The Film Daily (1936)

Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought -1FDAILY The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Now Eighteen Years Old VOL. 69. NO. 82 NEW YORK, TUESDAY, APRIL 7. 1936 TEN CENTS Report Kolbe Set To Head New Pathe Firm Board SWOPE RETIRING AS CHAIRMAN OF K-A¥ ROARD Would Block Commercial Television Pending Film Survey M-G-M . and "The Great Ziegfeld" By JACK ALICOATE LJOLLYWOOD— We have just returned ■ ' from the big M-G-M studios at Culver City where we witnessed a private screening of a distinguished, electrifying and altogether amazing picture. "The Great Ziegfeld." It was our pleasure to know Flo Ziegfeld. We last met him here in Hollywood as the guest of Sam Goldwyn. At that time they were contemplating the filming of a "Ziegfeld Follies." Fate decreed that this should never be. Now M-G-M has done more. It has convincingly screened not only the life story of probably the greatest showman of them all, surely of our generation, but of showmanship, of the theater, of the life of makebelieve and of Ziegfeld's colorful triumphs. • "THE picture is in twenty reels, sixteen ' thousand five hundred feet, the length at which it will be roadshowed. As it unfolded upon the screen we were alternately awed, thrilled and at times so absorbed at parts of the story that tears rolled down our cheeks. And that's something for a hardened, old, weazened reviewer who has seen most of 'em. Perhaps being born in a dressing room it was closer to our heart. Superlatives cannot describe the breath-taking musical numbers. The melodies of the greatest hits from the Ziegfeld musicals live again. The love scenes are delicately exquisite. Three hours not merely of entertainment but of that indescribable ingredient called theater that holds an audience like a vise. • THE production cost about two million ' dollars. We were told that one musical sequence alone cost two hundred and forty-five thousand dollars. Probably no two musicals on Broadway during the past few years cost as much. Bill Powell as Ziegfeld never did anything better in his life. The Anna Held of Luise Rainer is overwhelmingly convincing. Myrna Loy as Billie Burke is delightfully charming. One could give columns of credits. To Producer Hunt Stromberg and Director Bob Leonard must go to the lion's share. • THIS is not a review. It is an honestly deserved tribute to a great producing {Continued on Page 2) Urges FCC To Determine Its Effects Upon Industries Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Recommendation that the Federal Communications Commission keep television on an experimental basis pending determination as to what effects it will have on motion pictures, radio and newspapers has been made by T. A. M. Craven, the commission's chief engineer. The suggestion was made by {Continued on Page 4) WARNER SALES MEET SET FOR EARLY JUNE Warner Bros.-First National will hold its annual national sales convention early in June, either in New York or at the Coast, it was stated yesterday, prior to the departure of Major Albert Warner and Gradwell L. Sears from New York for Hollywood. They will confer with Jack Warner on production plans for 1936-37. Holding Hearing on Ala. Admission Tax Measure Montgomery, Ala. — A showdown on the proposed 10 per cent amusement tax is expected within the next few days as the House ways and {Continued on Page 3) Defer Studio Pact Talk Confabs between the major producing companies and representatives of the Coast studio crafts on renewal of the studio basic agreement for another year are off until next week. George E. Browne, I.A.T.S.E. president, who arrived for the meetings left Sunday for Chicago and will return to New York next Monday. GRANT SHOW CAUSE OROERONTAXAPPEAL A show cause order in connection with application of two Brooklyn theaters, operated by Harry Brandt, for right to appeal to the Court of Appeals at Albany from a decision denying them an injunction to restrain the city of New York and major distributors from collecting the 2 per cent sales tax, was granted yesterday by the Appellate Division. It is returnable April 17. Ben Verschleiser Burial To Take Place in East Word was received in New York yesterday of the death of Ben Verschleiser, producer, at the Coast Services for Verschleiser, who was 47 years old, were held Sunday, following his demise Saturday at the Cedars of Lebanon hospital, where he had been ill six days. The producer's last picture had {Continued on Page 3) Kolbe Is Reported Slated To Head Pathe Firm Board Zanuck Summer Schedule Provides for 24 Features Twenty-four Darryl Zanuck productions will be in work at the 20th Century-Fox studios during the normally slack Summer season, accord{Continued on Page 3) Frank Kolbe, president of Pathe, is understood slated to become chairman of the board of Premier, its new subsidiary which will take over all its motion picture affairs. Kolbe {Continued on Page 4) Expect Important Change To Be Made at K-A-0 Late Tomorrow Herbert Bayard Swope, chairman of the board of Keith-Albee-Orpheum Corp., is resigning from that post, The Film Daily learned yesterday. These and other changes in the company's directorate and official lineup will be acted on tomorrow when new directors and officers of K-A-0 will be chosen at the annual meetingr. Leo Spitz, president of RKO, is understood assuming either the board chairmanship left vacant by Swope's retirement or the presidency. In any case Spitz will be the chief executive officer of K-A-O, {Continued on Page 3) MARYLAND PASSES TAX ON ADMISSIONS Baltimore — A tax of one per cent on the gross receipts of theaters and all other places of amusement in Maryland has been imposed by a {Continued on Page 3) The Showman's Manual (part of the Year Book) contains more valuable showman's material than published anywhere else. — Advt. 2,000-Ft. Reel Committee Will Hold Meeting Today Equipment necessary to the changeover to 2,000-foot reels will be discussed at a meeting of the major distributors' committee in charge {Continued on Page 3) Lasky Pays $1 a Laugh West Coast Bur., THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — The last laughs were on Jesse L. Lasky — but he was glad they were. At a staff meeting he stated that a good comedy could not get more than 200 laughs and that he would pay a dollar a laugh for every laugh over 200. At the sneak preview of "One Rainy Afternoon" 379 laughs were clocked, and Lasky must pay $179, which will be divided between Phil Eriedman, Charles Woolstenhulme, Maurice Hanline and Jesse L. Lasky, Jr.