The Film Daily (1948)

Tuesday, August 10, 1948 DAILY House Committee Will Hear Exhibs/ Charges (Continued from Page 1) Federal Courthouses, or postofiice buildings. First session is scheduled for September 3 in Butte, Mont., with other September sessions slated for the 8th in Casper; the 11th in Salt Lake City; the 15th in Kansas City; the 17th in Omaha; the 20th and 21st in Minneapolis; the 23rd in Madison, Wis., and the 27th in South Bend, Ind. Committee will sit in Detroit for the first two days of October, going to Louisville the fifth, Oklahoma City the 8th and Houston the 12th. Ballinger has promised further hearings after the election on the Pacific Coast and elsewhere — probably not until next year. ATONJ Takes Action on Bingo, ASCAP, Conciliation Allied Theater Owners of New Jersey met in the organization's offices here yesterday and took action on conciliation, ASCAP and the proposed bingo legislation in that state. With President Ed Lachman, the membership heard a report on the bingo situation from George Gould who was then instructed to oppose the bill at a public hearing on the issue scheduled in Trenton today. Lachman requested the theater owners' film committee to meet with Andy Smith, 20th-Fox general sales manager, as soon as practical in order to set up the mechanics of conciliation on the lines of that recently established by North Central Allied. After some debate, it was recommended that members withhold payment of fees to ASCAP for performing rights to musical compositions in motion pictures until the present somewhat confused situation is "clarified." An Eastern regional meeting of National Allied reps, will take place here tomorrow with Meyer Leventhal, of Baltimore, Eastern regional vice-president, presiding. Among those scheduled to attend are Sidney Samuelson, eastern Pennsylvania; Jules Rivkin, Boston; Irving Bollinger, Wilbur Snaper, George Gold and Ed Lachman. REVIEUJS Of nEUJ films 'Larceny' ATONJ Outing Aug. 24 Allied Theater Owners of New Jersey will holds its annual outing at the West End Casino, West End, N. J., Aug. 24. SICK LIST with John Payne, Joan Caulfield, Dan Duryea, Shelley Winters. Univ.-lnt'l 89 Mins. CRACKLING DIALOGUE AND SMART DIRECTORIAL PACE LIFTS THIS ONE CONSIDERABLY. HAS TOP PRODUCTION. SHOULD MEASURE UP FAIRLY WELL. This latest examination of the confidence game and its practitioners stems from a novel by Lois Eby and John Fleming called 'The Golden Fleece." The screenplay derived from the original work has been assembled, produced and played with the long, perhaps even lengthy arm of coincidence used prominently at frequent intervals. In this way little unexpected transpires. The proceedings dovetail. It is, however, a good example of its type with crackling dialogue and when it gets down to the relations between the sexes, it becomes frankly an adult offering. Good deal of emphasis^is placed on the female pursuit of the male with its irksome problems and, in due course, tragic end. Portraying such standard roles as unscrupulous but slick operators who would dupe a community by promoting a phony war memorial, the innocent girl — widow of a local hero — the man she falls in love with, an amorous blonde moll who is after the same man, and the assorted innocents — sheep — who make up the yarn, the cast aptly renders the familiar requirements of the parts. They are run through the works by the knowledgeable direction of George Sherman. After shearing some sheep in Florida, Dan Duryea sends John Payne to the Coast for the war memorial clipping. Shelley Winters, Duryea's girl, who has more than a yen for Payne, follows. Duryea sends one of his uglies to look into the matter. Payne meanwhile meets up with Joan Caulfield, passes himself off as her dead husband's war buddy and sets the fleece up. As stated before, the long arm of coincidence is exercised quite a bit when the situations boil to the climax on the Coast to a point where Duryea, ringleader, makes a personal appearance to see that things are going right — or wrong, as the case may be — and in short order it comes out that Payne is seriously in love with Miss Caulfield. Miss Winters louses things up. It concludes with the cops coming on the scene after Miss Winters is shot in a mixup and all the con men are arrested. CAST: John Payne, Joan Caulfield, Dan Duryea, Shelley Winters, Dorothy Hart, Richard Rober, Dan Herlihy, Nicholas Joy, Percy Helton, Walter Greaza, Patricia Alphin, Harry Antrim, Russ Conway, Paul Brinegar, Don Wilson. CREDITS: Producer, Leonard Goldstein; Director, George Sherman; Screenplay, Herbert F. Margolis, Louis Morheim, William Bowers; From the novel, "The Velvet Fleece," by Lois Eby, John Fleming; Photography, Irving Glassberg; Sets, Russell A. Gausman, Ted Offenbecker; Art, Bernard Herzbrun, Richard Reidel; Editor, Frank Gross; Sound, Leslie I. Carey, Glenn Anderson; Music, Leith Stevens. DIRECTION: Good. PHOTOGRAPHY: Good. MARVIN WEILL, manager, Whiteway Electric Co., Chicago, has been discharged from St. Francis Hospital and is back at his desk. JOHN ROSENBERG, of Loew's Poll Palace, Hartford, Conn., is back at work, following a long stay in the Hartford Hospital. "Hollow Triumph" with Paul Henreid, Joan Bennett, Edward Franz, John Qualen. Eagle Lion 83 Mins. PAUL HENREID DELIVERS AN ACTION PACKED MELODRAMA THAT SHOULD PLEASE FANS AND EXHIBS. ALIKE. WELL-KNIT PRODUCTION. ACTING, DIRECTION, PHOTOGRAPHY MERITORIOUS. Here is a film that should break the Summer doldrums and bring the prodigal fans flocking to the box office again. "Hollow Triumph," which marks Paul Henreid's bow as a producer, is a crisp, ironic, fastpaced story of a wise guy who outsmarts himself at the cost of his life. Emerging from prison, Henreid and his pals knock off a Miami gambling joint. The mob scatters to evade the vengeance of aggrieved gamblers. One of Henreid's mob is bumped off in Mexico. Henreid lies low. His pursuers are hot on his trail. Accidentally, he discovers a psychiatrist with a lucrative practice who looks exactly like him except for a scar on his left cheek. Henreid knocks off the M.D., assumes his guise despite the fact that he has mistakenly placed a self-inflicted scar on the wrong side of his face. Joan Bennett, the M.D.'s love-scarred secretary, discovers that Henreid murdered her boss when Henreid's brother appeals to her for help in finding his brother so that he can tell him not to fear for his life any longer since the Government has nabbed the Miami gambler on an income tax charge. Henreid maintains his pose as the psychiatrist before his brother. Miss Bennett also keeps mum, even to the police. But she's so disgusted with the mess she's in that she books passage for Honolulu. Henreid promises to join her. She doesn't believe him. For once, though, he keeps his word. As he gets to the dock two mobsters from another gambling joint kill him for attempting to welsh on heavy losses incurred by his ringer. Paul Henreid has a field day enacting a dual role. He will win new admirers with his deft playing of a hard boiled easymoney criminal, and reinforce his popularity with the femmes who like him for his suave, romantic style. Joan Bennett scores in her portrayal of a wised-up gal. John Qualen and Eduard Franz also turn in top performances. Steve Sekely's firm direction is reflected in the smooth timing of the entire cast. Photography ranks with the best. CAST: Paul Henreid, Joan Bennett, Eduard Franz, Leslie Brooks, John Qualen, Mabel Paige, Herbert Rudley, Charles Arnt, George Chandler, Sid Tomack, Alvin Hammer, Ann Staunton, Paul Burns, Charles Trowbridge, Morgan Farley. CREDITS: Brvan Foy in Charge of Production; Producer, Paul Heftreid; Directed by Steve Sekely; Screenplay, Doniel Fuchs; Based on a novel by Murray Forbes; Photography, John Alton; Music, Sol Kaplan; Conducted by Charles Previn; Musical director, Irving Friedman; Editor, Fred Allen; Art, Edward lllou, Frank Durlauf; Sets, Armor Morlowe, Clarence Steenson; Sound, Leon S. Becker, Merle Reeves. DIRECTION: Expert. PHOTOGRAPHY: Excellent. Test U. K. Pix Day-Date in Texas San Antonio, Tex. — As a temporary experiment, a series of firstrun British films will be booked day and date into the Broadway and Woodlawn Theaters, Interstate suburbans for three days. First in is "The Smugglers," with "The Adventuress" and "Great Expectations" to follow. Create New UA Posts ForS(linitzerJa(l( (Continued from Page 1) reorganization of the UA sale structure was made by Paul N. Lazarus, Jr., who, as executive as ''tant to President Gradwell L. Ses^ ^Aall maintain policy and admini^i'ative supervision of the distributing firm's sales operations. Move will free Sears for greater concentration on corporate affairs and the securing of product. Lazarus stated that greateii autonomy will be given to individual branch and district managers. Jack, former Southern district manager, will maintain headquarters in Dallas, while Schnitzer, former Eastern and Canadian division sales manager, will continue to operate from the home office. J Theater Biz on Upward Trend, Says Youngstein (Continued from Page 1) company exchanges as captain oJ the Bill Heineman sales drive. Youngstein, who has been meeting with exhibitors in the exchangt cities in addition to holding brand meetings, said that approximatelj 75 per cent of the theater men h( had contacted felt that the botton had been reached, and that the re turn climb had started. There was general agreement Youngstein stated, that the Fall an( / Winter would see better businessfl although there was no expectatioi that the level of 1946-47 would bi attained. Youngstein pulls out today on an other leg of his tour, with Nev Orleans his first stop. After that he will visit Atlanta and Charlotte returning at the week-end for an other quick home office visit. Fete Richardson Friday Cleveland, O. — Robert Richardson recently appointed Eagle Lioi branch manager, will be honored b; a testimonial banquet to be held ii the Hickory Grille on Friday. CHARTER6D Giroux Burial in Chi. West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Funeral services for Mrs. J. F. Giroux, 81, mother of George R. Giroux, field representative of Technicolor Motion Picture Corporation, were held at the chapel of the Hollenbeck Home. Week-end interment was at Chicago, her former home. RAM FILMS, INC., New York, with capite of $20,100 consisting of 100 shares comma stock $1 par value and 50 shares preferre stock $400 par value, 50 shares preferred on 28 shares common stock subscribed, to produc moving pictures, plays, radio and televisio' programs. Incorporated at Albany by Eaysa Wilson, David Joseph Piel, Erik Borge. SPECIAL PURPOSE FILMS, INC., New Yor N. Y., with capital of 2800 shares preferrd stock $10 par value and 500 shares comma stock $1 par value, to produce motion picture! John Fox, Hampton Howard, Cameron I. Ka' directors. Adrian P. Driggs, Albert H. Beardei Carmel L. Ridhe, subscribers. Incorporated Albany. MEDEA CO., INC., New York, with capiti of 200 shares no par value stock, three sharf subscribed, to produce plays and motion pi tures. Incorporated at Albany by Harold Sherman, Floria V. Lasky, Sara Kaye. NILES OUTDOOR THEATER, INC., Diir Building, Detroit, Mich. $50,000 common ($K par). Paid in $1,000. J. R. Broadway and H Yost incorporators. ! k