The Film Daily (1936)

Saturday, Mar. 28, 1936 DRAMATISTS APPROVE MODIFIED CONTRACT (Continued from Page 1) adopted a resolution to this effect at a meeting yesterday at the Hotel Biltmore. There has been strong stage producer opposition to the agreement's provisions on this score. This change will be formally ratified by the general membership at a meeting April 8. A proposal to change the provisions concerning the setting of motion picture release dates by the author was also discussed. This suggestion would allow the stage producer to protest within 48 hours after learning of the date fixed if he feels that exhibition of the picture will hurt his show. The negotiator would then determine the release date. It was indicated that no revision of the agreement may be necessary to carry out this plan. Believe Miss. Censorship Bill Will Not Be Passed (Continued from Page 1) troduce no new legislation, but acknowledged that through peculiar legislative process a bill could be introduced and rushed through on closing day. This is thought unlikely. Republic Still 'Open Shop' Under Strike Settlement (Continued from Page 1) week were terms of the deal approved by Herman Gluckman and Louis Nizer, attorney representing the company, and William Collins and William Mahoney, representing the union. Eight Springfield Houses Open Doors (Continued from Page 1) closed due to flood and loss of power, has reopened. The Plaza in Northampton and the Goldstein circuit will not be open for at least two weeks. Repeat Showings Joris Ivens' "Rain," "Borinage," "New Earth" and "Industrial Symphony" will be presented tonight for a second time by the New Film Alliance at the New School for Social Research. Plan Chicago Conference Chicago — The sixth session of the National Conference on Visual Education and Film Exhibition will be held at the Francis W. Parker School from June 22 to June 25. "Boop" Case Up April 6 Arguments on the Helen Kane "Betty Boop" infringement action against Max Fleischer and Paramount have been put off until April 6 in the U. S. District Court, New York. • • • LOU IRWIN, who knows how to pick em out as any good agent should, arranged for five-year-old Patsy Lee Parsons to have an RKO screen test yesterday ... • Even mayors are becoming color conscious Meaning that the chief exec of Kansas City has proclaimed to the local citizenry that they ought "to remember that the finer things in the entertainment world should receive wholehearted support" More explicitly, his reference was to "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine," which is playing the Newman theater in that hamlet . . . • Murray Rosenblatt and James Greene, who are a pair of press agents, want you to know that three major companies are interested in a comedy they have written under tag of "Gals and Galluses" The medium for this startling piece of information is one Sid Weiss, who is himself a public relations counsel of no mean ability ▼ ▼ T • • • THE ROXY puts on five complete de luxe shows today with Jackie Coogan and Betty Grable in their revue, "Hollywood Secrets" ... • A silver plaque will be presented to Maxwell Anderson, author of "Winterset," which has won the New York Critics' Circle award as the best play of the season, on the stage of the National theater in Washington during the show's engagement there RKO, who owns the picture rights to the show, has Burgess Meredith, who appears as its male lead, set to do the same role on the screen ▼ ▼ T • • • MRS. CLARA SMITH of Smith & Howell Film Service at Syracuse is plenty proud of the letter she has received from Sydney Samson of Twentieth Century-Fox, complimenting her outfit on its delivery service during flood weather conditions ... • Massard Kur-Zhene and his Royal Persians band is back in town after an allWinter engagement at Zelli's at Palm Beach ... • Advance reservations for the George Schaefer testimonial dinner Monday eve at the Astor yesterday assumed important proportions Simultaneously the list of entertainment talent grew in size and value Edward Arnold in "SUTTER'S GOLD" with Lee Tracy and Binnie Barnes Universal 94 mins. MODERATELY ENTERTAINING DRAMA OF THE GOLD RUSH DAYS. DISJOINTED STORY HANDICAPS PRODUCTION WITH EPIC AMBITIONS. Obviously designed to be a picture of epic proportions, "Sutter's Gold" does not live up to its objective and only succeeds in becoming a moderately entertaining story of the gold rush period. Main fault is the story treatment, which rambles around the world and is very uneven. Characterizations, too, are inadequate. The outstanding performances come from Arnold and Tracy. Taking liberties with what is known as history, the production deals with the life of Sutter, who escapes from Switzerland when falsely accused of a murder. After wanderings which take him to the Sandwich Islands and to a shipboard revolt sequence, he lands in California and sets up his own kingdom in Mexican territory in the meantime seemingly forgetting his wife and children back in Switzerland. Eventually, with the aid of the Americans, he entirely strikes off relations with Mexico and becomes a part of the United States. Then gold is discovered on his land and law and order disappear as his own men go mad for the precious stuff. They seize his property and leave him poverty-stricken and his mistress, whom he loved, walks out on him. Sutter makes legal fight after legal fight to recover damages from the state and finally dies, an old man, in Washington after Congress has adjourned without passing a bill establishing his rights in the situation. Cast: Edward Arnold, Lee Tracy, Binnie Barnes, Katharine Alexander, Addison Richards, Montagu Love, Jchn Miljan, Robert Warwick, Harry Carey, Mitchell Lewis, William Janney, Ronald Ccsbey, Nan Grey, Jeanne Smith, Billy Gilbert, Aura De Silva, Allen Vincent, Harry Cording, Sidney Bracy, Bryant Washburn, Gaston Glass, William Ruhl, Frank Reicher, Pedro Regas, Morgan Wallace, John Bleifer, George Irving, William Gould, Russ Powell, Jim Thorpe, Paul Weigel, Priscilla Lawson, Jose Robio, Oscar Apfel, Alfred J. Smith, Neeley Edwards, Harry Stubbs, Charles Farr, Den Briggs. Producer, Edmund Grainger; Director, James Cruze; Authors, Blaise Cendrars, Bruno Frank; Screenplay, Jack Kirkland, Walter Woods, George O'Neil; Cameramen, George Robinson, John P. Fulton; Editor, Phil Kahn. Direction, Fair. Photography, Good. CANCELLATION DANGER IN PETTENGILL BILL (Continued from Page 1) range the distributor conference while in New York. In his memorandum, Kuykendall says "there is nothing in the bill that requires the distributors to allow any rejection once the contract for exhibition is entered into." Continuing, he expresses the opinion: "We don't believe that a statute could be drawn to require this, that would hold up in the courts, or that could not be easily evaded. From our experience we think that unenforceable laws are worse than no laws at all. They just create uncertainty, endless litigation and disrespect for all laws and law enforcement agencies. Shortage of product and the limited number of box office attractions that can possibly be produced each year (and each month) will continue to cause 'compulsory' block booking in competitive situations, regardless of the provisions of the Pettengill Bill. It's a matter of competitive buying as well as competitive selling." Zoning Plan Stay Is Argued at K. C. (Continued from Page 1) group of independent exhibitors who ask that they be excluded from the operation of any injunction affecting the Kansas City zoning schedule. 'Bank Night' Insurance Co. Out of Business at Dallas (Continued from Page 1) the club operated was in violation of state lottery law, and also after the club had to pay $1300.00 to one of its customers. New Chilean Theater Booking Films Western Electric Co. of Chile announces the signing of a contract for the installation of sound equipment, music reproduction and public address systems in the Teatro Circo in Santiago. The exhibitor, Mr. Ernesto Echeverria, is now in New York with his secretary, Senor Martinez, to book attractions. Building Miami Studio Miami — Construction has begun on the first of eight stages to be erected by Pan-American Studios, Inc., which expects to produce 20 features in Florida under the supervision of M. M. Hoffman, Jr. Work on the first production is scheduled for June 1, when the first sound stage is expected to be completed. Change "U" Feature Titles Universal has changed title of the Jack Holt feature, "Crashing Through," scheduled for release May 18, to "Crash Donovan". "What Price Parole," scheduled for release May 25, has been changed to "Parole!"