The Film Daily (1932)

THE Friday, Nov. 18, 1932 -3&!!k DAILY HUliH mm f.W \ ■ 1 1 j By RALPH WILK HOLLYWOOD COX MOVIETONE'S newly organized musical department, headed by Louis de Francesco, general musical director, has supplied a musical score and interludes for "Cavalcade." Important preliminary work for the musical setting of this Noel Coward play was done by Doris Silver, Fox musical research library director. * * * Paramount assignments: Vfvienne Osborne for "Luxury Liner" ; Wynne Gibson and David Landau for "The Crime of the Century"; Noah Beery for "Ruby Red." * * * Ben Stoloff will direct Columbia's "East of Fifth Avenue." * * * Murray Roth, who is to direct a Technicolor musical two-reeler for M-G-M, is now working with Stanley Rauh on the story. Jack Cummings will supervise the production, and Danny Dare is to stage the dance numbers. * * * Neil Hamilton has been engaged for Columbia's "Child of Manhattan," which will shortly go into production under the direction of Eddie Buzzell. * * * John Mahin, who adapted the Clark Gable-Jean Harlow picture. "Red Dust," for M-G-M, has had his writing affiliation with that studio prolonged by a new contract. * * * Glenda Farrell has been selected by Warners for the leading feminine part in "Blue Moon Murder Mystery," by S. S. Van Dine. It will be directed by Robert Florey. * * * "Murder at the Zoo," soon to be produced by Paramount, will have Charlie Ruggles in one of the leading roles. The story is an original screen play by Seton I. Miller and Philip Wylie. * * * Robert Lewis, Jr., assistant to Pandro Berman, RKO Radio Pictures' associate producer, was awarded a prize of $100 for suggesting the title of "Conquerors" for the picture formerly known as the "March of a Nation." * * * Tom Brown will appear in First National's "Grand Central Airport," starring Richard Barthelmess. * * * Buck Jones left Hollywood Hospital last week to spend a week or ten days at Palm Springs regaining his strength, following a siege of influenza. Armsby Joins RKO Board George Armsby, chairman of the board of Bancamerica-Blair Corp., has been elected to the board of the directors of RKO. Joe E. Brown in "YOU SAID A MOUTHFUL" with Ginger Rogers First National 75 mins. GOOD LAUGH ENTERTAINMENT IN COMEDY WITH A SWIMMING RACE FINALE THAT IS PLENTY FUNNY. In a comedy situation that gets funnier and builds up suspense as it goes along, Joe E. Brown delivers another load of his typical clowning that makes fine laugh entertainment for the whole family. Story starts with Joe as a shipping clerk who is being made the butt of practical jokes by his fellow workers. An aunt in California dies and leaves everything to him, but on his arrival there he finds that all he is heir to is a colored boy, Farina. While out after a job, Joe is mistaken for a swimming star coming to compete in a Catalina swim sponsored by a millionaire whose daughter, played by Ginger Rogers, takes Joe in hand. Love develops, but Joe can't swim and his efforts to dodge the race result in plenty of comedy action. How he comes through and wins in the end is a riot of laughter. Cast: Joe E. Brown, Ginger Rogers, Preston S. Foster, Sheila Terry, Farina, Guinn William, Harry Gribbon, Oscar Apfel, Edwin Maxwell, Walter Walker, William Burress, Frank Hagney, Selmar Jackson, Mia Marvin, Harry Seymour, James Eagles, Arthur S. Byron, Anthony Lord, Bert Morehouse. Director, Lloyd Bacon; Author, William B. Dover; Adaptors, Robert Lord, Bolton Mallory; Dialoguers, same; Cameraman, Richard Towers; Editor, Owen Marks. Direction, Fine Photography, Fine "RICHTHOFEN" i German Silent I Symon Gould 75 mins OUTDATED SILENT GERMAN FILM IS VERY AMATEURISH AND CRUDE IN ALL DEPARTMENTS AND TITLE MISLEADING. From all appearances this film must have been made right after the war, and gives the impression of a lot of old library shots. The film gives every indication of age, being in very poor physical condition, jumpy and scratched. Photography is pretty terrible. The acting technique is that of the early silent days, and that goes for the direction. The only possible appeal is the name of Richthofen for the title, figuring that German audiences might go for a screen story of the great war flyer. But the title is very misleading, as Richthofen plays practically no part in the picture. A fictional story has been worked around a young German flyer who is supposed to be in the Richthofen squadron during the war. His romance with a French girl furnishes the motive for the action. Plot is amateurish, dull. A character representing Richt.hofen is occasionally worked in with the war scenes, principally airplane shots, and very crude. Richthofen's death is re-enacted, then his military funeral in Berlin, being old newsreel shots. A weird mixture of fact and fancy atrociously edited. English titles. There seems no possible excuse for showing this one. In one sequence where German and British air squadrons are supposed to engage in combat, a title reads: "Richthofen singles out a British flyer for combat." Then two planes are shown circling in the sky — but no combat This is a fair sample of the junky way the entire picture is presented. No C3st or other credits available. Direction, Weak Photography, Poor Wanda Tuchock, scenario writer for RKO Radio Pictures, has left for Mexico on a short vacation after completing the script of "Little Women," soon to go into production. * » * A new American citizen was born on the RKO lot. Kubec Glasmon, who in a few short years rose meteorically from a tough neighborhood drugstore in Chicago to a high place in the writing world, has received his citizenship papers. * * * Simile — As helpless as a crooner without a megaphone. * * * Alan Birmingham, who appeared in many Broadway successes has been cast for an important role in "A King's Holiday," which John Adolfi will direct for Warners. George Arliss will be starred. * * * George Meeker, accompanied by father and brother, is enjoying the rigors of outdoor life at June Lake. Neil Hamilton and Glenn Rominger, sound engineer, indulged in some odd bets on the U.C.L.A. — St. Mary's game. Their wagers involved the winner of the toss, whether an odd or even-number player would received the kick-off, what team would be penalized first, what team would score first and whether U.C.L.A. would be in pos session of the ball at the end of the game. * * * Walter Lang, who directed "No More Orchids" for Columbia, will direct "Warrior's Husband," Jesse L. Lasky's second picture for Fox. * * * Maude Fulton, who has written many screen hits, is adapting "Broadway Bad," which will be made by Fox, with Sidney Lanfield directing. * * * Clive Brook will see his first American football game, when U. S. C. plays Notre Dame in Los Angles, Dec. 10. * * * Ernest Schoedsack, who will make a new trip to the Near East, had a good laugh when Ernie Westmore, make-up man, wanted to accompany the director and make up the natives in the silent continent to look like Hollywood extras. * * * James Cagney's next Warner picture is titled "Picture Snatcher." Danny Ahern wrote it, with adaptation by Allen Rivkin and P. J. Wolfson. » * * Lona Andre, one of the Panther Woman contestants, has received ? Paramount contract. Verna Hillie. another Panther Woman finalist, will appear in "Madame Butterfly. ■• Buffalo — Robert Wagner is now serving as special representative of Filmcraft exchange for upper New York state. Rossford, O. — The Ross, largest movie here, has been sold to Paul Kotowicz by C. A. Young, Sr. House will be improved. Amherst, O. — The Colonial has been sold to Jerry Steel by Miriam B. Devinney. Akron, O. — After a week's trial at vaude-film, offering the same program for seven days, the Civic has changed to split-week policy. Buffalo — Shea's Great Lakes has reduced admission prices to 25 cents for adults from 11 A. M. to 6 P. M. After 6 P. M. the price for adults is 40 cents, a reduction of 25 cents from the old scale. Sunday, the price will be 25 cents before 2:30 P. M. and 40 cents thereafter. Children's price is reduced to 15 cents. Niagara Falls — The Colonial, owned by M. T. Korpoliniski, has just reopened after a fire. The Catarack, of which Herman Lawrence is manager, also has reopened. Buffalo — Harry Beeman, publicity man, now is on the downtown staff of the Buffalo. Eddie Mead is doingpublicity for Shea's Community theaters. St. Louis — Harry Redmon, residing at Hotel Jefferson here an.' owner of the Majestic theater building in East St. Louis, 111., and Dr. Walter C. Wilhelmj, prominent physician of East St. Louis were held up recently near Cape Girardeau by three bandits swarmed with sawedoff shotguns. 1 .V z HARRY DARRAST has returned to Ho'lywood to direct John Barrymore in "Topaze" for RKO ROBIN IRVINE. British film producer and husband of Ursula Jeans, who is in Hollywood playing a part in "Cavalcade" for Fox, is on his way here from London. On his arrival in New York he will go to the coast. ROBERT RITCHIE, representing Jeanette MacDonald, has left for the coast after arranging a European tour for the star. CECIL B. DE MILLE arrives in New York tomorrow from the coast. NORMA TALMADGE. after a rest in Palm Beach, leaves in a few days for the coast. GEORGE JESSEL is returning to New York. HENRY MATSON of "Hollywood Inside Facts" is in New York from the coast for a visit. WILLIAM CONSELMAN left New York yesterday on his return to the Coast. He will next make "King of the Air." Will Rogers picture, for Fox. GEORGE BATCHELLER left for the coast yesterday to start production on Chesterfield's ninth and tenth features in its line-up of 12 for the present season. CLAUDE MACGOWAN will return Monday from a midwest tour. ARTHUR DENT will arrive Tuesday from London on the Berengaria.