The Film Daily (1940)

Wednesday, February 7, 1940 ARBIT'N DOUBTFUL (TILL EQUITY SUIT ENDS (Continued from Page 1) tors yesterday said that they did not believe settlement of controversies by -fcbitration would conflict with the Government action. W. F. Rodgers, key man in the code negotiations and spokesman for the distributors, said that Allied's bid for arbitration might be considered if, and when, Allied formally notified the distributors that arbitration was desired. To date, there has been no organized effort on the part of the distributors to take Allied's proposal under advisement. Court Absolves Theater in Ladies Room Hold-up (Continued from Page 1) for six years. Plaintiff was Cora L. Hart, of Brooklyn, victim of a robbery in a Times Square theater in February, 1934. The Appellate Division upheld a lower court's dismissal of Miss Hart's suit for $3,000 damages upon the ground that the motion picture house had no reason to anticipate the assault. "To assume that the presence of a matron in the ladies' room would have prevented the assault is merely to speculate upon the degree of criminality possessed by the thief," the court wrote. "Human experience proves that the presence of two or more women does not prevent a thief from plying his calling, nor protect from assault and injury one who courageously attempts resistance." The court added that the assault upon the plaintiff could not have been foreseen nor could it be said to be "the reasonable or probable consequence of the absence of a matron from the ladies' room or of an usher from that particular passageway." Counsel for the theater had argued that notice to "the defendant of the existence of danger is an essential to a finding of negligence on the part of the defendant." Farnsworth Demonstrates Mobile Tele in Boston Boston — Farnsworth mobile television demonstration unit has opened a week's demonstration here at the Jordan March store. Public reception of the demonstration has been exceptionally good and the unit will appear in a number of other New England cities through to March 20. PCC Meetings Closed fVest Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAI Li Hollywood — Delegates to the Pacific Coast Conference held two closed meetings yesterday, but no details regarding matters discussed will be given out until today. ^ REVIEWS Of THE I1EUJ flUIlS A "Married And In Love" with Alan Marshal, Barbara Read, Patric Knowles, Helen Vinson RKO Radio 59 Mins. SKILFULLY PRODUCED AND ACTED MARITAL DRAMA WHICH WILL ENTERTAIN MOST FANS. Thwarted love theme is developed in this story which tells of two romantic souls who passed up the opportunity to wed, and married other mates. Producer Robert Sisk has surcharged it with freshness, with the result that it becomes good entertainment. Outstanding virtue is the manner in which the story is recounted via the employment of "cut-back" sequences. The intrinsic lovers are Alan Marshal and Helen Vinson, both of whom turn in convincing dramatic performances, as do the other pair in the marital "mix-up," Patric Knowles and Barbara Read. The latter, through her understanding of, and devotion to, her husband, Alan Marshal, succeeds in saving their happiness, although in the climax action there is a serious threat to the permanency of their union. However both married couples survive the storm which breaks out in emotional fury when Marshal encounters in New York the alluring Helen Vinson, who was his really "great love" since their college days. Marshal's young wife, despite her own solidity of character and unaffected personality, appears to him a plain and unglamorous woman in comparison to his former flame. The film ends on a note of good morality and justice, and, despite the usual human wish that romance shall rule in life, audiences will subscribe whole-heartedly to matters as they stand at the finale. Direction and photography are well handled. CAST: Alan Marshal, Barbara Read, Patric Knowles, Helen Vinson, Hattie Noel, Frank Faylen, Carlo Hughes. CREDITS: Producer, Robert Sisk; Director, John Farrow; Story and Screenplay, S. K. Laurent; Production Executive, Lee Marcus; Music Score, Arthur Lange; Cameraman, J. Roy Hunt; Art Director, Van Nest Polglase; Art Associate, Albert d'Agostino; Gowns, Renie; Recording Engineer, Hugh McDowell, Jr.; Editor, Harry Marker. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. McLaughlin Rites Today Pittsburgh — L. Claire McLaughlin, 67, who was a local theatrical booking agent for 35 years, died following a stroke. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Margaret Bendle McLaughlin, a daughter, Mrs. Raymond A. Turpen, and three granchildren. Funeral services will be held today at the home of his nephew, George H. Stitz, in Etna, Pa. J. P. Ronan Recovering Chicago — Thomas P. Ronan, district manager for Great States circuit at Danville, is recovering from injuries, sustained in an automobile accident. "Business Pulse of the Nation" Emerson Yorke 22 Mins. Grand Two-Reeler Skillfully and interestingly presenting a wide variety of the activities of Government bureaus, this short, produced by Emerson Yorke for the U. S. Golden Gate International Exposition Commission, has intense audience appeal, and, therefore, is a "natural" for both theatrical and non-theatrical outlets. The third of a series of informative tab productions, it recounts with sure showmanship, accuracy and eye to romantic values the functional duties of Marine Inspection and Navigation, Coast and Geodetic Survey, Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, Bureau of Census, Bureau of Standards, Patent Office, Bureau of Lighthouses and the Bureau of Fisheries. The latter two agencies are depicted, although under the recent Governmental Reorganization Plan they were transferred from the U. S. Dept. of Commerce to the U. S. Treasury Dept. and the U. S. Dept. of the Interior, respectively. Material for this short has been selected with astonishing deftness, — and a contributing factor is that the liaison officer twixt Producer Yorke and the Government was Nathan D. Golden, chief of the Motion Picture Division of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce. Golden's expert knowledge of his own official sphere has been coupled with his immense conversance with technical aspects of film-making, notably, in this instance, "scene suitability." The result is footage packed with the sort of sequences the American people should, and will like to, see. Yorke produced, directed, — and also penned the narration which is delivered excellently by Alois Havrilla. Cinematography by Edward J. Horton is tip-top, as is the music rendered by the U. S. Marine Band Symphony Orchestra under the baton of William F. Santlemann. Contractors for the production were Louks and Norling Studios. This is an "ace" two-reeler which adds to Yorke's already high industry prestige. "Sugar Wind" Paramount 10 mins. Good Travelogue Camera tour of the island of Barbados presented by Paramount in this reel will prove of interest. Although the island lies in the Caribbean and has an interesting history, it is not a widely known place. Reel shows how the principal industry of the island, grinding of sugar cane, is still carried on with the primitive wind mill method. Rhythmic Negro songs provide a musical background. * fOREIGR * "Skeleton On Horseback" (Czechoslovakian dialogue, English titles) Mike Mindlin 78 Mins. DAILY NEWS: Picture eloquently makes plea for peace, and is presented interestingly and acted with sincerity. HERALD TRIBUNE: Film is an enduring and prophetic indicator of the miseries now loose in the world. Acting is exemplary and direction masterly. NEW YORK TIMES: Story is one which must wring a sympathetic response from every opponent of fascism and mass brutality. CREDITS: Produced by Moldavia Films; Director, Hugo Haas. PLAYERS: Hugo Haas, Zdanek Stepanek, Bedrich Karen. "Louise" (French dialogue, English titles) Mayer and Burstyn 72 Mins. NEW YORK TIMES: Thanks to a plot which is quaintly old fashioned, and the singing of Grace Moore, film achieves moments of charm. HERALD TRIBUNE: Fine voices of Miss Moore, Georges Thill and Andre Fernet can't be denied. DAILY NEWS: Picture marks another triumph for Grace Moore. CREDITS: Produced by Societe Parisienne de Production de Films; Director, Abel Gance. PLAYERS: Grace Moore, Georges Thill, Andre Pernet. 'Ultimatum' (French dialogue, English titles) Hoffberg Production 76 Mins. New York Press Comment: NEW YORK TIMES: Vivid, naturalistic account of a war of nerves. HERALD TRIBUNE: Gallic importation has had a distinguished collaboration. DAILY NEWS: Eloquent document imbued with tensity. CREDITS: Produced by Forrester-Parant Pictures; Director, Robert Wiene. PLAYERS: Dita Parlo, Eric von Stroheim, Bernard Lancret. "Kalle Paa Spaangen" (Swedish dialogue, English titles) Scandinavian Talking Pictures 94 Mins. HERALD TRIBUNE: Delightful and tuneful importation from Scandinavia. NEW YORK TIMES: Edward Persson amuses Swedish speaking patrons, and even those depending on English titles. CREDITS: Europa Film Production; Director, Emil A. Persson. PLAYERS: Edvard Persson, Bullan Weijden, Carl Strom.