The Film Daily (1940)

Thursday, February 1, 1940 3i{< DAILY CLEVELAND BIZ HIT 25 TO 33% BY BINGO (Continued from Page 1) effect of the games and in some cases are trying to combat the situation witT> various types of stimulants. Co.! H. A. Cole, Allied president, in commenting on the Cleveland situation said that theaters everywhere were partly responsible for Bingo competition, in that money games introduced in theaters aroused a gambling spirit and whetted the appetites of the patrons for more games of chance. He remarked that in many cases the exhibitors have only themselves to blame for the condition. Texas theaters, Cole said, do not have Bingo to contend with as it was outlawed several years ago. Wisconsin-Michigan Pact Ends Truck License "War" (Continued from Page 1) senger vehicles registered in either state, will be extended full privileges in the other state for 90 days. The agreement further provides that a private trucker operating his . own vehicle and hauling his own goods from one to the other will receive full license privilege in both states and that truckers mav not engage in intrastate transportation. N. Y. Assembly May Pass Brokers Measure Monday (Continued from Page 1) for passage Monday night. Secretary of State Michael F. Walsh is said to have no objection to passage of bill. Assemblyman Boccia yesterday hoppered a civil rights bill providing equal rights and privileges guaranteed to all persons as tenants or lessee or for use of public places of assembly. Clause is part of measure which generally would prohibit interference by municipalities or officials with distributing handbills, the picketing or patrolling of public streets, etc. Set Walt Disney Exhibit for Radio City's Museum Exhibit displaying detailed work done on "Pinocchio," Walt Disney's second full-length production which has its world premiere on Feb. 7 at the Center Theatre, Radio City, will be opened in the New York Museum of Science and Industry in Radio City. The showing is said to be the most complete exhibition of Walt Disney material ever assembled for public viewing. Following the tour, Walt Disney short subjects will be shown patrons in the museum's little theater. REVIEWS Of nEUI flLfltS "Swiss Family Robinson" with Thomas Mitchell, Edna Best, Tim Holt, Freddie Bartholomew RKO 93 Mins. PICTURIZATION OF FAMED ADVENTURE NOVEL IS ABLY CAST TO MAKE IT STRONG ATTRACTION FOR FAMILY TRADE. A cherished story, read by untold millions, this, the first production of Gene Towne and Graham Baker, is an appealing picture for the family trade and should click strongly. Different from the conventional Hollywood adventure romance, with marked human appeal, its adaptation to the screen by Towne, Baker and Walter Ferris is a genuine accomplishment. The script, despite departures from Wyss' classic, loses none of the heartening flavor of the classic. Incidentally, and importantly, exhibitors in the theme, not without a significant element of timeliness, have a definite selling angle. Thomas Mitchell is fine as the father of the Robinson family. Edna Best as the mother, and Tim Holt, Terry Kilburn, Freddie Bartholomew and Baby Bobby Quillan, as the sons, are all good. Edward Ludwig directed with sensitivity from a screenplay by Towne, Baker and Walter Ferris. The story concerns the deep rooted conviction of the head of the Robinson family, Mitchell, that his sons will never be worthwhile human beings in the glittering pleasure-mad London of 1811. Mitchell, despite protests from his entire family, sells everything he owns and the family sails for Australia. A storm washes the crew overboard and wrecks the brig. Mitchell manages to get the family to a nearby island on a raft and salvage enough essentials from the boat to make living comparatively easy. The story from there on tells of their hardships and triumphs, and the regeneration of the sons. Bartholomew and Holt leave reluctantly when a rescue ship finally appears. Miss Best elects to stay with Mitchell, realizing that life with him is more important than the comforts of English society. CAST: Thomas Mitchell, Edna Best, Freddie Bartholomew, Tim Holt, Terry Kilburn, Baby Bobby Quillan. CREDITS: Producers, Gene Towne and Graham Baker; Director, Edward Ludwig; Screenplay, Gene Towne, Graham Baker and Walter Ferris; Based on a novel by Johann David Wyss; Cameraman, Nicholas Musuraca; Editor, George Crone. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. GWTW Places Pittsburgh's Ritz in First-Run Category Pittsburgh — For the duration of the engagement of "Gone With the Wind" at the Warner Theater, Warners have converted the Ritz Theater in downtown Pittsburgh into a first-run house where they will play holdovers from Loew's Penn and the Stanley Theaters and pictures which ordinarily would play firstrun at the Warner. The Ritz, which seats 900, was just recently remodeled, renovated and refurnished. * SHORTS * "Information Please No. 5" RKO Pathe News 11 mins. Good Entertainment The popular experts of the Information Please radio show, Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran and Oscar Levant, are augmented by Christopher Morley in this reel. Clifton Fadiman is the master of ceremonies and questioner. The experts do extremely well with a number of very tricky questions in this reel. Short should be of interest to any type of audience. Only one question is muffed by the experts. Frederic Ullman, Jr., was the producer, with Frank Donovan supervising. 'Information Please No. 6" RKO Pathe News 10 mins. Entertaining Reel Former heavyweight champion Gene Tunney joins the Information Please experts in the sixth issue of the series. Incidentally, this issue is one of the best to date. Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran and Oscar PARA/S DOMESTIC SALES AT NEW HIGH (Continued from Page 1) two or more houses under the same management so that actually there are many more theaters served than the number of contracts indicate. Agnew estimates that the total number of contracts for the season will be approximately 12,350. Garrison Handling Short Two-reel short, "Men and Dust," produced by Lee Dick, Inc. will be released by Garrison Films Inc. about Feb. 15. A novelty sound track arrangement features four different commentators: Will Geer (the current Jeeter Lester in "Tobacco Road") ; Robert Porterfield, director of the Barter Theater; Eric Dalz; and Storrs Haynes, featured in Pare Lorentz' current production "Fight for Life." Levant are the other members of the board, with Clifton Fadiman the questioner. Questions that the experts wrestle with are tricky, and a number of amusing incidents occur. Frederic Ullman, Jr., produced and Frank Donovan supervised. K7YE02 m PICTURE EDMUND LOWE • ROSE HOBART JAMES STEPHENSON • WILLIAM DEMAREST ANDREW TOMBES • BEN WELDEN