The Film Daily (1948)

( Thursday, September 16, 1948 Cf '\ DAILY : $5,125,000 Damages Now.Asked by Dipson Buffalo— Damages sought by Dipson Theaters, In;., of Batovia, in its anti-trust suit against eight major distributors and the Shea interests WQiild be increased to $5,125,000 u—i^ a motion filed by Dipson as tr. of the action opened before Federal Judge KnighL Originally, trebled damages of $2,500,000 were asked. Dipson, headed by Nikitas D. Dipson and his son, William J., and JcAn R. Osborne, claims it could not obtain reasonable quantities of films as the result of an alleged conspiracy, with the result it was forced to close two theaters and suffered loss of revenue in tJiree others. Defendants include Paramount, Loew's, Warners, 20th-Fox, RKO, Universal, United Artists and Columbia; Buffalo Theaters, Inc., and Bison Theaters, Inc., of the Shea interests, and Vincent R. McFaul, president and general manager of Buffalo Theaters. Theaters involved are the Bailey in Buffalo and the Franklin and Ridge in Lackawanna, still operated by Dipson, and the Century, Buffalo, and Riviera, North Tonawanda, which were operated by Dipson from 1939 to 1941. Plaintiff's attorneys are Louis Borins and Dwight Campbell, Jr., of Buffalo. es' Brandt Named Exploitation , Manager for Eagle Lion (Continued from Page 1) company since its inception as field exploiteer in the Chicago territory, will take over his new duties Oct. 1. The new E-L executive entered the industry in 1930, when he joined Fox Theaters. Prior to his present affiliation, he engaged in exploitation and national promotion posts for UA. Litlle Carnegie Sets "Mozart" Screen Guild's "The Mozart Story" will be premiered Oct. 2 at the Little Carnegie. Horlon-Tod Chicago— Ted Tod, SRO publicist for the Chicago territory, will marry Mrs. Dorothy Horton of Peoria, 111., Saturday. Glass-Eoplin Doris Glass of the U-I advertising department, is engaged to Leonard Koplin of Philadelphia. Couple plans to be married in December. Haley-Drake West Coast Bureau </ THE FILM DAILY Hollywood— Gloria Haley and Tom Drake, both film players, will be married Dec. 27. Bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Haley. REViEUJS Of neuj Films "The Girl From Manhattan" with Dorothy Lamour, beorge Montgomery, Charles Laughton. U-A 81 Mins. lead names should lure some business off the streets: pretly FcEdLE prooRAm stuff. Just about the only thing that will lure any trade off the street into the theater to view this one is the trio of names listed above. It is a confused, haphazard story that has these principals mouthing lines and going through the motions of a peculiarly inert plot. Here is Miss Lamour sans sarong and quite properly ciothed; here also, is Charles Laughtcn, playing a bishop. Montgomery is a young clergyman. Ernest Truex, uncle to Miss Lamour, operates a boarding house wherein reside rent free: Constance Collier, who writes plays; Hugh Herbert, who makes an occasional buck by winning radio contests, and Frank Orth, who fools around with a miniature railroad in the cellar. There's some vague nonsense about a historical old church that a conniver wants torn down. He will contribute money for the site of a new one, making a neat profit by foreclosing on Truex's place and then selling to William Frawley who wants to build a hotel. It looks gloomy for Truex who becomes ill and takes to bed. Between sampling apple goodies Laughton cogitates on the prob.cm of the young clergyman and the New York model — Miss Lamour. Montgomery plays Santa Ciaus, sends Truex enough moola and somehow or other an ending of sorts is reached. CAST: Dorothy Lamour, George Montgomery, Charles Laughton, Ernest Truex, Hugh Herbert, Constance Collier, William Frawley, Sara Allgood, Frank Orth, Howard Freeman, Raymond Largay, George Chandler, Selmer Jackson, Adelaide De Walt Reynolds, Maurice Cass, Eddy Waller. CREDITS: Producer, Benedict Bogeaus; Director, Alfred E. Green; Original stor/, screenplay Howard Estabrook; Musjc, Heinz Roemhold; Photographer, Ernest Laszlo; Art, Jerome Pycha, Jr.; Music, David Chudnow, Wally Heglin; Sets, Robert Priestley; Sound, John Carter; Editor, James E. Smith. DIRECTION: Feeble. PHOTOGRAPHY: Good. Referendum Foiced on Pekin's Amusement Tax Pekin, III. — Local amusement tax problem will go before the voters in referendum form as the result of petitions collected by theater operators. Some 3,200 names were aflaxed to petitions filed with City Council in protest against the four per cent levy. Similar petitions were filed several months ago against a similar ordinance, which was repealed. Council, however, passed the tax bill again last month. Elkins Theater Operator Dies in W. Va. Car Crash Elkins, W. Va.— Dr. K. P. Kostakos, operating the Hippodrome and Manos Theaters here, was killed Saturday in an auto crash between Morgantown and Fairmount. Dr. Kostakos was a son-in-law of Michael Manos, president of Indiana County Theaters Co., of Greensburg, Pa. "Smart Girls Don't Talk" with Virginia Mayo, Bruce Bennett, Robert Hutton. Warners 81 Mins. STILTED MURDER MELODRAMA LEANi HEAVILY ON NAMES OF MAYO, BENNETT, HUrTON. Strictly fiction to keep projection machines warm and operating in the intervals between the bigger numbers of the season "Smart Girls Don't Talk" is the budgeted, type of melodrama with a couple of names to give an assist. This job is stilted an. just a lot of playing at acting which doesn't quite come off. A couple of coldbloodeo murders perk the tale. Operating a gambling joint, Bruce Bennett fal.s in with Virginia Mayo after she presents a claim for a substantial sum that is missing after a rival sticks up the place. She is a shrewd operator. Her brother, a medico, comes visiting and begins romancing Helen Westcott, warbler at Bennett's place. Wrten Bennett is wounded by Ben Welden who welshed on his lOUs. Robert Hlitton attends him and tries to report the gunshot injury to the police. Hs is killed by Bsnnett's trigger happy henchmen. This latter event does not make Miss Mayo any too happy and she decides to throw in with the poli:e who have been poking around. Miss Mayo, working with Richard Rober, a cop, plan a surprise for Bennett & Co. Via police bullets the latter are eliminated. At the conclusion it looks like Rober and Miss Mayo are going to team up. Richard Bare directed. CAST: Virgin a Mayo, Bruce Bennett, Robert H'jtton, Tom D'Andrea, Richard Rober, Helen Westcott, Richard Benedict, Ben Walden, Richard Walsh. CREDITS: Producer, Saul Elkins; Director, Richard Bare; Written by William Sackheim; Photography, Ted McCord; Art, Stanley Fleischer; Editor, Clarence Kolster; Sound, Stanley Jones; Sets, William Wallace; Music, David Buttolph; Orchestration, Leonid Raab. DIRECTION: Discernible. PHOTOGRAPHY: Good. "Rachel and Stranger" In Strong Lincoln Bow Lincoln, Neb.— RKO's "Rachel and the Stranger," with Lorett.a Young, "William Holden and Robert Mitchum, rolled up a first day gross just under $1,000 Saturday at the State, and on Sunday went ahead to about $1,400. Goldwyn-Selznick Plan German Distribution Org. (Continued from Page 1) day by James A. Mulvey, Goldwyn Productions president. Although it is not possible to obtain dollars for accrued German funds at this time, Mulvey pointed out that "the important thing is to have your pictures played on the German screens." Fairbanks Shoots in Poris Paris (By Air Mail) — Three siihjects for Jerry Fairbanks' "Unusual Occupations" briefie series for Paramount face the cameras this week in Paris. Filming will be supervised by Francois Villiers, the producer's French rep. ATONJ Board Okays Conciliation Plan (Continued from Page 1) spokesman said, that the Smith plan would aid in solving any problems arising between Allied members and 20th-Fox. Following discussion of next year's convention plans, the board announced that arrangements had been made for the organization's Eastern regional meeting to be held in Baltimore, Oct. 7. Hodgers Will Open Exec. Training Course Today (Continued from Page 1) comprise the initial group to come under the plan. Following the luncheon, actual course of study will get under way, with the complete program scheduled to last four weeks. Course has been dubbed "Opportunity Unlimited." Candidates who will bp present when the plan tees off are Michael J. Ford, Philip F. Gravitz, H. Russell Gaus, Louis Marks, Ansley B. Padgett and Louis J. Weber. Also attending the luncheon from the home office will be Edward M. Saunders, Edwin W. Aaron, John P. Byrne, H. M. Richey and M. L. Simons. ITOA Against Giveaways, Commissioner Informed (Continued trom Page 1) called by Commissioner Cannella, attended only by ITOA and MMPTA representatives and police officials. Action caused no surprise as Harry Brandt, ITOA president, has been our.spoken in his opposition to giveaways. Commissioner Cannella's move is a revival of the campaign instituted several years ago by Benjamin Fielding of Loew's, then license commissioner. At that time. Fielding won a promise that the practice would be halted. "Louisiana Story" to Sutton Robert Flaherty's "Louisiana Story," prize winner at the recent Ven.ce Film Festival, opens Sept. 28 at the Sutton Theater. U. S. distribution is by Lopert Films. Set "Maedchen" Re-release Lopert Film's reissue of John Krimsky's "Maedchen in Uniform" will open Sept. 24 at the 55th St. Playhouse. STORKS Cincinnati — James Doyle, Paramount salesman, reports the arrival of James Shannon Doyle. Cincinnati — William Stanforth, Columbia booker, has a new son.