The Film Daily (1933)

THE ■2W?k DAILY Thursday, Jan. 12,1933 152 FILMS MENTIONED IN "TENJEST" VOTES (Continued from Page 1) make an average of about three meritorious pictures a week turned out by the industry. Paramount Leads In the Honor List Nearly a third of the pictures in the honor list were Paramount releases. Starting with "Shanghai Express," which headed this group with 117 votes, the 15 Paramount citations also included "Broken Lullaby," "Love Me Tonight," "Movie Crazy," "One Hour With You," "Farewell to Arms," "Trouble in Paradise," "Phantom President," "Night of June 13," "Horse Feathers," "Big Broadcast," "This is the Night," "Lady and Gent," "Miracle Man," "Merrily We Go to Hell." M-G-M Total Boosted By 11 "Honor" Films M-G-M, which took the lion's share of the "Ten Best" by getting half of them, added to its score with 11 in the Honor List. These were "Washington Masquerade," "Arsene Lupin," "As You Desire Me," "Hell Divers," "Private Lives," "Mata Hari," "Wet Parade," "Tarzan," "Red Headed Woman," "Blondie of the Follies," "Letty Lynton." Warner-First National Get 9 on Honor Roll Another big batch of "Honor Roll" pictures went to WarnerFirst National, which had the following nine: "Man Who Played God," "Blessed Event," "Life Begins," "Union Depot," "So Big," "Tiger Shark," "One Way Passage," "The Mouthpiece," "Cabin in the Cotton." Warner's "I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang," which has been kicking up a lot of noise, did not figure in the 1932 poll because it was not generally released in time. This picture will be on the 1933 ballots. RKO took three, "Bring 'Em Back Alive," "What Price Hollywood" and "Bird of Paradise," while Columbia had "Washington Merry-GoRound" and "American Madness"; United Artists, "Congress Dances"; Fox, "Dance Team"; World Wide, "Last Mile." Approximately 1,100 Australian theaters are now wired for sound, leaving less than 200 silent houses. • • • BY WAY of introducing a film gent who really needs no introduction William Saal known north, east, south and west as "Bill" he is one of the young oldsters in this biz meaning a lad who started learning film lore when a mere kid, and he is still practically a youngster only 35 but what ground he has covered ! and what things he has accomplished! • • • YOUNG IN years, but old in experience before he stepped into distribution and production with Burt Kelly and Sam Bischoff he probably held the record as a film buyer starting in the early days down in Dallas with Hulsey then with Steve Lynch in Atlanta then with Paramount-Publix 12 years of buying experience hitting the staggering figure of $150,000,000. • • • IT WAS Bill Saal who took the Tiffany company in 1931 when it was facing bankruptcy and has since paid off $2,000,000 in debts today he controls companies that rate around five million his latest KBS only in existence since May, 1932 has clicked one picture after another "Man Called Back" "Last Mile" "False Faces" "Uptown New York" "Those We Love" "Death Kiss" all these pix had major authors and casts • • • HERE IS a slick three-way combination Burt Kelly with his knowledge of story and star values Sam Bischoff, with production experience ranging over 20 years Bill Saal with his executive, financial and practical theater experience in the toughest times we have ever experienced this triumvirate has gone out and scored impressively not overlooking Bob Savini Bill's assistant, counselor and friend who dovetails the work of the other three and keeps everything running right in the groove • * * * • • • WHAT GIVES this lad Saal an edge on the ball is his uncanny mastery of figures production figures at the inception of his present setup he submitted a production schedule to the bankers which has performed better than he promised them it would do and in the tough year of 1932 • • • ONE GENT who never goes off on snap judgment he likes to talk things over with all hands concerned always respects the other fellow's point of view then he makes the decision and moves fast which reminds us of the biggest thing that Bill ever did when the talkers came in he was buyer for Publix against the judgment of others he sewed up the circuit for the talkies in a deal with Harry Warner and Bunn of Western Electric for installations and that was at a time when talkies were very much of an experiment, too Mister Saal is very much in the limelight and we predict he will be more so very shortly for certain big interests have their eyes on him so you needn't be surprised when it happens « « « » » » PARA. WINS CONTRACT SUIT INVOLVING FILM QUALITY (Continued from Page 1) against J. M. O'Dowd, operator of the O'Dowd Theater in that city. Charging abrogation of a contract early I in 1931, Paramount in May filed suit against O'Dowd. Waring & Brockinton, attorneys with offices at Charleston, represented the company. In its complaint to the court, Paramount stated that the film contract was complete in itself with no side agreements, and that Paramount had rendered its full service under the contract. The exhibitor in his answer covered quite a few points, the two outstanding ones being that he claimed he was given certain verbal promises at the time the contract was made and thereafter, and that these promises were not lived up to. The other defense was based on the exhibitor's opinion as to the quality. On the first important point regarding promises, the Judge ruled that no testimony was admissible because there were spaces provided on the face of the contract in printed form, and that if any promises were given to the exhibitor, they would have been written into these spaces. This left for the exhibitor only the question of his personal opinion of the quality of the product. In this respect the Judge in his charge to the jury directed that if in their opinion the weight of evidence showed that Paramount, had delivered reasonably good product, then the jury would have to find a verdict in favor of Paramount ; but if not, in favor of the defendant. The attorney for O'Dowd contended to the court that the burden was on Paramount to prove that it had delivered good product, but the court decided that the burden was on the defendant to prove that Paramount had not delivered such product. In consequence, the jury returned a verdict for Paramount. The case attracted widespread interest in I the Southeast among exhibitors, and it took several days to try. Cooperating with War I ing & Brockinton for Paramount was Sid I ney Justin, a member of the Paramount . legal staff. The defendant has 30 days in which to appeal to the Federal Court of Appeals, which sits in Charlotte, N. C, for that district. Several Film Measures Looming in Minnesota (Continued from Page 1). ing to a bulletin from Al Steffes, Allied chief, to exhibitors. A chain store tax bill, recommended by Governor Olson, is expected to include circuit theaters. SPARKS GIVE MIAMI VAUDE. Miami, Fla. — Vaudeville, with twice weekly change, is being added by Sparks at the Paramount. MANY UAPPY RETUCNSJ Best wishes arc extended by THE FILM DAILY to the following members of the industry, who are celebrating their birthdays: Jan. 11-12 Ernest Pascal Porter H. Evans Earl Baldwin Chester Conklin Monte Blue Lew Collins Marvin Schenck Joseph Millert .