "oased on the Daphne Du Maurier lovel, will move into the Radio City Music Hall in late February, in the immediate wake of engagements ;here of M-G-M's "The Shop Around ;he Corner" and RKO's "Swiss Family Robinson." Both of the latter oix are penciled-in for multiple week howings. | $172,446,000 AT &T Net AT&T yesterday reported 1939 iiet income of $172,446,000 equal to 59.23 a share on approximately 18,387,000 shares, as against $152,!l28,028, or $8.16 per share in 1938. Report figures for the month of December are partly estimated. The Ten Best of 1939 . . . three highly important conclusions (Continued from Page 1) that only three votes separated "Wuthering Heights" and "Dark Victory," finishing fourth and fifth; that a mere 10 votes separated "The Women," sixth of the "Ten Best," and the seventh, "The Wizard of Oz," and that three votes separated "Juarez" and "Stanley and Livingstone," the eighth and ninth selections, respectively. Further, "The Old Maid," completing the "Ten Best," had only a 13 vote-lead over "Stagecoach," first on the "FortyNiners" Honor Roll; that "Stagecoach" led "Young Mr. Lincoln" by a single vote, and that the order of finish of the others on the Honor Roll was by margins scanty indeed. * $ * * CECONDLY, critics and picture patrons these days are applying much the same yardstick ^ nationally to screen entertainment, witness the fact that the "Ten Best" coincided with the local poll consensus, although the order of finish varied to some extent. "Goodbye Mr. Chips" was the No. One film in 16 of 25 local polls reporting results. The higher level of criticism speaking eloquently for itself, it is only necessary to point out that it has brought along the screen's mass audience with it. Which, of course, is something for Hollywood to ponder as schedules for 1940-41 are drafted. As an interesting sidelight, there is the fact that "Goodbye Mr. Chips" also emerged as the outstanding film of the year in the North American Newspaper Alliance's poll of 100 Hollywood stars and featured players, "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" placing second, "Pygmalion," third, and "Wuthering Heights," fourth in that poll as well. Thus, the critics, the public and the players find themselves in agreement to an astonishing degree. # * * * THIRDLY, the enviable honor accorded Metro's British production, "Goodbye Mr. Chips," ■ the No. One picture of 1939. and the further selection of "Pygmalion," emphasize anew that the vast American film audience, the antithesis of provincial, is receptive to quality entertainment without due regard to its origin, "names" and the like. In this connection, it is proper to point out that the casts of both British productions largely embraced players unknown in the United States. Robert Donat and Leslie Howard, the exceptions, of course are no strangers to FILM DAILY "Ten Best" selections; the former was last represented in 1938 by "The Citadel," also produced in England, and the latter was in "Romeo and Juliet," one of the "Ten Best" of 1937. FINE ARTS SETS 17 OFFICES; TO ADD 8 (.Continued from Page 1) ton; Mae Vincent, booker, Cleveland; Cleve Adams, Chicago; Phil Monsky, Des Moines and Omaha; Ralph Peckham, Detroit; Had Hull, Indianapolis and Cincinnati; Sol Hankin, Kansas City; Eph Rosen, Minneapolis; Dick Perry, New York; Herb Given, Philadelphia; Max Shugold, Pittsburgh; Joseph Hartman, St. Louis; Joseph Kaliski, Washington; Bradley Fish, San Francisco. Personnel details for the branches in New Orleans, Dallas, Denver, Portland, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Atlanta and Buffalo will be announced before the end of the week. The Albany, New Haven and Milwaukee branches will be operated in conjunction with the offices in Buffalo, Boston and Chicago, respectively. Seven pictures are now ready for distribution and seven others will be delivered between Feb. 15 and Aug. 31. Next season's program will include 26 features and 16 westerns. Edwards said yesterday he already had received pledges of support from many exhibitors who were pleased with the Franklyn Warner pictures. Eastern headquarters will be set up at either the Paramount or RKO Bldg. Watch it Hit! Coming at you fast from WARNER BROS.