Harrison's Reports (1951)

48 HARRISON’S REPORTS March 24, 1951 and forced competitive bidding, of dealing with unfair competitive practices whether by arbitration or otherwise. Those of us who have insisted that the industry must be conducted on a basis of fair competition and according to law must be willing to cooperate in seeing to it that conditions in our industry do not descend into chaos. There is no longer room for selfish isolationism in the motion picture business. “I think I do not exaggerate when I say that Allied, because of the correctness of its policies and its energy in supporting them, has been the most potent influence in the industry for many years. Allied has demonstrated that its purpose has been constructive and that it is as willing to build as it is to tear down. It is my solemn conviction that Allied will play a leading part in all industry endeavors for the common good. Actually this involves no change in Allied’s fundamental policies; merely that its opportunities for useful activity will be enlarged. Allied's policy will remain as always: (1) To cooperate with other branches of the industry in all matters in which there is a common interest and so long as our members are fully protected; and (2) to fight at the drop of the hat whenever our members are threatened from any quarter. “8. A few acknowledgments. Any chronicle of 1950 would be incomplete if it did not pay tribute to our Nation President, Trueman T. Rembusch, for the great job he has done. You have noted his prodigious travels and are aware of his efforts in our behalf on television. But you are not familiar with the great volume of detail work and correspondence he has conducted. There is no limit to the variety of his interests or the extent to which he will go to help Allied or any of its units, leaders or members. I ask you to take my word for it, for I am in a position to know, that no one ever has been more devoted to Allied or more active in working for it and what it stands for. In addition to all that, the unswerving loyalty he has given me, his courage and his optimism have been a source of inspiration and comfort. “Our other very active national officer is Charles Niles, the Treasurer, who has had a more difficult job than some of his predecessors because of the falling off in business. But Charles by his diligence, common sense and unfailing humor has brought Allied through the year in good condition and with very few arrearages to report. The office of Treasurer is a difficult one, the successful discharge of which depends on the character and personality as well as the persistence and resourcefulness of the incumbent. Charles is a worthy successor to a line of distinguished predecessors — Herman A. Blum, Martin C. Smith, Bill Ainsworth and Trueman Rembusch — and we owe him a hearty ‘thank you.’ Mrs. Bertha M. Taylor as usual has carried on her manifold duties as assistant treasurer (sans title), record keeper, office manager and secretary to the Chairman and General Counsel. She plays all positions on the team cheerfully and well and I cannot do less than again remind you of our good fortune in having the services of this devoted and indispensable employee. “To all the others among you and in the ranks who have been so generous in your support and encouragement throughout the years, and are too numerous for individual mention, my deep appreciation.” Abram F. Myers “Queen for a Day” ( United Artitsts, April 13; time, 107 min.) This feature consists of three unrelated short stories, tied together by a telecast. The first story, Faith Baldwin’s “The Gossamer World," deals with an imaginative little boy who is struck down by polio when he returns home from his first day at school. It is doubtful whether picture-goers, particularly parents, will relish seeing in their entertainment so dreaded a disease as polio. Past experience has taught us that they don’t relish it. The second story, John Ashworth's “High Diver,” dealing with a young man who risks his life to make a spectacular dive from a height of one hundred and ten feet into a tank of water, should go over well with the rank-and-file, for one is held in tense suspense lest the young man fall to his death in the attempt. The third story, Dorothy Parker’s “Horsie,” deals with a homely infant nurse whose horse-like face so repels her employer that he finds her mere presence in his home irritating. Edith Meiser, who impersonates the nurse, does excellent work, but the spectator's enjoyment of her fine acting will depend on whether he can suppress his dislike of her face. Besides, it is doubtful if moviegoers will find enjoyment in seeing an unfortunate woman, so far as looks are concerned, ridiculed. The direction is skillful and, although the players are not well known, the acting is fine. The picture's box-office chances, however, will have to depend on the fame of the three short stories and the popularity of the "Queen for a Day” radio and television program, which has been used as a framework to link the stories together. The Gossamer World" has Rudy Lee, six -year-old son of Phyllis Avery and Darren McGavin, living in an imaginary world of his own, even to the extent of having an imaginary playmate, whom he blames for every wrong. Phyllis, at first amused, becomes concerned and begs her husband to bring the child back to reality. But he insists that it is a passing fancy, through which all children go more or less. Tragedy strikes the happy little family when Rudy returns from his first day at school and complains about aches in his little body. A doctor pronounces Rudy’s ailment as polio. The child is sent to a hospital, from which he eventually returns wearing braces. Until he learns to walk again, Rudy finds pleasure in a toy electric train on which he goes on imaginary travels. High Diver" casts Adam Williams as an ambitious young man who, determined to get an education and better himself, leaves home when his immigrant father (Albert Ben-Astar) insists that he work beside him in a mill. Before he leaves town, Williams, needing funds, applies for the job of high diver in a carnival act and is hired. Meanwhile his mother (Kasia Orzazewski), appearing on the “Queen for a Day” giveaway program, wins as a prize a scholarship for her son. She returns home with the good news and learns that the boy had become a high diver. She rushes to the carnival with her husband to stop the boy from making the dive, but arrives just as the lad stands poised to make the 110-foot jump into four feet of water. Although frightened, he negotiates the dive successfully, and gladly quits the carnival when his parents inform him of the scholarship. “Horsie” depicts Edith Meiser as a lonely infant nurse who welcomes a call to care for Jessica Cavitt's newborn baby. Dan Tobin, Jessica’s husband, a prominent radio executive, is shocked when he sees Miss Meiser’s homely face and likens it to a horse. Her presence at the dining table, her devotion to the infant, and her attempt at friendliness, gall Tobin, and to rid himself of her for at least one night he offers her tickets to the “Queen for a Day” program. But she decides not to leave her patients. In due time her services are no longer required, and Tobin, though outwardly friend^ ly, is overjoyed when she finally departs. On the following evening, Tobin and his wife watch the “Queen for a Day" telecast and are surprised to see Miss Meiser chosen “Queen" because of the love she had poured out to 3 1 1 babies in her 30 years as an infant nurse. Both sit in shamed silence and with damp eyes when Miss Meiser, offered her choice of a prize, requests an electric razor for Tobin because he was the nicest man for whom she had ever worked. Robert Stillman produced it, and Arthur Lubin directed it, from a screenplay by Seton I. Miller. Good for the entire family. “Footlight Varieties” (RKO, no rel. date set; time, 61 min.) A fair program picture. It is another one of RKO’s novelty screen reviews, patterned after the two-a-day vaudeville shows presented on the stage and offering a mixture of comedy sketches, dance routines and song numbers. These are presented in a program of specialty acts, some of which are clips from RKO pictures released in the past, and all are linked together by comedian Jack Paar, as master of ceremonies. Some of the acts are pretty good, while others just about get by, but being a variety type of show it has some-, thing thatshould please the tastes of the different picture-goers. The program includes The Sportsmen, famed radio quartet, who sing several songs; Jack Paar in a mildly amusing skit in which he pokes fun at home television reception; Frankie Carle and his orchestra playing “La Paloma”; Red Buttons in a comedy monologue; Leon Errol in a slapstick film short; Inesita, a Spanish dancer; a “Flicker Flashbacks” presentation showing clips from an old-time movie drama, with Paar as narrator; The Harmonicats, an harmonica-playing trio, whose act is definitely the highlight of the picture; Grace Romanos, who teams up with Paar in a comedy rhumba; and Buster West and Melissa Mason in a Dixieland Jamboree, featuring eccentric dance routines and a singing and dancing chorus. It was produced by George Bilson and directed by Hal Yates. Suitable for the family.