The Film Daily (1943)

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IK' wu DAILY Thursday, July 29, 1943 OCR Uncertain When Setup Will Be Ready {Continued from Page 1) made to assert any authority in the amusement field. Donald R. Longman, chief of the Service Trade and Distribution Division of OCR, says he is uncertain when he will be able to set up an organization to work in the amusement field. "What we're looking into more than anything else," he said, "is what we've got ourselves into." There seemed to be general agreement here that that's the important thing now. Almost no one has any clear idea of the actual scope of OCR authority, although Longman mentioned manpower as a major interest. At present, Longman said, there simply is no amusements section in OCR, Authority over amusements exists on paper, but there is no intention to exercise it until the proper personnel is on hand. Longman said he definitely intends to bring in an industry man, and indicated that McMurphey's term as titular amusements chief will probably be brief. He does, however, expect to retain McMurphey in the organization, and it is likely that the latter will serve with Longman, with general authority over the various sections of Longman's division. McMurphey is not yet officially a part of OCR. Loew Stockholders Act On New Exec. Pacts Today (Continued from Page 1) vice-president and treasurer; Louis R. Mayer, production head; J. Robert Rubin, vice-president and general counsel, and Lawrence A. Weingarten, production supervisor. It is proposed that Bernstein's contract, which expires Dec. 31, be extended to Aug. 31, 1945, at his present salary. A new contract for Mayer to run to Aug. 31, 1946, will be asked. Rubin's contract, which expires Dec. 31, will be extended to the same 1946 date, if the stockholders agree, while Weingarten, whose contract expires at the end of this year, will be re-signed until 1946 under the proposals. Bonuses and salaries remain unchanged, it is understood. Feminine Vandalism In Conn. Pic Theaters New Haven — Managers and operators report continued vandalism in theaters in the state. Some houses repaint ladies' rooms as often as every two weeks because of lipstick decoration on walls. Seats are ripped, chair backs bent forward by pressure of feet, nails and other small objects thrown into the audience. Some houses have supernumeraries, but strictest vigilance doesn't suffice to eliminate all such incidents. reviews of new fums "THIS IS THE ARMY" Starring Men of the Armed Forces and George Murphy, Joan Leslie, Lt. Ronald Reagan, George Tobias, Alan Hale, Charles Butterworth, Kate Smith Warner Bros. 121 Mins. SUPERB MUSICAL DESTINED TO MAKE BOX OFFICE HISTORY VIA QUALITY TREMENDOUS TIMELINESS AND APPEAL. Warner wizardry— nothing short of that quality— has made Irving Berlin's "This Is The Army" into what is unquestionably the most potent and appealing musical of its type ever to come out of Hollywood. Its power and perfection are at once a challenge to the vocabularly of any responsible reviewer. The time, care, skill and enthusiasm which have gone into the production on the Burbank lot have paid rich dividends — to the House of Warner an incalculable degree of prestige, resulting from consummate showmanship, but most of all from that unselfish patriotism of the Brothers which caused them to acquire and make, with all their ability and resources — financial, artistic, and mechanical — the Irving Berlin property into a milestone in motion picture annals; to the nation and its people, an attraction which will thrill them, fill them with pride, and flood their beings for long days to come with more substance than perhaps any shadow drama has ever done before; to exhibitors, a feature that is pure, 100 per cent entertainment and one destined to pile up for them grosses of which they have only dreamed heretofore. It takes no sage to reach the patent conclusion that it can pile up a far greater "take" than any previous or contemporary picture released on a so-called straight policy, even without the price-scale to be initiated for introductory key engagements, and which have as their purpose the raising of "plus" funds for Army welfare — as witness last night's $55 top at the world premiere in New York. From start to finish, one of the strongest impressions gleaned from the pulsating footage, resplendent in gorgeous Technicolor, is the astonishing attribute of the motion picture, as a medium, to give almost unbounded sweep to story and settings. As a stage offering, "This Is The Army" was magnificient. As a movie it's sensational. The screenplay, primary as all intrinsically fine things are, recounts essentially the story of a dancing star (George Murphy) who is drafted in World War I and produces "Yip, Yip, Yaphank." Thus the Murphy characterization parallels biograph ically this actual facet of the career of Irving Berlin himself. With the outbreak of the present war, Murphy, crippled by his leg wound in the former conflict, conceives of a new Army show, and as a theatrical producer sets out to stage one, with his son as associate. The latter, spurred by the tragedy of Pearl Harbor, goes into the Army; refuses to marry his sweetheart, Joan Leslie, for fear of leaving her a widow, and finally finds himself stage manager of "This Is The Army," playing in New York and later going on tour of principal U. S. cities. The Murphy-Leslie romance does end in marriage on the very night the show itself ends. Much of the picture is devoted to production, comedy and specialty numbers from "Yip Yip, Yaphank," in eye-filling fashion, and from "This Is The Army," likewise exquisitely embellished. Laughs come in a constant procession, making the film a top-flight feast on the point. But it is the series of production numbers that lifts the audiences out of their seats. Highlights include Kate Smith's rousing rendition of "God Bless America" (meant originally to be part of Berlin's "Yip, Yip, Yaphank" score); the sequence showing the cast being assembled from fliers, tank corps, infantry, artillery, and other units; the "This Is The Army, Mr. Jones" number; the minstrel number; the Navy and Air Force numbers; the "command performance" attended by President Roosevelt in Washington; Sgt. Joe Lewis and the marvelous Negro performers in "That's What the Well-Dressed Man in Harlem Will Wear;" "! Left My Heart at the Stage Door Canteen" sung by Sgt. Earl Oxford; the gripping finale, "This Time IsTheLastTime;" and other splendid scenes. The musical score has few, if any, rivals. Berlin himself appears in a climax spot to sing his unforgettable "Oh, How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning." Cast is splendid, and Michael Curtiz has imparted ace direction. So frequent is the spacing of entertainment "pearls" on the long chain of 121 minutes of flashing action that it is impossible to mention the many who have turned in memorable performances. Suffice it to say that "This Is The Army" is a kaleidoscope of wonderful components. It is a credit to all who participated in its making. They and the film itself represent industry history, not in the making but made! CAST: George Murphy, Joan Leslie, George Tobias, Alan Hale, Charles Butterworth, Dolores Costello, Una Merkel, Stanley Ridges, Rosemary De Camp, Ruth Donnelly, Dorothy Peterson Frances Langford, Gertrude Niesen, Kate Smith, Ilka Gruning, Lt. Ronald Reagan, Sgt. Joe Louis, Sgt. Tom DAndrea, Sgt. Julie Oshins, Sgt. Robert Shanley, Cpl. Herbert Anderson; and as soldiers, — 1st Sgt. Allan Anderson, Sgt. 'Ezra Stone, Sgt. James Burrell, Sgt. Ross Elliott, Sgt. Alan Manson, Sgt. John P. Mendes, Sgt. Earl Oxford, Sgt. Philip Truex, Cpl. James MacColl, Cpl. Ralph Magelssen, Cpl. Tileston Perry, Pvt. Joe Cook, Jr., Pvt. Larry Weeks, and the Allan Trio. CREDIT: Producers, Jack L. Warner, Hal B. Wallis; Director, Michael Curtiz; Screenplay, Casey Robinson, Capt. Claude Binyon; Based on Irving Berlin's "This Is The Army;" Music and Lyrics, Irving Berlin; Cameramen, Bert Glennon, Sol Polito; •ilm Editor, George Amy; Technicolor Director, Natalie Kalmus; Sound, C. A. Riggs; Art Directors, Lt. John Koenig, John Hughes; Special Effects, Jack Cosgrove; Set Decoration, George James Hopkins; Montages, James Leicester, Don Siegel; Technical Advisor, Lt. Col. Frank McCabe; Production Numbers, Leroy Prinz, Sgt. Robert Sidney; Orchestral Arrangements, Ray Heindorf; Musical Director, Leo F. Forbstein. DIRECTION, Superb. PHOTOGRAPHY. Brilliant Hurricane Closes Texas Theaters (Continued from Page 1) swept clean, and screen water-damaged from rain. Cooling Towers were knocked from the Kirby, Met, and Majestic Theaters, Houston, while the De Luxar> Nabe in Delman lost its back end a/ Cooling Tower. Effects of the winc^-*" which reached official rate of 132 miles per hour, took toll as far north as Waco, where the Orpheum lost its roof capping. All of the above are Interstate houses. Raymond Willis, assistant general manager, accompanied by C. E. Holmes, heating and ventilating engineer, and J. C. Skinner, sound engineer, left Dallas early Tuesday to be joined by Jake Elder, construction manager, to assess damages and re-instate operation. Jack Groves, operator of a Houston nabe, reported no damage. Other towns immediately affected lying between Houston and Galveston are Bay City, Goose Creek, and Pelly, from which no theater reports have been received. Lou Greenley, Veteran Film Salesman, Killed Detroit — Lou Greenley, a film salesman for 17 years was killed instantly when the car in which he was riding turned over, near Grayling. He was formerly with Nate Schultz, subsequently Monogram franchise holder in Cleveland, covering ho for several years, and later with Grand National, Monogram and United Artists in Detroit, and also with UA covering Ohio and Minnesota at various tmes. Greenley gave up selling a few months ago when his health failed for a time, and went with the OWI, being, at the time of his death, World-Wide Supervisor of OWI Mobile Units. His widow, Belle, survives. Body was cremated at White Chapel Cemetery. Governor Martin is Host At Disney Air Film Show Harrisburg. — Gov. Edward Martin of Pennsylvania and Mrs. Martin were hosts last night for a special showing of "Victory Through Air Power," at the Executive Mansion here. Gen. Marshall to See "Army Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Gen. George Marshall, Army chief of staff, and several other top officers will see "This is the Army" this afternoon at the War Dept. offices. Irving Yergin of Warners' home office publicity staff will host the occasion. Navy Secretary Frank Knox and Admiral Ernest L. King were guests of the Paramount exchange yesterday at a screening of 2,800 feet of Navy footage from the South Pacific area.