Harrison's Reports (1950)

36 HARRISON'S REPORTS March 4, 1950 "The parents actually pay this tax, we know, but the youngsters have the ability to stretch their weekly allowances sharply curtailed. "These young people must pay this tax while being denied the privileges of signing petitions or voting against the collection of this unfair tax. However, they can write letters to those responsible, and infiu' ence their parents to oppose continuing the excise tax. "Maybe now is the time for youngsters to prove the Biblical observation that 'a little child shall lead them.' " No doubt Mr. Kennedy has inspired this editorial, and Harrison's Reports wishes to congratulate him for the originality of his idea, and for the possible uses to which it may be put. Although the 'teen-agers have no voice in government because they are not old enough to vote, there is nothing to stop them from making their feelings known to the Congressional representatives from their districts. The admission tax looms big to the youngsters, for it takes a consider' able bite out of their limited allowances, and the ex' hibitors in each locality should take steps to organise and induce them to bombard dieir legislators with protests against the tax. Who is the politician who will dare refuse to heed the protests of youngsters who will one day decide whether or not he shall be returned to office? Harrison's Reports submits these views to Mr. Myers' committee on taxation for whatever use they may be put to. AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION In a communication to this paper, Mr. Myers points out that, because so much has been said and written about "war excise taxes," many members of our industry carelessly use that expression in writing to their Congressmen and Senators in connection with the campaign against the federal admission tax. "They overlook the fact," Mr. Myers says, "that there was a 10% tax on admissions when the 20% 'wartime rate' was imposed, and that mere repeal of the 'war excises' or 'war rates' will leave the industry saddled with the pre-existing 10% tax." By careless use of this expression, Mr. Myers adds, many industryites are in effect asking for only half a loaf when they should ask for total repeal — which is what they really mean. In writing to your Congressional representatives, you should, therefore, make it a point to ask for "repeal of the admission tax," and to keep out of your letters or telegrams any reference to "war excises" or "war rates." The distinction is important if we are to win the fight for total repeal. "Young Daniel Boone" with David Bruce (Monogram, February 26; time, 71 win.) There is considerable merit to this Indian Scout melodrama, photographed in Cinecolor. There are some slow moments, but the action is mostly fast, holding one's attention. David Bruce is very good as young Daniel Boone, of historic fame. Kristine Miller, as one of the girls captured by the Indians, is personable but she is not given much to do. The situations in which the lives of the hero and of the members of his party are placed in danger hold one tense because of fear that some harm will come to them. Their fights with the Indians are fairly thrilling. The color photography is pleasing, since it is chiefly outdoors: — The action unfolds in the Colonial days, around 1775, when the troops of John Mylong, a Hessian officer in the British Army, under Gen. Braddock, had been massacred by the Indians, but Mylong and Don Beddoe, a civilian army supplier, were among the few who had escaped alive. Mylong wants to reach the headquarters of Stanley Logan, his superior officer, but Beddoe, having seen his daughters (Kristine Miller and Mary Treen) taken captive by the Indians, wants to rescue them. Mylong, however, dissuades him from the useless sacrifice. When word reaches Logan about the massacre, he dispatches Damian O'Flynn, a captain, to inform Gen. Braddock and to rescue Mylong. He sends along also Bruce, who knew the woods well. O'Flynn, actually a traitor in the pay of the French Intelligence, arranges with Indian friends to capture Mylong along with Beddoe. Both men are rescued by Bruce, however, who manages also to free Beddoe's two daughters. Bruce and his party make their way to an abandoned fort, where they are soon joined by O'Flynn, still posing as a friend. By trickery, O'Flynn makes Bruce and the others his prisoners, and then reveals that he is an agent for the French. But when all are attacked by Shawnee Indians, hostile to both British and French, O'Flynn is compelled to seek the aid of both Bruce and Mylong to repel them. After the repulse, Bruce makes O'Flynn and his Indians captives, but they turn the tables on him and become the captors once again. Bruce, however, escapes and, by playing upon the superstitions of the Indians, succeeds in rescuing his friends. But O'Flynn attacks him and, during the fight, falls upon his own knife and dies. Bruce looks forward to his future in Kentucky, with Kristine as his wife. The picture has been produced by James S. Burkett and directed by Reginald LeBorg, from a story by Clinton Johnston, who wrote the screen play in collaboration with Mr. LeBorg. Unobjectionable morally. BOX-OFFICE PERFORMANCES The previous box-office performances were published in the December 3 and 10 issues: Columbia "The Reckless Moment": Fair-Poor "Tokyo Joe" : Good-Fair "Rusty's Birthday": Poor "Barbary Pirates": FairPoor "Feudin' Rhythm": Poor "Tell It to the Judge": Fair "And Baby Makes Three" : Fair "Prison Warden" : Fair-Poor "All the King's Men": Very Good-Good "Traveling Saleswoman" : Fair "Mary Ryan, Detective": Fair "Chinatown at Midnight": Fair-Poor "Jolson Sings Again" : Good-Fair "Father is a Bachelor" : Fair "The Nevadan": Fair "Mark of the Gorilla": Fair-Poor "Girls' School": Fair-Poor Seventeen pictures have been checked with the following results: Very Good-Good, 1; Good-Fair, 3: Fair, 5; FairPoor, 6; Poor, 2.