Harrison's Reports (1949)

168 HARRISON'S REPORTS Expected also is an important figure from production. In true Allied tradition, the Convention will not be one of all work and no play. The social end of the program and the special events planned for the ladies promise to outdo the best ever offered at any Allied convention. Many changes have taken place in the industry as a result of the decision in the New York anti-trust case, and more changes are to come. The benefits to exhibition have been numerous, but many problems, new and old, still exist. Television, competitive bidding, clearances, public relations, tax matters, insufficient prints, numerous distributor irregularities that are in violation of the decision, and many other problems, all of which have a definite effect on the operations of an independent exhibitor, are slated for discussion so that policies may be shaped to insure a maximum of protection for the exhibitors. Every exhibitor who can possibly do so should make it his business to attend this important conclave. All exhibitors, whether or not members of Allied, are invited to attend. Make your reservations by either writing or telegraphing to North Central Allied Independent Theatre Owners, 457 Loeb Arcade, Minneapolis, Minn. THE KIWANIS CLUBS IN BEHALF OF UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN Last year the Kiwanis Clubs spent nearly one and one-half million dollars in behalf of underprivileged and crippled children. This year they hope to raise many more million dollars to spend for this worthy purpose. What it means to the youth of this country when an organization such as the Kiwanis International takes an interest in their welfare may be judged by what the Variety Clubs International is doing for a similar purpose and other purposes. Let us, for example, take up one of the activities — what Variety Club, Tent No. 25, Los Angeles, is doing under the chairmanship of Charles P. Skouras. This tent has spent many thousands of dollars to establish and maintain a Boys' Club, in East Los Angeles, where juvenile delinquency was very high. The Club now has more than twenty-five hundred members. The boys are guided by experts and are taught, not only character, but also trades. As a result, juvenile crimes in that part of Los Angeles have decreased to a negligible number. Although the Kiwanis International's efforts in behalf of youngsters is similar to the work being done by Variety Clubs International, it is deserving of every one's full support, for the more fraternal and civic organizations engage in bettering the conditions of children the better for the country as a whole. By the time National Kids Day rolls around on November 19, the Kiwanis International and the National Kids Day Foundation will have spent more than $125,000 in various fund-raising exploitation methods. And it is hard to estimate so far in advance just how many thousands more will be spent to put over the different events slated for Kids Day, for the 3,030 Kiwanis Clubs in the United States and Canada will be solidly behind the Day, and their 250,000 members — leading business men in 3,030 cities and towns — will be out working to make that Day a howling success, and so will their wives and relatives, as well as the families of their friends. In other words, nearly one million people will be actively engaged in a stupendous effort to put over National Kids Day in a big way. It is hardly conceivable that the motion picture industry will fail to lend its whole-hearted cooperation to the Kiwanis Clubs, not only because of the worthy cause, but also because of the benefits that will accrue to itself, since the public will be urged to patronize theatres cooperating in the drive. The industry stands to (1) gain new picture-goers; (2) bring back those who have fallen out of the moviegoing habit; and ($0 gain the good will of the public and of numerous organizations that are interested in the welfare of children. The fact that the industry's cooperation is sought for so praiseworthy a purpose should be enough to induce every one connected with it to lend his unstinting support even if there were no benefits to be derived from such cooperation. Don't wait until you are approached by a representative of the Kiwanis Club in your locality; greater credit will come to you and the entire industry if you offer your cooperation before you are asked. But above all, prepare to cooperate, for, as great as the credit for cooperation will be, the discredit will be even greater if the public learned that the motion picture industry refused to support this drive. "Rusty's Birthday" with Ted Donaldson, John Litel and Ann Doran (Columbia, J^ov. 3; time, 60 mm.) More entertainment is packed in this "B" picture than in many a million dollar production. There is a gulp in almost every situation, for the story deals with matters that affect the human emotions deeply. As is usually the case with the "Rusty" pictures, there is a human mother and father, a good son, and an intelligent dog. In this picture there is more — the cast is augmented by Jimmy Hunt, an appealing five-year-old youngster, who should capture the hearts of every one, and by Mark Dennis, a clean-cut 'teenaged lad. Most of the "gulps" concern little Jimmy, who lives in a make-believe world of his own and becomes so attached to Rusty that he will not believe that the animal is not his own dog. The closing scenes, which show Ted Donaldson and his parents presenting Jimmy with one of Rusty's pups, should move people to tears of joy. In addition to being a highly emotional entertainment, the picture conveys a subtle moral lesson, not only for children, but also for grown-ups, in that it shows by example and not preachment that it is unjust for one to judge people unless one has the facts. The direction is fine, and the acting so good that one feels as if he is present in a real-life occurrence: — In pursuit of a prowling tramp, Rusty, Ted's dog, has the tables turned on him when the tramp pretends to be his owner and sells him to a woman in a trailer. The woman drives off with Rusty, but the dog manages to escape and heads for home. Wandering into the woods, Rusty falls into a pit. He is rescued by Jimmy, who was camping nearby with Ray Teal, his father, and Mark, his brother. Thinking that Rusty is the dog he had been dreaming about in his makebelieve world, Jimmy urges his father to take Rusty along in their delapidated car, in which they traveled around the country trying to make a living. Teal, a widower, agrees. When they make a stop in Ted's home town, Rusty is seen by Ted, who attempts to take him away from Jimmy. The child refuses to release the dog and, on an accusation by Ted, the police arrest the trio for stealing Rusty. Teal, after being acquitted of the charge, becomes friendly with Ted's parents (John Litel and Ann Doran), and makes a deal to take care of a piece of their farm land on a profit-sharing basis. He and Mark go to live in a small shack on the farm, while Jimmy remains in Ted's home. His parents' liking for Jimmy makes Ted a bit jealous. One day Teal is stricken with appendicitis, and Mark, finding no one at Litel's home, has to break in to get some ice for his father. Found there by Ted and accused of being a thief, Mark gets into a fist fight with Ted and is accidentally knocked unconscious. Ted's parents arrive and, after reviving Mark and hearing his story, rush his father to the hospital. Meanwhile the tramp, picked up by the police, confesses the part he had played in Rusty's disappearance. Ted, realizing how cruel he had been, apologizes to Mark and they become fast friends. He even makes a supreme sacrifice by offering to give Rusty to Jimmy, but his parents come up with a better solution by presenting Jimmy with a puppy, son of Rusty. The beaming youngster returns to live with his father and brother, leaving Ted a happy boy. Wallace MacDonald produced it, and Seymour Friedman directed it, from a screen play by Brenda Weisberg. Excellent family fare.