The Film Daily (1944)

^ 28 W. 44th St. 21st floor New York N. Y. 12 Thursday, September 14, l^j DAILY End to UA Inter-Co. Difficulties Seen (Continued from Page 1) statement, it was believed by some that the reference was to the pending legal action brought by Charles Chaplin. Attending the meeting were Mary Pickford, Edward C. Raftery, Charles Blinn, George Bagnall, Grad Sears, Rex Dennant, E. Claude Mills, Sydney Chaplin and Neil Agnew. PCA to Spend $4,400,000 On Five UA Productions (Continued from Page 1) ing completion for United Artists release, Prexy Sig Schlager announced up his return from a board meeting in Phoenix, Ariz. Company production plans at present call for the placing of one production before the cameras approximately every three months, with "O'Brien's Navy" getting the first call and set for an Oct. 15 start. Some Metal Restrictions Canceled by Can. WPTB (Continued from Page 1) other articles some of which are needed by theaters, such as air conditioning, heating and plumbing equipment, but warned such items may not be immediately available because no priority is granted for manpower or materials for goods intended for civilian use. Restrictions on the sale of articles and equipment to civilians have been lifted, however, so that items already processed may be bought without permit. REVIEWS Of DEW f|LmS|C^idSMng Is Showing Gains FPC to Redeem $250,000 In First Mortgage Bonds (Continued from Page 1) understood to be taken as preliminary to entering upon a general reconstruction program as soon after the European war as possible. "Thunder Rock" with Michael Redgrave, Barbara Mullen English Films, Inc. 90 Mins. POWERFUL, TIMELY DRAMATIC-FANTASY FINELY ACTED AND WITH STRONG APPEAL TO INTELLIGENT AUDIENCES. Of decided worth is this highly imaginative, superbly acted and directed feature, which, though employing fantasy, deals with a stark realty of our day, — the responsibility every individaul owes to civilization's improvement. Strongly emotional, screenplay uses Michael Redgrave, central character, to symbolize cynics who hold that war-making mankind is devoluting, and that past generations were better than the present. Redgrave's role is that of a journalist who saw the Nazis and Fascists forging war machines while officials and people of England and other democracies wallowed in complacency and material contentment. His warnings of the true situation are scorned by his journalistic superiors, and his writings from the continent so censored and warped that he resigns, writes a book which fails to sell, and fails to draw audiences in lecturing throughout England. Bitter over ignorance of masses and their blind, reactionary leadership, he insulates himself from the world by taking post as lighthouse tender on a Lake Michigan reef. From log of a vessel wrecked there a century before, he builds into a mental picture some of the listed victims, believing them better in character and social condition than his own contemporaries. Trials of these ghostly companions are actually enacted. All have, like Redgrave, run away from responsibility in foreign lands. Film ends with his change of viewpoint, and apparent determination to end his isolation and shoulder duties to mankind's present, past and future, — its civilization and destiny. CAST: Michael Redgrave, Barbara Mullen, James Mason, Lilli Palmer, Finlay Currie, Frederick Valk, Sy bills Einder, Frederick Cooper, Jean Shepeard, Barry Morse, George Carney, A. E. Matthews. CREDITS: Producer, John Boulting, for Charter Films, Ltd.; Director, Roy Boulting; Author, Robert Ardrey; Screenplay, Jeffrey Dell, Bernard Miles; Cameraman, Mutz Greenbaum; Settings and Design, Duncan Sutherland; Music, Hans May. DIRECTION, Aces. PHOTOGRAPHY, Expert. TO THE COLORS! * PROMOTED * 2ND. LT. ROBERT M. MITCHELL, son of L. H. Mitchell of THE FILM DAILY editorial staff, to 1st. Lt., Signal Intelligence Service overseas. FRANK P. LIBERMAN, USA, former Warner press agent, Chicago, to captain, Camp Crowder, Mo. DAVID C. ARTHUR, USMC, former Fanchon & Marco assistant general manager, St. Louis, to 1st lieutenant. JAMES H. ARTHUR, USMC, former Fanchon & Marco attorney, St. Louis, to 1st lieutenant. LT. PAUL H. BONNER, JR., AAF, former Hollywood press agent, to captain. • ARMY* RAYMOND BURCH, manager, Kennedy, Washington. HENRY SLADEWSKI, former manager, Chopin Theater, Detroit. "Leave It to the Irish" with James Dunn, Wanda McKay Monogram 61 Mins. MYSTERY COMEDY MOVES AT FAST PACE WITH EMPHASIS ON LAUGHS. Those who have a soft spot in their hearts for Irish shenanigans will especially enjoy what goes on in this film. The picture, directed with zip by William Beaudine, is a mystery comedy that places the emphasis on the comedy. Mad indeed is the pace at times as James Dunn, a copper who becomes a private dick, gets into a mixup with his girl friend (Wanda McKay) and the police. Dunn gets himself innocently involved in a murder. Thereafter he's kept mighty busy trying to solve the crime, thereby squaring himself. Produced by Lindsley Parsons as best as one could expect for a modest production, the picture has plenty of spirited acting. Dunn and Miss McKay are teamed well in the leading roles. CAST: James Dunn, Wanda McKay, Dick Purcell. Jack La Rue, Arthur Loft, Vince Barnett, Barbara Woodell, Joseph DeVillard, Olaf Hytten, Ted Stanhope, Eddie Allen, Dick Scott. CREDITS: Producer, Lindsley Parsons; Director, William Beaudine; Screenplay, Tim Ryan, Eddie Davis; Cameraman, Ira Morgan; Film Editor, Dick Currier; Musical Director, Edward Kay. DIRECTION, Okay. PHOTOGRAPHY, Okay. "The Singing Sheriff" with Bob Crosby, Fay McKenzie, Fuzzy Knight Universal 63 Mins. BOB CROSBY'S NAME SHOULD HELP PUT THIS ONE OVER WITH THE YOUNGER ELEMENT "The Singing Sheriff" is a hybrid compounded of music and western melodramatics. The whole thing has been treated with tongue in cheek even in the most violent passages. There is little to attract a mature person to this film, which was produced in commonplace manner by Bernard W. Burton and directed at a fast clip by Leslie Goodwins. Bob Crosby is the top performer. He's a tenderfoot singer who performs in western get-up. Through odd circumstances he finds himself as sheriff of a tough western town terrorized by a bunch of cutthroats. How he becomes a hero despite himself, cleaning up the town, is the Local 52, MPSM, Again Names Gerrity President William J. Gerrity has been reelected president of Motion Picture Studio Mechanics, Local 52, IATSE. The new vice-president is William Callahan. Retained in office were James A. Delaney, general secretary-treasurer; Sal J. Scoppa, business manager; Herbert Mulligan, sergeant-at-arms. Edward Muller was elected recording secretary and Eliha Sukoff chairman of the board of trustees. Edward Gunn, Harold Vivian, William Doran and Jack Dalton comprise the new executive board. Scoppa's re-election marked his 21st year as an officer of the union. (Continued from Page 1) Frank Sinatra. M-G-M and FJ also share the contract of Geo Murphy and Laraine Day. Paramount and 20th-Fox have c tracts with William Bendix, who also under contract to Hal Roa Hunt Stromberg and 20th-Fox sh, the services of Michael O'Shea, wl M-G-M and 20th-Fox have pacts w Laurel and Hardy. M-G-M and Paramount h; agreements with Brian Donle Universal has the chief call on i bott and Costello, but the comedi; also have commitments with M-G John Wayne is under contract Republic, but is allowed to m; outside pictures at RKO. Charles Coburn is contracted _ Columbia, but can make outside j: tures if the Gower Street studio d not pre-empt his services. Unc . an agreement recently effected, ( : burn will make "Czarina" and "C onel Effingham's Raid," followi completion of "A Woman's Pri lege" at Columbia. Paul Henried's services are shai by RKO and Warner Bros, wl Rosalind Russell has commitme. with Columbia, Warner Bros, a,, RKO. Irene Dunne has pacts w M-G-M and Columbia. Samuel Goldwyn and 20th-F have the call on Dana Andre-* while Goldwyn and RKO use the t ents of Virginia Mayo. M-G-M 1 a contract with Eddie "Rochester. Anderson, but he is allowed to mall one picture with Jack Benny, in sr dition to his radio activities. M-G and Charles R. Rogers have Jahl Powell, the young singer, under cc1' tract. Monogram and RKO have agr< ments with Jane Storm, while PI " and Columbia are dividing the si vices of Dave O'Brien. Leiser at Morris Office Henri Leiser, of the William Morris office, is moving to that agency's concert division at 113 W. 57th St. Prior to this, Leiser, once a wellknown agent in Paris, had been working under the Morris banner in his own offices at 101 Park Ave. His activities cover stage and screen. burden of the story. Fay McKenzie is on hand for romantic purposes. Crosby carries the singing load well. Fuzzy Knight proves a big help with his comedy. CAST: Bob Crosby, Fay McKenzie, Fuzzy Knight, Iris Adrian, Samuel S. Hinds, Edward Norris, Andrew Tombes, Joe Sawyer, Walter Sande, Doodles Weaver, Pat Starling, Louis Da Pron, Spade Cooley and orchestra. CREDITS: Associate Producer, Bernard W. Burton; Director, Leslie Goodwins; Screenplay, Henry Blanktort, Eugene Conrad; Based on story by John Grey; Cameraman, Charles Van Enger; Musical Director, Sam Freed, Jr.; Art Directors, John B. Goodman, Abraham Grossman; Sound Director, Bernard B. Brown; Set Decorators, Russell A. Causman, Leigh Smith; Film Editor, Edward Curtiss. DIRECTION, Okay. PHOTOGRAPHY, Okay. THEATER DEALS = Hemphis — Malco, Inc., has ex< cised its option to purchase t Princess Theater and store buildir Cleveland — Harry Lenetska h taken over the Metropolitan and w operate it as a Negro theater. Sumner, la. — Harry Pace of Poc. hontas, has purchased the Sumn Theater and building from L. Wells. Sykesville, Pa. — Mid-State Th aters has taken over operation the Ideal. Roscoe, Pa. — Anthony Latell who turned over the Roscoe Theat to Lerich Theaters, Inc., when it a; peared he would be called to se ! vice, has taken back the house.