The Film Daily (1945)

DAILY Monday, July 23, Metro lo Increase Program Next Year (Continued from Page 1) crease its program of both features and short subjects, due to a greater supply of raw stock. The company will have released 34 features by the end of the current season. The short subject program this season consisted of 28 subjects, but additional series are on the docket for the new program. It is reported here that Metro will release no re-issues next season. Mayer arrived here over the weekend. Luncheon Winds Up Metro Sales Parleys in N. Y. William F. Rodgers, vice-president and general sales manager; Herbert Crooker, publicity manager; and Alan F. Cummings, in charge of exchange operations and maintenance, on Friday attend the luncheon of M-'G-M's Eastern sales regional conducted by E. K. O'Shea, Eastern sales manager, at the Astor Hotel. In addition to these three, the luncheon was also attended by Harold Postman, assistant to Cummings; Mike Simons, editor of The Distributor, company publication; A. J. Nelson, head of the statistical department; William G. Brenner, head of theater checking; Bill Ornstein, trade contact, and attending delegates. All of the out-of-town men left over the week-end for their respective headquarters. Feld Named Manager of Pittsburgh Rep. Branch (Continued from Page 1) from Chicago, where he was branch sales manager. He has been with the company for five years, functioning as salesman in the St. Louis office, and later as Des Moines branch manager. SOEG Wires Lindelof for Further Strike Advice West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood— Officials of SOEG who have received orders from L. P. Lindelof, head of the International Brotherhood of Painters, to instruct their members to join the studio strike have wired him, asking him to advise them on some undisclosed issues broached at SOEG's executive board meeting. SPG and the Screen Cartoonists Guilds have also received walk-out orders and are expected to call general membership meetings to consider what action to take. Six New Pic to Start West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Six pictures start this week, making total of 43 shooting. IC » REVIEUIS "Week-end at the Waldorf" witli Ginger Rogers, Lana Turner, Walter Pidgeon, Van Johnson M-G-M 130 Mins. GRAND BOX OFFICE PICTURE LOADED WITH ENTERTAINMENT AND BOASTING POWERFUL CAST. Evoking a wide variety of emotions and sporting a cast of unusual marquee strength, "Week-end at the Waldorf" is a production sure to enjoy the very extreme of popularity. It is a glamorously produced film which deserves rating as entertainment of the first order. Done in the manner of "Grand Hotel," the picture tells a number of virtually unrelated stories each differing in mood, each possessing a potent human appeal, each skillfully and engrossingly developed. It is compounded of comedy, romance and heart throbs in generous proportions, with an occasional musical embellishment by Xavier Cugat and his orchestra. The film paints a many-sided picture of life and in the process touches upon almost every aspect of existence at the WaldorfAstoria. The action spares no section of the famous New York hotel. The Waldorf interiors have been re-created with a fidelity that is staggering. No cost has been spared to capture the atmosphere of the hotel, with the result that the production is one of the most physically impressive ever attempted by M-G-M. The action is crowded into one week-end at the Waldorf. Two of the stories are purely romantic. In one Ginger Rogers, a Hollywcod star, and Walter Pidgeon, a newspaper correspondent, are the principals. Here the note struck is strictly comedy. The other romance, which is heart-touching and tender, involves Lana Turner, the hotel public stenographer, and Van Johnson, a wounded Air Corps captain whose prospects of remaining alive are dubious. A third story has melodramatic overtones, dealing with a plot by Edward Arnold to take over a Near Eastern potentate in a crooked oil deal. Secondary characters are played by Keenan Wynn, Robert Benchley and Phyllis Thaxter, among others. The picture is a triumph for Producer Arthur Hornblow, Jr. The direction of Robert Z. Leonard is masterful, while the screenplay of Sam and Bella Spewack, made from an adaptation by Guy Bolton, is superb. The film was "suggested by a play by Vicki Baum." Couldn't be "Grand Hotel," could it? CAST: Cingr Rogers, Lana Turner, Walter Pidgeon, Van Johnson, Edward Arnold, Phyllis Thaxter. Keenan Wynn, Robert Benchley, Leon Ames, Lina Romay, Samuel S. Hinds, George Zii'-cn. Xavier Cugat and orchestra. CREDITS; Producer. Arthur Hornblow, |r.; Director, Robert Z. Leonard; Screenplay, Sam and Bella Spewack; Adaptation, Guy Bolton; Suggested by play by Vicki Baum; Cameraman, Robert Planck; Musical Director. Johnny Green; Dance Director, Charles Walters; Recording Drrector, Douglas Shearer; Art Directors, Cedric Cbbons Daniel B. Cathcart; Set Decorators, Edwin B. Willis, Jack Bonar; Special Effects, Warren Newcombe; Film Editor, Robert J. Kern. DIRECTION, Fine PHOTOGRAPHY, Fine. Ralph Mitchell Passes Ralph L. Mitchell, general district manager of California and Nevada for the Alexander Film Co., Colorado Springs, is dead. Encyclopedia Britannica In CBS Tele Experiment A series of four experimental telecasts combining live action scripts and educational motion pictures has been scheduled by CBS station WCBW and Encyclopedia Britannica Films. Project is designed to probe the potentialities of the combined facilities, television and motion pictures, in the spreading of education and culture. Initial program is set for Aug. 7 with the remaining three to be telecast before Oct. 1. Many of the nation's leading educators and figures in government, agriculture and science will be in attendance at the first program which will combine a Britannica film on agricultural techniques through the centuries with a script for live performers prepared by Rudolph Eretz and Edward Stasheff, of CBS. Titled "Hunger Takes No Holiday," production will be directed by Worthington Miner, manager of CBS Television. Boston "Welcomes Home" Pinanski From 7th Loan Boston — Sam Pinanski, national chairman of the "Showmen's Seventh" War Loan, was honored at an informal testimonial dinner at the Statler Hotel here Friday night, given by Mullin & Pinanski Theaters home office associates and operating partners. The dinner was in the nature of a "welcome home" party, marking Pinanski's return after four months during which he led the industry's participation in the drive and signalizing its successful conclusion. Adler Again Named Head Of Michigan Stagehands Detroit — E. Clyde Adler of the Michigan was re-elected president of Local 38, lATSE, covering stagehands in this jurisdiction. Term runs for one year. Other officers elected are: Clarence Apgar, Hollywood, first vicepresident; Edgar McMillen, Downtown, second vice-president; George Clenwallis, National, corresponding secretary; Lester Hamilton, United Artists, financial secretary-treasurer; Jerry Brick, business agent; Emil Pauius, retired, sergeant-atarms; E. Clyde Adler, delegate to District No. 8 convention, to lA Convention, and to the Michigan Federation; George Jennings, Eastown, and John Mauch, Michigan, delegates to Detroit and Wayne County Federation of Labor. Mix Prop Barn Burns West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Fire which started yesterday on the old Tom Mix prop barn, back of Universal studios, caused damages estimated at approximately $250,000, destroying old carriages and wagons which are irreplaceable. It also damaged several old sets, including part of a Western street. Polish Pix Market Open But No Coin (Continued from Page 1) balance having been destroyed ill fighting. A number of old AmeiL pictures are making the round joj' the three houses. j In Katowice and other cities t ters are functioning. Among jL circulating are "Polish Enemy" I "Pirate Harbor," with Dick FT and Gloria Dickson, and a coupl films starring Kay Francis, Fran Tone, William Powell and Mary ' tor. Original titles of the rele are not known. Cutbacks Hit First-Run Canton Houses; Nabes (Continued from Page 1) of which there are three here, ., that business is between 15 and! per cent behind last year, with li hope of immediate improvement, j to the uncertainty of the industj situation here. Meanwhile second-run houses port business up over last year, wt is an indication that patrons i flocking to the suburban hou which means an average saving person of about 20 cents, the difl ence in admissions between first ji second-run houses. 90% of WB Bookings Giving Extended Time More than 90 per cent of curn Warner Bros, film bookings are g ing the pictures extended playi time, the company's playdate recoi disclose. This average has bej maintained at approximately i same level for the past three yea! with some pictures averaging as hi[ as 96 per cent holdovers in first-r? houses. Extended time in subsequE runs also has averaged higher in t past year than in any previo period. WLB Getting 16 Calls foil Rep. Exchange Raises Applications asking for approv' of wage increases for office worke at 16 Republic exchanges are beii: offered to the company here for sig; ing prior to their being submitted the regional War Labor Boards fi' consideration. The applications wi be submitted jointly by the lATS' and Republic. IN NEW POSTS NORMAN KNAFP, assistant manager, Norwooc Telenews Theater, Detroit. VERNE INGERSOL, operator, Casino, Detroit. JACK T. McCABE, technical writer, Ross Roi Inc., Detroit. EDWARD J. BONNVILLE, manager, Dexter, De troit.