The Film Daily (1934)

THE Wednesday, July 18, 1934 mmm*mmm m m h^^h DAILV SHORT SHOTS from EASTERN STUDIOS By CHAS. ALICOATE gERNICE CLAIRE and J. Harold Murray start work today at the Vitaphone studio in a two-reel version of the former stage and screen operetta, "Song of the Flame." Supporting the stars in this number is a cast of performers headed by Greek Evans, who appeared in the original stage production, Detmar Poppin, Don Makarenko, Armand Cortez, Dadette Cristine and Joan Stevens as well as the Vitaphone chorus in ballet ensembles. "Song of the Flame", is to be directed by Joseph Henabery. • Jimmie Savo, Cissy Loftus, Whitney Bourne, Ed Ciannelli, Sandur Szabo and Gypsy Markov have been cast for the next of the series of features being made by Ben Hecht and Charles Mac Arthur at the Eastern Service studio in Astoria, for Paramount release. The story, which calls for a Russian background, will include, aside from the principals, over 1,000 persons. Rehearsals are scheduled to start Aug. 10, with shooting to get under way about 10 days later. • Production on "Bless You", the two-reel musical being produced and directed by Al Christie at the Eastern Service studio in Astoria for Educational release, will be completed tomorrow. The Pickens Sisters, Solly Ward, Warren Hull, Bob Middlemas, Harry Short and Hugh Cameron make up the cast, with Ferde Grofe and his radio orchestra furnishing the instrumental music. Fred Scheld is assisting on the direction from the story by William Watson and Arthur Jarrett, while George Weber, assisted by Eddie Horten and S. Midwall, are responsible for the camera work. Casting for "Gigolette", the second of the series of features to be made by Select Pictures at the Biograph studio, will get under way Friday at the company's offices, with shooting scheduled to start July 30th. • Johnie Doran leaves for Albany today to open negotiations with members of the state for the production of an educational two-reel short. Two M-G-M Title Changes New titles have been announced for two forthcoming M-G-M pictures. "The Girl From Missouri" will be the title of Jean Harlow's new vehicle, formerly known as "Born to be Kissed." "Straight Is the Way" will replace "Four Walls" as title of the new Franchot Tone-Karen Morley film adapted from George Abbott's and Dana Burnet's stage play, "Four Walls." « « REVIEWS of the NEW FEATURES » » Richard Dix in "HIS GREATEST GAMBLE" with Dorothy Wilson, Bruce Cabot, Shirley Grey RKO Radio 72 mins. HUMAN INTEREST DRAMA ON FATHER-LOVE THEME SOMEWHAT OFF BEATEN PATH BUT A LITTLE BURDENSOME IN SPOTS. Starting off in another of his familiar happy-go-lucky adventurer roles, Richard Dix is worked into a variety of dramatics that result in making this picture just fair for general entertainment despite the novelty attributes of its plot structure. Having taken his little daughter away from her worthless mother, who left him, Dix is enjoying a gay life abroad with the kid — a role in which little Edith Fellows scores a big hit — when the mother finds them and recoups the girl. At the same time Dix lands himself in jail for a long stretch as a result of an accidental death. Escaping about a dozen years later, he hunts up his daughter, who has been made to think she is a cripple by the mental influence of the mother. After rescuing the girl, now played by Dorothy Wilson, and cinching her romance with Bruce Cabot, Dix surrenders to finish his sentence. Leonard Carey as the butler helps get in a little comedy relief. Cast: Richard Dix, Dorothy Wilscn, Bruce Cabot, Shirley Grey, Edith Fellows, Erin O'Brien Moore, Leonard Carey, Eily Malyon. Director, John Robertson; Author, Salisbury Field; Screen Play, Sidney Buchman, Harry Hervey; Cameraman, Teddy Tetzlaff; .ecording Engineer, Jchn E. Tribby; Editor, William Hamilton. Direction, Satisfactory. Photography, A-]. Carlos Gardel in "CUESTA ABAJO" ("The Downfall") Paramount International 74 mins. SPANISH PRODUCTION FEATURES CARLOS GARDEL IN ROMANTIC DRAMA THAT SCORES STRONG. This is the first of a series of Spanish talkers featuring Carlos Gardel, the Lawrence Tibbet of South America, who plays i romantic role and puts over several vocal tango numbers very impressively. Directed jy Louis Gasnier at the Paramount studio at Astoria, Long Island, this production has everything that any Hollywood studio could give it. Gasnier has introduced some of his Parisian technical tricks. George Webber at the camera has delivered a brand of picture technique that is outstanding. Between the two of them, they have produced a picture that from the technical point alone is very impressive. Composition and lighting are superb throughout. No harsh shots. Ail soft lights and shadows that give the effect of delicate etchings. Gardel is immense. Personality plus. And how that boy can sing his tango songs! In his own Argentine he will slay the femmes with this one. Nice jttle romantic drama built primarily as a wagon to carry his song numbers. Tied up to a flirtatious wife, and loving another girl, fate finally works out a solution that • lews him to return to his real love after journeying to Paris and New York. Nice casting throughout with unusual types. Mona Maris was never handled better. Cast: Carlos Gardel, Mona Maris, Vicente Padula, Anita Cantillo, Jaime Devesa, Guillermo Arccs, Susanne Dulier, Manuel Peluffo, Carlos Spaventa. Director, Louis Gasnier; Author, Alfredo Le Pera; Screen Play, same; Cameraman, George Webber. Direction, Very good. Photography, Excellent. » NEWS from the FOREIGN FIELD 3,114 French Houses Wired Paris — Out of 4,245 cinemas in France and its North African colonies, 3,114 are now equipped for sound. 3,000 Houses in Spain Madrid — Latest compilation of cinemas in Spain puts the figure at 3,000, of which 1,400 are wired. 40 Planned in Mexico Mexico City — Production of about 40 native pictures in Spanish is planned for the current year, a survey indicates. "La Vie de Boheme" for Paramount Paris — -'La Vie de Boheme," being produced by Abel Gance with Puccini's musical score, will be released by Paramount. Clive Brook for British Film London — Clive Brook will appear with Lady Tree in "The Gentleman," to be made by British & Continental Films. Jean Murat and Meg Lemonier will be in the French version. Handling U. S. Films in Brussels Brussels — Mayfair Film Co. has been formed for the exclusive distribution of American pictures. New Studio for Amsterdam Amsterdam — Cinetone Studios have been established for the production of native pictures. Poland Plans 20 This Year Warsaw — About 20 native pictures will be produced in Poland this year, a checkup shows. There are now 750 movie houses in this country, with 400 wired. NEWS of the DAY Washington— Morton L. Katz, has been appointed office manager of the local United Artists exchange. Omaha — Howard Shortly has been appointed manager of the Town theater by Ralph D. Goldberg, owner and operator, following resignation of Mike Goldberg, who has not announced his future plans. Omaha — Midwest Film Distributing Co., Omaha exchange, has moved into its new quarters on the north side of Davenport Street. New manager of the Omaha office is L. O. Ringler, formerly in charge of the Kansas City office. C. M. Parkhurst left here to take over the manager's desk of the Kansas City exchange. New assistant to Ringler is F. E. Judd, formerly of the Fox exchange in Des Moines. Omaha — Closing of two outstate theaters is reported by A. A. Mendenhall, manager of the Paramount exchange. The Lyric at Edgar and the Opera House at Butte, Nebr., are dark for the summer. New Orleans — Milton Dureau, brother of Saenger Theaters' booker, Gaston Dureau, has joined United Artists as salesman. Nick Lamantia, formerly with Universal, is now in charge of the U. A. shipping department. Boston — Lewis Newman, formerly manager of the Dudley Theater, has been transferred to the Rivoli. Marlboro, Mass. — Fay Carey has been appointed assistant manager at the Marlboro Theater. San Antonio Notes San Antonio — Kier and Phillips, executives of the National Picture Co., are back from a business trip to the coast. William Bailey has reopened the Harlingen Theater in the Southwest Texas Valley with "Baby Take a Bow." Al Anderson and His Melodians are on the stage. Jimmy Zintgraff, cameraman, has left for the coast. A $2,500 open-air theater has been constructed at Fort Sam Houston near North New Braunfels Avenue. Foreclosing Selwyn Theater Foreclosure sale of the Selwyn Theater, 42nd Street legitimate house recently leased for pictures by Max Cohen, is scheduled for Aug. 3, to satisfy a lien of $143,736 in a suit by the Dry Dock & Savings Institution against Selwyn Realty Corp. Operation of the new policy is not expected to be affected.