The Film Daily (1941)

Wednesday, September 3, 1941 Tax Boost Action 'Sneak Punch'-Myers (Continued from Page 1) for Allied, said his members are pressing for a revision of the tax. He stated his group considered the increase a "sneak punch" put over on the industry without any chance to explain what the effects would be. Other industry representatives on the scene include Ed Kuykendall, MPTOA prtxy, and Charles Pettijohn, MPPDA general counsel. The bill goes to the Senate floor today, but the admission tax item is far down the list, and likely will not be reached before Friday, the day before the Senate's final vote is now expected to come. In the meantime, it is understood the industry representatives are leaving no stone unturned in an effort to replace the rates approved by the Senate Committee with the lower 10 per cent rates voted by the house. Strategy Hinges on Support Whether they will bring the fight out into the open on the floor of the Senate, or wait and try to get the amendment in conference likely will depend on the amount of support they are able to turn up in the Senate in the short time remaining to them. If they can garner in that time sufficient support to defeat the higher rates, they unquestionably will carry the fight to the floor. But that they will gather any such support seems highly unlikely. With so many more important items, from the general standpoint, to be debated, and in view of the tremendous drive to raise new revenue, few Senators likely will be willing to come out and advocate on the floor a reduction of the tax. However, the conference meetings are secret, and here the members can say what they think. And there is every reason to believe many of them think the admission tax imposed by the Committee entirely too high. Furthermore, it is expected that the industry will have more support for the lower levies in the House than it will in the Senate. The House has already voted for the 10 per cent levy, and committee members have indicated they prefer it to the higher rate. House Com. Favors Drink Tax Furthermore, the House Committee feels that there should be a tax on soft drinks, while the Senate Committee voted against this item, though it is understood there was considerable disagreement there over eliminating the item. It is considered a good bet that this item might yet be restored to the bill. And if it is, even in part, some of the pressure for additional taxes on admissions would be removed. President Roosevelt yesterday, after a conference with legislative dealers, endorsed the tax bill. REVIEWS OF DEW flLfllS Vaude for Lebanon Lebanon, Pa. — Three-day-a-week vaudeville will be instituted at the Colonial Theater here shortly. "Birth of the Blues" with Bing Crosby, Mary Martin, Brian Donlevy Paramount 85 Mins. CORKING MUSICAL WITH GAY TUNES AND MANY LAUGHS; BING CROSBY AT HIS BEST IN B. O. SMASH. While the screen biography of the American origin of jazz may remain to be written, enough of the absorbing background of the beginning of the blues which the Dixieland Band and its kind made famous after the turn of the century is utilized to serve as ideal vehicle for Bing Crosby. That's not intended as carping comment by any means but just to keep the record straight for followers of true jazz. Background of the blues is a fresh field for a musical and Buddy De Sylva with an eye for production values has helped create an entertaining musical which should do smash b.o. biz. Victor Schertzinger a composer himself, has directed with true appreciation of the song sequences. There is one scene where Schertzinger's directorial ability is very much in evidence. That is when he has Eddie "Rochester" Anderson explaining to Mary Martin what makes "blues" different from regular music. Another has Bing Crosby singing "My Melancholy Baby" in the best Crosby style. Cast is strong in all departments. Mary Martin, looking more becoming than ever, is really good. She does one blues number with Crosby and a comedy number with Crosby and Jack Teagarden. Most of the sock lines which register for laughs come from Rochester who delivers solidly as Crosby's aid. Brian Donlevy turns in another fine performance as Memphis, the hot cornet player. Little Carolyn Lee is well spotted as the six-year-old aunt of Miss Martin. The girl is cute with a pleasing turn for comedy. Ruby Elzy, as Rochester's wife, deserves mention for her rendition of "St. Louis Blues." Script by Harry Tugend and Walter DeLeon is refreshingly well-written. It affords Crosby a substantial role as the young clarinet player specializing in low down blues. All Crosby has is his home where his band lives and which used to be among the better residences of New Orleans. This new music fascinates him as it does his band. They bail Donlevy out of jail when Rochester relays word of Donlevy's fine cornet playing. Miss Martin and Miss Lee are forced to stay at Crosby's home since the latter borrowed her fare for Donlevy's bail. She stays and helps get the band a job through her singing. The band encounters some difficulty because proprietor of cafe uses strong-arm methods to keep the band there after they have become successful. And Crosby discovers he is the one Miss Martin loves all the while and not Donlevy. CAST: Bing Crosby, Mary Martin, Brian Lonlevy, Carolyn Lee, Eddie (Rochester) Anderson, Jack Teagarden, J. Carrol Naish, Warren Hymer, Horace MacMahon, Ruby Elzy, Barbara Pepper, Dan Beck, Harry Barris, Perry Botkin, Harry Rosenthal, Donald Kerr, Victor Potel, Minor Watson, Ronnie Cosbey. CREDITS: Producer, Buddy G. DeSylva; Associate Producer, Monta Bell; Director, Victor Schertzinger; Screenplay, Harry "Law of the Tropics" with Constance Bennett, Jeffrey Lynn, Regis Toomey Warner Bros. 76 Mins. AVERAGE YARN ABOUT LOVE IN A TROPICAL RUBBER CAMP SALVAGED BY SOUND CAST. Here is a good instance when a good group of performers can lift a weak story to a fairly plausible level. Film, nevertheless, is a minor effort of minor consequence. It also serves as a vehicle for the return of Constance Bennett to the screen. Miss Bennett still retains her touch and performs with assurance before the camera. She is chic, and wears her clothes as well as ever. Not even an unorthodox place like a jungle setting can faze Miss Bennett whose coiffure is always becoming and in order. In film, Miss Bennett plays role of woman wanted on circumstantial murder rap in New Jersey. She is entertaining at a hotel in a tropical seaport town where she encounters Jeffrey Lynn, drunk because his financee failed to arrive. When the detective shows up, Miss Bennett takes the river boat. She again meets Lynn and she agrees to act as Lynn's wife in order to help him save face before the natives. Meantime, boss of the rubber camp is Hobart Bosworth who kills himself when he is deposed because rubber company is anxious to increase rubber output. Lynn, who is very loyal to company, is outraged when the owner comes down to put his son in charge. They have a fight and Lynn is discharged. Miss Bennett helps save his job. Shortly after the detective appears on the scene and Miss Bennett can no longer hide the secret from Lynn. Since they have fallen in love with each other, he joins her to help prove her innocence. Regis Toomey and Mona Maris, as the married friends of Lynn and Miss Bennett, are sincere and convincing in their respective roles. Bosworth is good in a brief part. Frank Puglia helps contribute some of the lighter moments as the faithful servant. The detective is portrayed by Thomas Jackson. CAST: Constance Bennett, Jeffrey Lynn, Regis Toomey, Mona Maris, Hobart Bosworth, Frank Puglia, Thomas Jackson, Paul Harvey, Craig Stevens, Charles Judels, Roland Drew, Cliff Clark, Rolf Sedan. CREDITS: Associate Producer, Ben Stoloff; Director, Ray Enright; Screenplay, Charles Grayson; Original Story, Alice Tisdale Hobart; Cameraman, Sid Hickox; Asst. Director, Jesse Hibbs; Film Editor, Frederick Richards. DIRECTION, Satisfactory. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. Pidgeon Services Held Funeral services were held here yesterday for Edward E. Pidgeon, 75 former dramatic editor and critic and one-time publicity rep. for Thomas Meighan, Leon Errol and others. Tugend and Walter DeLeon; Original, Harry Tugend; Sound Mixer, Earl Hayman; Film Editor, Paul Weatherwax; Art Directors, Hans Dreier and Ernest Fegte; Cameraman, William Mellor. DIRECTION, Top-Notch. PHOTOGRAPHY, Excellent. U. S. Distribs. (lose Mexico City Offices (Continued from Page 1) tors immediately closed their offices. Partially fulfilling its strike threat, the Motion Picture Workers Union Mexico struck yesterday agains^Ve Mexican offices of M-G-M and C( LJfcibia. It was explained here union selected only two companies in order to prevent a complete shutdown of the industry in Mexico. Union until Tuesday had declared it would shut down all major distributors. Observers are inclined to believe M-G-M was singled out because it attempted to distribute "Ninotchka," and Columbia, "He Stayed for Breakfast," both considered by the union as "derogatory to the Communistic system." Other companies, it was reported, were given several days notice by the union to agree to terms. Distribs. consider union's demands exorbitant. Hub's Met Will Resume Stage Shows After 6 Years (Continued from Page 1) features. Also reinstated will be a large, probably 40-piece, orchestra, to which Henry Kalis, who formerly directed the "Met" pit shows, will return as conductor, and it is reported organist Arthur Martel also comes back. Martel has since been playing at various night spots in and near Boston. John W. Carroll remains as managing director. Free Show "Not Cricket" Complain Hub's Exhibs. Boston — Local exhibs. have been asked to aid a gigantic free show at Boston Garden next Sunday when gifts of cigarettes, books or candy for soliders will be the sole admission fee. Since more than 20,000 are expected to crowd the Garden, picture men believe it unfair to ask them to participate in an event which virtually kills their own Sunday business. They direct attention to the fact that all of them have cooperated in every way to aid the USO. Ask Sunday Film Shows Siler City, N. C— Board of commissioners has under consideration a petition to allow the operation of Sunday films here and is expected to act at a meeting to be held Sept. 12. Sunday movies were banned some two months ago, but the board later allowed their operation through August. Westinghouse Exec. Dead Brielle, N. J.— Harry De Forrest Madden, 61, general manager of Westinghouse Electric & Mfg. Co. in Bloomfield, N. J., died at his summer home here on Monday. He had been employed by Westinghouse for 38 years.