The Film Daily (1946)

Tuesday, March 19, 1946 II Mass Picketing In Detroit Strilce (Continued from Page 1) tablished around film exchanges, allowing no niglit shipments of film. Yesterday morning, mass picket•i^ was resumed, and office workers i^Jxchanges were blocked out. Union I Resident Margaret McDonald stated that this was directed against all office workers, and not just against Bookers Local F-25. Result was to stagnate exchange operations. Managers and some salesmen were allowed to enter offices, however. Theaters generally are adjusting to the situation by running some kind of pictures, though few except first-runs have pictures advertised or originally booked. Some houses went to single bills for awhile, others have dug up prints from various unidentified sources. Most common source however, allowing theaters to reopen generally appears to be air mail or express shipments of film direct to theaters. The understanding is that older prints on hand will be returned the same way. This v^as hampered by fog which blanketed out the Detroit airport. Air Mail Danger President McDonald indicated that nothing could be done to interfere with mail or express shipments to theaters. Some exhibitors, however, have pointed to the danger in carrying film by air mail in passenger planes, to catastrophic possibilities with resultant loss of industry goodwill nationally in the event of accident. Sentiment of local exhibitors from first-itm houses to humpty dumpties is running strongly against the home offices of distributors for not getting matters straightened out. They feel they are innocent bystanders and are getting undeserved slurs fi'om the situation, including implications of picketing and union statements to the press about $21 per week wages. Exchange Managers Helpless Exhibitors agree that local exchange managers are helpless to settle the situation and place the blame strongly on New York for not getting it settled without open dispute and inconvenience to the local public, aside from loss to exhibitors. One source of film coming in is indicated in the entry of Eugene Merson as distributor for "Mom and Dad," not hitherto shown here. Merson is getting three prints from Cleveland and plans direct distribution by his own car to theaters which ma-" book it in the present famine for prints. Theaters generally are agreed on a policy of staying open, even though they have to play punk film or some unlikely attraction. Chi. Exchanges Shipping Pictures to Detroit Chicago — Shipping departments of Chicago film exchanges are sending films into the Detroit territory via parcel post express and air mail REVIEWS Of neuj fiims "A Close Call For Boston Blackie" with Chester Morris, Lynn Merrick Columbia 60 Mins. BLACKMAIL STORY CRAMMED WITH ACTION MAKES MURDER SEEM COMMONPLACE. Cramming as much action into 60 minutes as will satisfy the Boston Blackie fans, this newest addition to the series makes murder seem a commonplace affair. Lew Landers' obviously hurried and deliberate direction is saved by Chester Morris' ingratiating though positive performance. Richard Lane does okay in the police inspector's spot, but the stupid role of his assistant, well-played by Frank Sully, belongs in two-reel comedies. Lynn Merrick has charm and gives what she can to an unpleasant part as a blackmailer. She merits meatier stories. This one involves murder in a blackmail plot conceived by Erik Rolf, who kills Lynn Merrick's husband, Robert Scott, when the latter is released from prison; and tries to place the blame on Chester "Blackie" Morris, former sweetheart of Merrick. Merrick, in cahoots with Rolf, tries to swindle a sizeable amount of money from Scott's father in return for giving him a "borrowed" baby which she claims Is his son's. Morris disguise himself a Scott's father and exposes the hoax. CAST: Chester Morris, Lynn Merrick, Richard Lane, Frank Sully, George E. Stone, Claire Carleton, Erik Rolf, Charles Lane, Robert Scott, Emmett Vogan, Russell Hicks. CREDITS: Producer, )ohn Stone; Director, Lew Landers; Screenplay, Ben Marksdn; Story, Paul Yawitz; Based on character created by )3ck Boyle; Cameraman, Burnett Cuffey; Film Editor, lerome Thoms; Art Direction, Carl Anderson, )erome Pycha, )r. ; Set Decorator, Albert Rickerd; Sound, Philip Faulkner; Musical Director; Mischa Bakaleinikoff; Assistant Director, Chris Beute. DIRECTION, Hurried. PHOTOGRAPHY, Fair. Burstyn-Moyer Releasing Four Foreign Pix Yearly Joseph Burstyn and Arthur Mayer are planning to distribute four foreign films per year in the United States, they have announced. They are currently presenting the Italian film "Open City" at its premiere in the World theater, and are distributing "Marie Louise," the picture which won for its author Richard Schweizer the Academy Award for the best original screen story of the year. Sol Bernstein Dead Mansfield, O.— Sol Bernstein, 72, o-wner of the Ritz Theater, died after a brief illness. The house is being operated under lease by Skirball Bros., Cleveland. helping to supply the Detroit theaters that need films due to the strike of shipping room employes there. It is reported that other exchanges in nearby areas are helping to keep the Detroit film supply normal. Chicago B union officials have been asked to aid the Detroit union, but no action was taken here as the Detroit report says the strike was not sanctioned by the international. "The Bride Wore Boots" with Barbara Stanwyck, Robert Cummings, Diana Lynn Paramount 86 Mins. FARCICAL DIVERSION IS BUNDLE OF LIVELINESS THAT SHOULD GET BY IN MOST SITUATIONS. This piece of farcical entertainment is an inconsequential offering with just about enough humorous stuff to gain a favorable reaction from fans other than those who ask too much, it must be said for the production that it never "dogs it," Director Irving Pichel having seen to it that the players disport themselves with liveliness at all times. Although Pichel's name isn't readily associated with the frothy sort of thing that "The Bride Wore Boots" represents, the director has managed to get the utmost out of the material in the Dwight Mitchell Wiley screenplay. Producer Seton I. Miller has given the story no more and no less production value than it merited. He should be credited with bringing together a spirited group of players who show evidence of enjoying their chores considerably, indeed, the cast is the saving of the film, the performers exacting all the laughter possible from each situation with comedy potentialities. The story follows a common pattern. Barbara Stanwyck and Robert Cummings are a Virginia couple constantly quarreling in spite of a deep iove between the two. Miss Stanwyck is wrapped up in horses, in which Cummings has little interest. Cummings' activities as a writer on the South win him the adultation of Southern womanhood, prominent among which is Diana Lynn, a vixenish lass who does everything to insinuate herself in the man's affections. Several embarrassing situations in which he gets himself unwittingly involved with Miss Lynn break up his marriage to Miss Stanwyck, on whom Patric Knowles, a horse lover, has his eye. As per expectations. Miss Stanwyck and Cummings are reunited at the finale, thanks largely to the performance of a horse which he is goaded into entering in the blue-ribbon steeplechase. Miss Stanwyck and Cummings prove an able team, the latter delivering a most enjoyable performance. CAST: Barbara Stanwyck, Robert Cummings, Diana Lynn, Patric Knowles, Peggy Wood, Robert Benchley, Willie Best, Natalie Wood, Gregory Muradian, Mary Young. CREDITS: Producer, Seton I. Miller; Director, Irving Pichel; Screenplay, Dwight Mitchell Wiley; Based on story by Dwight Mitchell Wiley and play by Harry Segall; Cameraman, Stuart Thompson; Art Directors, Hans Dreier, John Meehan; Special Effects, Gordon Jennings; Film Editor, Ellsworth Hoagland; Set Decorators, Sam Comer, Jerry Welch; Musical Score, Frederick Hollander; Sound, Roy Meadows, Don Johnson. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOCRAPY, Good. Ohio WCTU Calls For Closer Pix Censorship Columbus, 0.— The Ohio WCTU in its final convention session adopted a program recommending closer censorship of motion pictures to eliminate the "promotion of drinking and the depiction of a low standard of morals." Submit Pian to End Jurisdidionai Rows (Continued from Page 1) work stoppage during arbitration. Byron Price, Motion Picture Assn. vice-president who, with a producers' labor committee, prepared the plan, said in part: "The draft of such a plan proposed today by the producers attacks the problem honestly, directly and forcefully. Its acceptance by all concerned would mean a triumph for practical common sense and be a long step toward industrial peace in Hollywood. "It is the hope of the producers that by such means the motion picture industry may not only establish a great degree of harmonious effort and human understanding in the studios, but may perhaps contribute also toward more enlightened labor relations throughout the industry in general." The plan, proposed to cover jurisdictional disputes between all AFL labor organizations in the studios for five years, provides for the appointment of a permanent representative from each union and the hiring by unions of an impartial referee who would be empowered to settle any dispute not ironed out in a meeting between union repi-esentatives and a representative of the studio at which the dispute occurred. A referee would be called in whenever a dispute was not resolved unanimously within four hours. Canada Aboiislies Equip. Price Ceiiings Toronto — The Wartime Prices and Trade Board has abolished price restrictions on practically the full range of mechanical requirements for commercial moving picture production in the Dominion in its latest order providing for the dropping of war-period price controls. There is no longer a price ceiling on moving picture and still cameras, camera lenses and fittings, studio lighting equipment, machines for developing, fixing and printing films, film dryers, range finders, exposure meters, portable lamps and reflectors and darkroom fitments. Studios and laboratories in Canada have been in short supply for a considerable period because of inability to purchase equipment at prices within the ceiling limitation. It is expected that manufacturers in the States will be able to sell products in the Dominion without difficulty now. Ray A. West Dead West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Desert Hot Springs, Cal. — Ray A. West, 44, music film editor at Columbia Pictures, on leave of absence due to ill health, died here last week. His orchestras are reported to have started several film players and musicians on the road to stardom.