The Film Daily (1934)

THE Thursday, Aug. 2, 1934 OAILV 11 » REVIEWS « Leslie Howard and Kay Francis in "BRITISH AGENT" (Hollywood Preview) First National Time, Not Set FINE WAR STORY COMBINING DRAMA WITH ROMANCE THAT SHOULD EXERT GOOD GENERAL APPEAL. This is an excellent vehicle for Leslie Howard and Kay Francis, and it should please audiences generally. Russia in the days of the war furnishes an exciting background for a love affair between Howard, as a British agent seeking to keep Russia fighting against Germany, and Kay Francis, as a leader working in behalf of the Soviets who sought a separate peace with Germany. "Lenin", another famous Russian revolutionist, figures in the story. Although Kay Francis is loyal to the Soviets and submits information injurious to Howard, in the end her love for him is so strong that she is ready to die with him. However, a happy climax is effected. Michael Curtiz has done a very good job in the direction, while Laird Doyle fashioned an excellent script. Cast: Leslie Howard, Kay Francis, William Gargan, Phillip Reed, Irving Pichel, Walter Byron and Ivan Simoson. Director, Michael Curtiz; Author, H Bruce Lockhart; Screen Play, Laird Doyle; Cameraman, Ernest Haller; Editor, Tom Richards. Direction, Excellent. Photography, A-l. SHORTS George Sidney and Charlie Murray in "Plumbing for Gold" Universal 18 mins. Fair Comedy As a couple of inexperienced plumbers, called in to recover a ring that has been lost by a woman in the bathroom, George Sidney and Charlie Murray stir up a fair number of laughs with their familiar hokum. Generally the two-reeler follows the well trod path of slapCharley Chase in "It Happened One Day" M-G-M 19 mins. Okay Not much originality in this script, but Charley Chase manages to make it fairly satisfactory. Charley, on his way to get a job, has the usual run-in with a man who turns out to be his new boss. Then Charley gets himself kidded by bragging about being all set for promotion and to marry the boss' daughter, with these things actually coming true by accident. A lot of typical gag matter is scattered along the route. Popeye the Sailor in "Shiver Me Timbers" Paramount 7 mins. Good Cartoon Another very amusing adventure of Popeye the Sailor. With Olive Oyl and Wimpy trailing along, Popeye defies warning and goes exploring in a ghost ship. As soon as they are inside, the hulk takes off from shore, and there follows a series of spooky incidents, winding up with Popeye's usual trick of taking a big chew of spinach and then cleaning up the works. • • • A FEW MONTHS back when we made some positive statements regarding eastern production there was a bit of sniffing and a scattering of cynical amusement so, to those who doubted, we are here to state that eastern production is more secure today than it has been in many years and is undoubtedly permanent • • • WHY NOT take a run up to the Biograph studios where Select Pictures is producing "Gigolette" with Ralph Bellamy, Adrienne Ames and Robert Armstrong heading a swell cast Either Bill Saal or Burt Kelly will welcome you You'll be ushered onto one of the stages where Charles Lamont is directing Once on the set, you'll find it difficult to discern whether you're on a Hollywood stage or at Biograph except that things seem to move more smoothly up there meaning more speed with utmost efficiency • • • YOU'LL SEE Joe Ruttenberg and Sam Levitt at the cameras Dan Bloomberg, the recording engineer Chris Beute, assistant director, handling matters without fuss or fury Willon Fieldz. the make-up expert and many others who are all contributing to the precision and art of the production Ask Bellamy and Miss Ames, as we did, what they think of eastern production get the actors' slant ask Charlie Lamont then remember that this is th° company's second picture up there and that they WILL make 10 more We are not the gloating kind but now and then we take a holiday from virtues so here goes "I TOLD YOU SO!" • • • DOWN IN Havana . two branch managers are receiving congrats from their colleagues and competitors alike for capturing some home office quota prizes Basilio de Arms, newly appointed exchange manager for Warners, copped first prize in the company's recent drive conducted by the foreign department de Arms exceeded his quota by plenty The other chesty gent is Ernesto P. Smith, Columbia manager, who was runner-up in his company's quota contest Smith's crew was second only to one other Latin American branch office • • • WE ACKNOWLEDGE the above chatter from Charley Garrett, RKO representative in Cuba Charley recently took to himself a bride and although we've never been accused of being gullible he asks us to believe the following yarn Charley and his bride-to-be taxied to a nearby town to get hitched and during the whole hour it took the Justice of the Peace to perform the ceremony some cluck next door to the courthouse had his phonograph going and played over and over again "Carioca" from RKO's "Flying Down to Rio" no less T T T • • • INTERESTING ITEMS We hear that several pix producers are angling for rights to "The Light Behind the Shadow" which Clifford Brooke recently directed at the Ridgeway Theater, White Plains with Edith Barrett in the star role the house is operated in the summer by Ernest Truex Conchita Estraviz, "Miss Cuba of 1934," will soon arrive in New York for a screen test at the Vitaphone studios they say the young lady is a beaut with flashing eyes that well they say she's good looking « « « » » » LOCAL 306 DEPLETED OF $1,015,000 FUNDS (Continued from Pane 1 ) collected in dues and assessments, Holmden said. The local is in poor financial condition and will require at least three to six months for rehabilitation, during which time the I. A. will continue in charge, Holmden declared. Holmden said that all the officers with the exception of Herman Boritz had either resigned or turned in their resignations. Boritz had been performing his duties satisfactorily, Holmden said. He announced that John Sullivan, private secretary to Harry Sherman at $110 weekly, and Leo Kissne, auditor at $200 weekly, had resigned and that their positions would be abolished. Examination of the books revealed that a number of "favored sons" had not paid their dues and assessments for years, Holmden declared. He reported that $50,000 in back dues had been collected during the past two weeks. Holmden said he expected that the 7 per cent weekly assessment on members might be reduced shortly. Harry Sherman reduced the assessment from 12 to 7 per cent just before he resigned, largely through the efforts of Nat Doragoff. The officers who have resigned or have turned in their resignations are: Harry Sherman, president; Jas. O'Keefe, vice-president; Chas. Beckman, financial secretary; Geo. Reves, recording secretary; Chas. Hyman, treasurer; Harry Levine and Bert Popkin, business agents and Sam Kravitz and Joe Daisie, executive board. 65 Members Contributing Laboratory Code Budget (Continued from Paae 1) ber of productive employes in the lab field is given as approximately 3,500. The budget includes $3,000 as annual salary for an executive office manager, $2,080 for an investigator-accountant and $1,300 for a stenographer. New Fight on Dog Racing Seattle — A new legal fight to prevent dog racing in this state has been launched by J. M. Hone as secretary of Allied Amusements of the Northwest. The measure is due to come up for a vote in November. Hone, appearing as a taxpayer, contends that he and other theater owners will be financially injured by the dog races. He also charges that signatures on a petition for the bill were obtained by fraud. Marschoene Circuit Adds Two Wayne, Nebr. — Marschoene Theaters, Inc., of this city has acquired the Royal and Elite theaters, Le Mars, la., from Mrs. D. C. Scott. The circuit also has houses in Hawarden, la., Vermillion, S. D., and here. \