The Film Daily (1941)

1W DAILY Wednesday, February 5, 191 Pascal lo Do Eight Shaw Plays as Films (Continued from Page 1) Shaw's "Major Barbara" which was produced under extremely trying conditions due to continual air raids. Picture, which is to be distributed by United Artists, will have its premiere, tentatively set for Radio City Music Hall, within two months. He then plans to return to England to start work on "The Doctor's Dilemma" if the war is still going on. If the war has ended, he will make the picture in Hollywood but he feels that his place is in England during the present crisis. "The Devil's Disciple" is another Shaw story on Pascal's schedule. Approximately six units are now in production in England, Pascal said, and a seventh is expected to start when David Rose, Paramount's managing director, arrives from the U. S. Rose is now en route to London. RKO, Warner Bros, and Anglo-American now have pictures in work. The American version of "Major Barbara," he said, would be slightly different from the one which will be seen in England due to stricter censorship on dialogue in this country, but there will be no difference in the story or theme. Pascal expressed some disappointment that a one-reel picture he made showing Shaw talking to the American people had not been shown on American screens. When told that Shaw's remarks might have been considered adverse propaganda, Pascal insisted that the reel was not propaganda and that he did not believe in propaganda on the screen. He said that some of Shaw's remarks early in the war may have been misinterpreted because of his unusual sense of humor and that it was Shaw's type of humor that was guiding England in carrying on the war with courage. Shaw, he said, was working on an original story with Panama as the background. Rep. Signs Peter Lorre Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Republic has signed Peter Lorre for the heavy in "Mr. District Attorney." Florence Rice has been set for the feminine lead. What? ]%o Cocktails? ? Miami Beach, Fla. — Paramount's Cinema Casino, managed by Jerry Shinbach, not only serves coffee (through the courtesy of a distributor) but also soda water (also through the courtesy of a distributor) in its lobby at a bar left over from the days when it was a night club. One theater here, the Lincoln, managed by Sonny Shepherd and operated by Wometco, serves its patrons demitasse in its lobby while they wait for pictures to break. Syracuse I v/n'f>s.' •• /Iff-oitf" Bingo War Brings Beports of Officiuls' Crackdown Syracuse, N. Y. — It's an "all-out" war here on the part of exhibs. operating rival Bingo setups. Three bally cars are touring the city night and day for the Riviera-Brighton, Ri vol iElks Temple and Cameo-Mayfair games. City officials are reported restive, and a crackdown is expected. One exhib. who reportedly sought to operate auxiliary games without benefit of films in a third theater ran up against a stone wall when he was advised that inasmuch as he had a theater license, he had better put on a show. Operators' union also stepped in, and the exhib. signed renewal contracts for all three houses. Sir Benjamin Fuller Starts Film Circuit Sydney (By Air Mail)— Sir Benjamin Puller, who recently abandoned his living stage interests, to start a film theater circuit, Fullers Theaters Pty. Ltd., has opened the first of his theater acquisitions with M-G-M and Paramount pictures. Theaters now under his control include the St. James (formerly the Apollo) and the Princess in Melbourne; His Majesty's in Perth; an unnamed theater in Sydney now being acquired. "The move I am making," Sir Benjamin said, "represents the formation of a new picture circuit for Australia. It is not for one predominant firm to create a monopoly. Australia is too large, and the product available too extensive — and increasing. "For my picture venture I am more or less abandoning all my stage interests." $16 Minimum Wage Bill Introduced In Arkansas Little Rock, Ark. — Rep. John L. Sullivan, Little Rock, introduced a bill in the House this week which would provide a minimum weekly pay check of $16 for all Arkansas employes engaged in intrastate business. The measure is sponsored by the Arkansas State Federation of Labor, and would fix a 40-hour week for intrastate business, and, eventually, a minimum wage schedule of 40 cents an hour. Warners Change Two Titles West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Two forthcoming Warner Bros, pictures have been given new titles. The Dennis Morgan-Jane Wyatt-Shirley Ross film formerly known as "She Stayed Kissed" is now "Kisses for Breakfast." "Shining Victory" is the new title for the picture co-starring James Stephenson and Geraldine Fitzgerald, heretofore, "Winged Victory." Metro Selects Next "Kildare" Title West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — "The People vs. Dr. Kildare" will be the title of the next in the series of Dr. Kildare pictures from M-G-M. Max Brand, creator of Dr. Kildare, authored this latest story, which will bring together Lionel Barrymore, Lew Ayres, Laraine Day and all of the "regulars" of the Kildare films. Pagnol Completes Film; Leahy to Attend Premiere Vichy, France (By Air Mail) — Marcel Pagnol has just completed the picture on which he was working when France was invaded, "La Fille Perdue," with Maimu, Fernandel, Josette Day, Charpin and others in the cast. A gala performance will be given here at the end of the month. Admiral Leahy will attend. A copy of the film will be sent to the French consulate in New York to make releasing arrangements in the U. S. New Zealand Exhibs. Suffer Loss on Year Wellington, N. Z.— While attendance for the past year was up 361,676 to over 31,000,000, official figures made public here gives a loss on the year of £32,743 for exhibitors. Their receipts were up £122,557 but expenses were increased by £155,420. The statistics for the Dominion show that distributors' rentals increased by £33,679. New Zealand has 524 theaters. 225 "Virginia" Pre-releases "Virginia" has received 225 prerelease bookings to date, Neil F. Agnew, vice-president in charge of distribution, announced yesterday. "Virginia" in its day-and-date engagements at both the Earle and Ambassador Theaters in Washington, is running neck and neck with NWMP, reports to the Paramount home office say. Schnitzer Funeral Held Pittsburgh — Funeral services for Mrs. Blanche Schnitzer. who died in Los Angeles last week, were held here at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Charles Benjamin. Besides her daughter, Mrs. Schnitzer is survived by two sons, Joseph I. and Abe Schnitzer, both veterans of the film industry. Seguel to "You Nazty Spy" West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — A follow-up story on "You Nazty Spy," two reeler in which they were the first to satirize the conflict abroad, is being readied for Columbia's "The Three Stooges," when they return from their current p. a. tour. It is titled "I'll Never Heil Again." Felix Adler and Clyde Bruckman are preparing the script, and Jules White will produce. Republic Buys Out Underwood-Ezell 3 (Continued from Page 1) company's product in the Texas t ritory. Lloyd Rust will continue as mi ager of the Republic Exchange Dallas and there will be no chanj in the personnel. Underwood and Ezell will de\ their entire time in the futuii their expanding theater interl including a new circuit of drive-ii Balaban Names Royster To Head Netco Theaters (Continued from Page 1) Appointment, which was announil by President Barney Balaban, ] comes effective March 1. Royster's former post as assistil to Sam Dembow, Jr., and LeomB Goldenson in Paramount's theal department will be filled by Ec Hyman, who is being shifted frl Detroit. Hyman formerly was sociai'-il with Century Circuit New York and has been film bu;4 for United Detroit Theaters and * sistant to Earl J. Hudson, in chaill' of operations. Grippe, Colds Hit Pa. B.O. Wilkes-Barre, Pa. — An epidei^ of grippe and colds, which has fected at least 15 per cent of I population, coupled with the recil heavy snow storms and inclem.l weather has been felt at the b| office of the local theaters. A sirl lar situation is reported in Scr;M ton. For a time the Hazleton sclio^ were reported closed because of l rate of sickness among the puj| and the heavy snowstorms. Local 306 Dances Feb. 14 Entertainment and dance will given by Local 306, projectioniifj union, the night of Feb. 14 at Manhattan Opera House, it was nounced yesterday. Proceeds frl the affair will go to the union's s:< fund. Playing "10 Best" Lineup Rochester — "The Grapes Wrath," second of the "Best 10" i The Film Daily's annual poll,) playing a return engagement at Little here. Other "best" films the year are expected to be boolti at the house. I ml Wotta Slogan! Lincoln, Neb. — Joe Rosenberg and Hymie Novirsky, former film peddlers have taken over the Connie Bennett' line of cosmetics for theater dispensation in Iowa and Nebraska. For years, they've listened to exhibs. beef about how bad business was, and; that gave them an idea for a slogan:! "If your business smells — it mighti as well smell good."