The Film Daily (1934)

THE ma DAILY Saturday, Aug. 11, 19 A Little from "Lots" — By RALPH WILK =^ HOLLYWOOD T-TAL ROACH is reported making good progress following an operation for appendicitis in the Good Samaritan Hospital on Thursday. ▼ T T Lucien K. Ballard has been elevated to first cameraman at Paramount and will photograph the next Josef von Sternberg production, as yet untitled. T T T Alexander Bros, are preparing a series of six westerns, which will feature Guinn Williams. The first picture, "Thunder Over Texas," will go into production next week at the Alexander Bros. Studio, with Edgar Ulmer directing. The story is by Charles Granneman. Alexanders are also preparing "Death in the Evening," by Ulmer, which will be placed in work about Sept. 1. ▼ ▼ T Carmen Rio has been signed to appear in six Spanish features to be made by Warner Bros. She is represented by James Barlotti. ▼ T T While Maurice Conn of Ambassador Pictures is in New York, Harry Kusnick will be in charge of the office here. Conn will visit Boston, Cleveland, Chicago, Atlanta and Dallas before returning to Hollywood. ! Harold Manheim, formerly a member of the Universal publicity department, has joined the Mascot scenario department. He is writing a serial that will star Ken Maynard. T T T Louis King will start the direction of "Bachelor of Arts" about Sept. 1. Tom Brown, Anita Louise and Henry B. Walthall will be among the principals. T T T Jane Murfin is adapting J. M. Barrie's "The Little Minister" as the next Katharine Hepburn vehicle for RKO Radio. T T T First National's "Just Out of College", with Franchot Tone, Margaret Lindsay and Jean Muir, has been retitled "Gentlemen Are Born." « « FEATURE and SHORT REVIEWS » SUNSHIN€ C|^ THE DAY'S NEWS W. Ray Johnston announces that Monogram will pay another quarterly dividend of 1 '/4% on Aug. 15. "WE'RE RICH AGAIN" with Edna May Oliver, Bill ie Burke, Marian Nixon, Reginald Denny, Joan Marsh, Larry "Buster" Crabbe RKO Radio 72 mins. REFRESHING FARCE OF DOMESTIC LIFE WITH SPARKLING DIALOGUE AND LIVELY ACTION. This is a comedy of errors, mishaps and fun, with a sprinkling of suspense and a goodly share of clever dialogue. The cast has been carefully selected and carries on capably. The story concerns Grant Mitchell who, with his wife Bill ie Burke, is trying to stall off creditors until his daughter Joan Marsh is married to the wealthy Reginald Denny, Marian Nixon, a country cousin from West Texas, unexpectedly arrives. She is a loquacious miss with a false air of unsophistication. Denny immediately takes to Marian, who makes it her business to be with Denny more than Joan. As a poloplaying grandmother, Edna May Oliver keeps the house filled with casualties from the polo field. There are many grand mixups and plenty of hearty laughs. All ends well with a surprise finish. Associate producer Glendon Allvine is to be credited for cne of the most refreshing light features of the new season. Cast: Edna May Oliver, Billie Burke, Marian Nixon, Reginald Denny, Joan Marsh, Larry "Buster" Crabbe, Grant Mitchell. Gloria Shea, Edgar Kennedy, Otto Yamaoka Director, William A. Seiter; Author, Alden Nash; Screen Play, Ray Harris; Editor, George Crcne; Cameraman, Nick Musuraca; Recording Engineer, John L Cass Direction, Fine. Photography, Fine "HOUSEWIFE" with Bette Davis, George Brent, Ann Dvorak, John Halliday Warner Bros. 69 mins MILDLY DIVERTING DOMESTIC DRAMA IS TOO FLIMSY IN PLOT AND TREATMENT TO REGISTER A SOCK. This is another variation of the plot in which a true blue and forbearing wife engineers a spineless husband to success, whereupon affluence goes to his head and he goes running around with another woman, only to find out in the end that it is his wife he really wants. Story has been handled in a leisurely vein, with no punches either in characterizations or dramatic development and only a thin layer of comedy, so tha1 it comes out as just moderately satisfying. Best work is done by Ann Dvorak as the industrious wife. George Brent is thp husband, employed clerically in an advertising agency where he is browbeaten by his boss, Robert Barrat. Finally he breaks away, starts on his own, and with the help of his wife becomes a big shot advertising counsel. Then he takes up with the brazen Bette Davis, a famous ad writer and former girl friend, while John Halliday, one of his clients, attempts to console Ann. An accident to their child is worked in, then the start of a divorce trial, where they change their minds and reconcile. Cast: Bette Davis, George Brent, Ann Dvorak, John Halliday, Ruth Donnelly, Hobart Cavanaugh, Robert Barrat, Leila Bennett, Ronnie Cosbv, Willard Robertson, Phil Regan, Joseph Cawthorn, Harry Tyler, Charles Coleman, Director, Alfred E. Green; Authors, Robert Lord, Lillie Hayward; Screen Play, Manuel Seff, Lillie Hayward. Cameraman, Wilham Rees; Editor, James Gibbons. Direction, Gccd. Photography, Good Leslie Howard in "THE LADY IS WILLING" with Binnie Barnes Columbia 67 mins. FAIRLY GOOD BRITISH COMEDY WITH LESLIE HOWARD AS THE PRINCIPAL MARQUEE VALUE. Produced by Columbia in England, this comedy makes generally satisfying entertainment chiefly by reason of Leslie Howard's presence in the cast. It is also quite certain that audiences will take to the charming leading woman, Binnie Barnes, and there are a number of distinguished players in the supporting cast. Despite its British flavor in dialogue, the yarn has a comedy vein that carries the action along at a nice gait. Howard plays the part of a nutty detective who is trying to recover money lost by investors in stock sold to them by a crooked promoter. Adopting the comical disguise of a rural doctor, Howard goes after the crook and falls in love with the man's wife, Binnie Barnes, with amusing results. The part of the stock swindler is admirably played by Cedric Hardwicke. Cast: Leslie Howard, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Binnie Barnes, Sir Nigel Playfair, Nigel Bruce, W. Graham Browne, Kendall Lee, Claude Alhster, Arthur Howard, Virginia Field and John Turnbull. Director, Gilbert Miller; Author, Guy Bolton; Screen Play, same; Cameraman, Joseph Walker; Recording Engineer, Edward Bernds; Editor, Ottc Ludwig. Direction, Lively. Photography, Good SHORTS Ben Blue in "The Prize Sap" Vitaphone 19 mins. AYeak Comedy Starts out with the old, old gag of a guy having a run-in with the man who later turns out to be the individual on whom he is calling for a job, this skit develops into a travesty on radio broadcasting. Ben Blue, a business promoter, calls on Hugh Cameron, advertising specialist, who is trying to work up a program for a suspender firm. Recognizing him as the nut who smashed his hat in the hall, Cameron has Ben thrown out on his ear. After a few repetitions of this, Ben's identity is made clear and he is directed to stage the broadcast, which proves a scream to the ad man and sponsor because Blue gets the sound effects all mixed. For a tag, word comes that the suspender firm is getting wholesale cancellation of orders as a result of Blue's program. All very routine stuff. Close Deals on "Get That Venus" John R. Fieuler, president of Regent Pictures, has signed with Universal for distribution in England of "Get That Venus," which features Ernest Truex, Jean Arthur, Tom Howard, Molly O'Day and Herbert Rawlinson. Freuler has also closed with the Century Exchange for distribution in the Boston territory and with Superior for Chicago and Indianapolis. NEWS of the DAY Jacksonville, Fla. — Two chart* have been granted subsidiaries the E. J. Sparks organization, o to Saratee Theater Co., the other Sparks Bonaker Theater Propertii Inc. Both have the following as < rectors: F. H. Kent, H. T. Pegue C C. Copp. H Madison, Va.— The Madison the] ter is temporarily closed while ] pairs are being made preparatory the fall season. Montgomery, Ala. — Bill Coury Birmingham has been made mi ager of the Strand. V Washington — Although the 1 riety Club of Washington has st pended luncheons until Sept. there will be a gathering on Aug. , at the cottage of A. Julian Bryla; |j ski on the Wicomico River. London — "The House of Rot! child," 20th Century-U. A. relea: is now in its 12th week at the Tiv theater here. The picture alrea has grossed more than $250,000 a has established a new record at 1 theater. r HOLLYWOOD PLAZA MOST CONVENIENT Hotel in Hollywood $2.50 up, Single $3.00 up, Double Special weekly and monthly rates The Plaza is near everything to see and do in Hollywood. Ideal for business or pleasure. Every room has private dressing room, bath and shower. Beds "built for rest." Every modern convenience. Fine foods at reasonable prices. Convenient parking for your car. Cbas. Danziger, Mgr. Eugene Stern, Pres. The "Doorway of Hospitality" Vine at Hollywood Blvd. HOLLYWOOD ill Fin iptii ii iln,i ■'■■■