The Film Daily (1933)

Tuesday, Jan. 10, 1933 THE ■3&?k DAILY NEWS of the DAY Pierson, la. — The Moville theater here was opened recently by F. J. Kuhn. Boston — Floyd Bell, publicity manager of the Publix Metropolitan, is getting over an attack of the flu. Rockwell City, la.— E. J. Robinson of Omaha has purchased and taken possession of the Empress here. E. N. Neu of Carroll was former owner. Robinson and family have operated a theater in Blair, Nebr., for 25 years. Chicago — "Maedchen in Uniform", which recently played two weeks at the Apollo, returns Jan. 14, at the Roosevelt, Loop B. & K. house, at popular prices. Chicago — Balaban & Katz staged a midnight show at their Chicago Theater Wednesday night, with Al Jolson as the star. This is the first time B. & K. have ever attempted a midnight show on other than Saturday or a holiday. Laramie, Wyo. — J. G. Burbank has reopened the Crown, following the repairs made necessary due to a fire. "THE VAMPIRE BAT" Majestic 63 mins. THRILL MELODRAMA ADMIRABLY PRODUCED AND DIRECTED WITH UNUSUALLY STRONG CAST PACKS POWERFUL PUNCH. Here is one of the best independent features seen this season. It has an unusually entertaining story with the mystery maintained and built up to a high point. The audience is let in on the secret about three-quarters through the film, and then the dramatic qualities are intensified. The locale is that of a small European village where a series of mysterious murders have been committed. The blood is taken from the bodies of the victims. All evidence points to a vampire bat, or some other crime agent that is more than earthly. Finally it is disclosed that the doctor is the criminal, who uses the victims for his experiments .in creating artificial living rissu;. The developments of a clever plot are skillfully handled, the direction is expert, and the atmosphere of the supernatural is gripping in its effect. Lionel Atwill heads a cast that is exceptionally fine, with the members giving fine characterizations throughout. Cast: Lionel Atwill, Fay Wray, Melvyn Douglas, George E. Stone, Maude Eburne, Dwight Frye, Robert Fraser, Rita Carlisle, Lionel Belmore, William V. Mong, Stella Adams, Paul Weigel, Harrison Greene, William Humphrey, Feme Emmett, Carl Stockdale. Director, Frank Strayer; Author, Edward Lowe; Adaptor, same; Dialoguer, same; Cameraman, Ira Morgan; Editor, Otis Garrett. Direction, Very Good. Photography, Excellent. Cleveland — V. E. Hudson has been appointed manager of the Liberty, former Loew house, now operated by Myer Fine and Max Lefkowich. Mt. Vernon, O. — Harry V. Smoot is no longer interested in the Lyric, now being operated by James C. Piatt. Smoot has closed the Memorial and is running only the Vine. "DECEPTION" with Leo Carrillo. Nat Pendleton. Thelma Todd Columbia 65 mins. DRAMA OF THE WRESTLING GAME HAS THE POP APPEAL AND A SWELL WRESTLING BOUT FOR CLIMAX. A very colorful sports film centering around a crooked wrestling promoter who builds a college football player up to championship proportions. Leo Carrillo as the promoter takes Nat Pendleton in hand after his college football days, and builds him up with his flying tackle as a new and sensational wrestler. But Pendleton does not realize that all his bouts are setups. Of course when he meets the champ, he takes an awful beating. Then he wakes up. His trainer puts him on to all the wrestling tricks, and he comes back as the Masked Marvel. In a match with the champ he gives him a licking. The incidental business is well handled, with lots of atmosphere and some cross currents of romantic interest with the crooked promoter's girl falling for the hero. The final wrestling bout is beautifully handled, all the falls being shown in detail, and they are certainly made to look authentic. This thrill sequence alone should put the film over, especially with the wrestling and fight fans. Cast: Leo Carrillo, Dickie Moore, Nat Pendleton, Thelma Todd, Barbara Weeks, Frank Sheridan, Henry Armetta. Hans Steinke. Director, Lew Seiler; Author, Nat Pendleton; Adaptor, Harold Tarshis; Cameraman, Chet Lyons; Editor, William Austin. Direction, Expert Photography, Good. ntumx WRITING FOR THE FILMS, by L'Estrange Fuwcett. Isaac I'itmatm & Sons, New York and London. 51. In this compact 100-page volume, the author, an erudite Englishman who also wrote "Films: Facts and Forecasts" in 1927, goes into the screen writing subject from the angle of showing both the amateur and the professional writer how to go about composing material for the films, and what such writers are up against. Though written in England and expounding largely the British studio situation, the book has plenty of pointers for the American writer as well. Present studio policies, especially the practice of allowing adaptors, directors and others to tamper with stories even after they have been turned out by masters of the literary and dramatic crafts, are among the evils attacked by Fawcett. He suggests a revolution in story method is not at all unlikely. He blames the flood of poor stories on the fact that good writers are not allowed enough leeway. The British studio writing code and contract employed in buying stories are reprinted in the book. It is a generally instructive and thought-provoking volume, with many citations of American incidents, and is de cidedly worth perusal by anyone interested in writing for the screen. Warners' Memorial theater, Mc1 succeeded Clayton Corum as man Keesport, has been appointed manager of the house. Hubbard, O. — Mark A. Villani is the new owner of the Liberty, formerly run by A. J. Masters. House has been closed for a year. Cleveland — The Allen theater, now in independent first-run, has reduced prices to 15 cents for matinees and 25 cents for evenings. Joe Murdock, for the past five years manager of Slow Work, Ham! West Coast Bur., THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Harry Hammond Beall, press agent for Mickey Mouse, hai sued the telephone company for $520000 because he is listed under the classification of Cosmetics. He says he has been annoyed by persons calling him for cosmetic services, and by ribbing from friends, thereby damaging his p. a. reputation of long standing. The phone book in question is dated last August. How it happens that Ham just found out about the wrong listing, or just got the idea for the suit, is more interesting than the legal action itself. Boston — James E. Daley of the Salem Paramount and Howard Honting of the Rialto are now assistant managers at the Metropolitan. Lynn, Mass. — Edward Welch, formerjy connected with the Lynn Paramount, is now treasurer of the Metropolitan in Boston. Denver — C. W. Dickenson and Lon T. Fiddler have resigned as Educational salesmen. Denver — William Fowers, manager of the Fox theater, Idaho Falls, Ida., has been transferred to the Jones theater, Canon City, Colo., succeeding Howard Kuhn, resigned. Frank P. Larson, who has been manager of the Paramount, Idaho Falls, has been made city manager. ager of the Majestic. Geeham was formerly manager of the Audubon in New York. Corum has taken over the managership of a Fanchon & Marco unit in Los Angeles. Del Rio, Tex.— R. and R. Enterprises, Dallas, have acquired the •Strand here from D. F. Luckie. Alva, Okla. — Louie Pracma and Bill Smith have acquired the Liberty and installed new seats and sound equipment. MAKING BETTER MOVIES, by Arthur L. Gale and Ruxscll C. Holslag. Amateur Cinema fit York A paper cover technical handbook for the amateur movie producer. Milwaukee — Harold Mirisch has replaced Arthur Siegel in the Warner booking department here. Siegel has been transferred to New Jersey. Denver — Richard R. Adams, publicity director of the Paramount theater, and Jean Hoskins were married last week. Kansas City — Joe Smith of Midwest Film Distributors has been transferred to the Omaha branch and will cover the Iowa territory. Beloit, Wis. William Geeham has Quebec Seeks to Modify Juvenile Attendance Ban Montreal — Modification of the Quebec law prohibiting children under L6 from attending theaters is sought in a move now under way. Numerous theaters are running norequesting parents to sign a pel it ion. It is understood the exhibitors will ask the Quebec Govern merit to reduce from 16 to 14 the age under which children are not allowed to attend movies. Church interest* are circulating counter-petitions. SARG MARIONETTES IN SHORT Tony Sarg's Marionettes will appear in the thirteenth Ruth Etting two-reeler for Vitaphone now being prepared. Roy Atwell, radio comedian, and Adler and Bradford, dancers, also are in the cast. Joseph Henabery will direct. ERPI IMPROVING WIDK RANGB Electrical Research Products is continuing research on its new wide range recording equipment, working at its coast laboratories. Two reproducing equipments of this type are now in use on Broadway, at the Gaiety, where "Cavalcade" has ju-t opened, and at the Kivoli. This producer was tried out in Providence last spring. New Burglar Alarm Atlanta — Greater protection against burglars will be afforded theaters here by a new alarm system which rings an indicator bell at police hcidqujrt minute anyone breaks into the house The police operator then CM radio the nearest police cars A small chjrr.c will be made tor installation and maintenance of the system