The Film Daily (1941)

Monday, August 4, 1941 Await Ruling On Crescent Tax Reports {Continued from Page 1) iates and other confidential figures for the years 1935 to 1939. Robert L. Wright, special assistant to the attorney general, attempted to introduce the income tax returns just before noon and the defense objection was entered immediately by William Waller. Judge Davies agreeed to rule this morning. Pleading competency of the reports, Wright contended that the income tax figures would show that Crescent enjoyed an increase in income during the five year period after Aug. 11, 1934, four times greater than for the same period prior to that date, with assets about doubled. "It is competent," he asserted, to show the effect on profit possibili "It would throw no light at all on what is involved in this case," argued Waller, continuing: "we admit that we have a local monopoly in every town where there is no competing theater and we make money out of these. These local monopolies are not in any way, we contend, in restraint of interstate commerce. The only inference they can draw is that Crescent has been successful in the operation of its business." "Every distributor in this case, declared George H. Armistead, Jr., chief defense counsel, "would be delighted to know what Crescent ana affiliates have been realizing out oi their business. The law says that there must be overwhelming proof ot a conspiracy before evidence of this nature can be introduced." It was the contention of Wright that "matter of this kind in all such cases tried by the D of J has been accepted as a matter of course. Wright added later: "We will show that the Crescent monopoly has been in a tighter one, with respect to competition allowed, than that of Paramount or any other. What Crescent has made out of their combination in proportion to area involved, makes the earnings of Paramount and others look like peanuts." A memorandum indicating the existence of a three-year franchise between 20th Century-Fox and Crescent and nine affiliates, for 193940, 40-41, and 41-42, involving about 70 situations, was introduced by Government counsel but no supporting evidence has yet been offered. It is believed that the Government will complete its case today, especially should Judge Davies rule out the income tax and other reports. ik REVIiUIS Of THE RbUi f ILfflS iV 'Whistling in the Dark' with Red Skelton, Conrad Veidt, Ann Rutherford, Virginia Grey M-G-M 77 Mins. "John Doe" Clicks In Cuba Havana (By Air Mail)— "Meet John Doe," opened here last week at the America Theater in a two-day prerelease engagement with all house records shattered. Picture returns to the America for its regular firstrun engagement shortly. Short prerelease engagements on top pictures before start of regular runs is a general practice here. BLUES CHASING COMEDY; IS A SUREFIRE BOX-OFFICE INTRO. FOR NEW COMER RED SKELTON. As good entertainment, as an introduction to new comer Red Skelton, and as an audience and exhibitor picture, "Whistling In The Dark" will hit the mark it was aimed at. Enhanced by good old down-to-earth hokum and comedy situations that lend themselves well to Skelton's ability and personality, plus the fine trouping of Conrad Veidt, Ann Rutherford and Virginia Grey, audience reaction was highly favorable and held the promise of definite acceptance of the screen birth of a new comedian. To Director S. Sylvan Simon goes full acclaim for his deft handling of what might otherwise have proved itself to be a mediocre slap-stick opus, but under his understanding guidance becomes comedy deluxe, as noted by audience reaction. Faced with the necessity of inventing the perfect crime when kidnaped by a cult of moon-worshippers, headed by Conrad Veidt, , who seek to rid themselves of the nephew of a millionairess patron who had willed them the money after the death of her nephew, Skelton, who is known as "The Fox" via his radio broadcastings of perfect crime detections, thinks and acts his way through situation after situation until his final outsmarting of the gang through a broadcast from the inner sanctum of the cult. Fine portrayals were the order of the pic, with Conrad Veidt, Ann Rutherford and Virginia Grey turning in very satisfying characterizations, but to "Rags" Ragland, as "Sylvester" and Will Lee, as "Herman" go added plaudits. The rest of the numerous cast are deserving of recognition for their fine support. Credit as producer goes to George Haight who supervised the production, with Robert MacGunigle, Harry Clork and Albert Mannheimer sharing in the credits of a welldone screnplay based upon the play by Laurence Gross and Edward Childs Carpenter. Bronislau Kaper furnished the wellknit musical background. Sidney Wagner, the photography. CAST: Red Skelton, Conrad Veidt, Ann Rutherford, Virginia Grey, "Rags" Ragland, Henry O'Neill, Eve Arden, Paul Stanton, Don Douglas, Don Costello, William Tannen, Reed Hadley, Mariska Aldrich, Lloyd Corrigan, George Carleton, Will Lee and Ruth Robinson. CREDITS: Producer, George Haight; Director, S. Sylvan Simon; Screenplay, Robert MacGunigle, Harry Clork and Albert Mannheimer; Photography, Sidney Wagner; Recording Director, Douglas Shearer; Art Director, Cedric Gibbons; Film Editor, Frank E. Hull. DIRECTION, Fine. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. Peck Sells In Monroe Monore, Ga. — John W. Peck, Sr., has sold the Cherokee Theater here and has moved to Sparta, where he will continue operation of the Rex. "Citadel of Crime" with Robert Armstrong, Frank Albertson, Linda Hayes Republic 58 Mins. DIFFERENT GANGSTER PICTURE WITH A HILLBILLY BACKGROUND MOVES BRISKLY. Standard "average audience" picture offers a new slant of a mob muscling in on West Virginia moonshiners to lift it from formula level. Film moves briskly enough and contains a fair amount of action. Yarn is about a big-time gangster who returns to his childhood locale in the Southern hills. His idea is to organize the natives who make moonshine and peddle it at a great profit. When the Government man points out the dangers which the mountaineers face from their alliance, they agree to sever all connections with the gangsters. Then the Government man with the help of the mountaineers round up the mob. Robert Armstrong delivers a satisfying portrayal as the gang leader. Skeets Gallagher, Linda Hayes, Frank Albertson and Russell Simpson are adequate in the supporting roles. CAST: Robert Armstrong, Frank Albertson, Linda Hayes, Russell Simpson, Skeets Gallagher, William Haade, Jay Novello, Paul Fix, Bob McKenzie, Wade Crosby, William Benedict. CREDITS: Associate Producer-Director, George Sherman; Screenplay, Don Ryan; Musical Director, Cy Feuer; Cameraman, Ernest Miller; Production Manager, Al Wilson. DIRECTION, Fair. PHOTOGRAPHY, Fair. Metro Advances 10 More In Its Field Personnel Ten additional promotions among M-G-M's field personnel were announced over the week-end by the company. This brings the total of recent advancements, all from within the ranks of the organization, to 129. Foster B. Gauker has been added to the sales staff at Indianapolis. He was formerly office manager there. Succeeding Gauker is Valmar Klaiber, promoted from first booker at Buffalo. Byron Gross moves from second booker to succeed Klaiber, and student booker Harry Buxbaum advances to Gross's old spot. At Albany, former poster clerk Claire Avery becomes third booker. At Pittsburgh, Allan Douglas is promoted from poster clerk to booking clerk; James McGuinness from shipper to poster clerk; Joseph Stack from night shipper to shipper; Allan Tolley from assistant shipper to night shipper, and Raymond Nesbitt from day inspector to assistant shipper. Chi. Warner Outing Aug. 22 Chicago — The Chicago Warner Club will hold its annual outing at Olympia Fields Country Club, Aug. 22. Larry Stein is in charge of arrangements. "I Was a Prisoner on Devil's Island" with Sally Eilers, Donald Woods, Edward Cianelli Columbia 71 Mins. FEEBLE MELODRAMA AND NOT TA' D VERY CONVINCINGLY. s( | A minor effort about corrupt practices of the officials who run the prison at Devil's Island. Sally Eilers, who usually suffers in prison roles, is married this time to the prison doctor, Edward Cianelli. That is about as bad as being in prison. She meets Donald Woods at a village carnival. He falls in love with her without knowing who she is. He lands on Devil's Island after he accidentally kills his ship captain. There he helps expose Cianelli when an epidemic breaks out and it is disclosed that the prison doctor sold drugs for an illicit profit. Director Lew Landers struggles along without much success on a script that has little to offer. Performances are okay for this type of film.. CAST: Sally Eilers, Donald Woods, Edward Cianelli, Victor Kilian, Charles Halton, Dick Curtis, John Tyrrell, Eddie Laughton, Edmund Cobb, Robert Warwick. CREDITS: Producer, Wallace MacDonald; Director, Lew Landers; Screenplay, Karl Brown; Story, Osso & Edgar Van Eyss; Cameraman, John Stumar; Musical Director, M. W. Stoloff; Film Editor, Richard Fantl. DIRECTION, Fair. PHOTOGRAPHY, Okay Manufacturers Trust Sells 15,000 Shares of Para. Deb Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — The Manufacturers Trust Co., of New York disposed of 15,000 shares of Paramount Pic tures' 3% per cent convertible deb 1941, leaving it with 3,377,800 oi that stock, and 5,710 of the Company's 6 per cent convertible Is I pfd., the SEC reports. Samuel Broidy of Hollywood, acquired 3,000 shares of Monograir Pictures Corp.'s $1 par common bringing his holding to 7,900 shares He also holds 500 shares througr Monogram Pictures, Inc., and ha; option to purchase an additiona 11,129 shares. Loew's, Inc. acquired 56 share.'l of Boston Loew's Theaters' $25 pail common stock, bringing its holdi ings to 118,386 shares, while J. Rob-I ert Rubin of New York City dis posed of 2,600 shares of Loew's| Inc., leaving him holding 21,31 shares of this stock. Preston Davie disposed of 20< shares of Universal Corp.'s Commoi VTC, leaving him with 4,400 share; of this stock in his own name, am <d6,500 shares and 111,283 option! through Standard Capital. Reopens In Waynesville Waynesville, O.— Kenneth Hill o Marysville, has opened The Twins formerly dark.