Hollywood Motion Picture Review (1937-1940)

Page 2 HOLLYWOOD MOTION PICTURE REVIEW June 19, 1937 JOE BLAIR Editor Publisher Published weekly by Hollywood Motion Picture Review. Joe Blair, Editor-Publisher. Agnes Blair, Associate Editor. Executive and Editorial Offices 1040 North Martel Avenue. Phone: HE. 5982 Hollywood, Calif. Subscription rates $10.00 per year Foreign $15.00 Single copies 25c Vol. Ill HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA, JUNE 19, 1937 No. 3 A SLANT ON SUCCESS T here is one point which we wish to call to the attention of our readers. This publication is dedicated to an ideal and that ideal will be reached in the perfection of a trade paper which is legendary for its constructiveness, honesty in reviews and for credible service to the industry. The editor wishes Hollywood Review to be looked upon as a publication which can neither be influenced or coerced. It is not seeking worldly gains to such an extent that honor is to be sacrificed. Quite often people say: "You don't carry much advertising: are you making any money?" Whereupon an interview with Henry Ford by H. F. Henrichs of the Henry F. Henrichs Press, Litchfield, Illinois, comes to my mind. It reads, in part: "One spring morning Henry Ford tipped his kitchen chair back against the whitewashed wall of his tractor plant, and said: 'Have you ever noticed that the man who starts out in life with a determination to make money, never makes very much?' It was rather a startling remark; and without waiting, he continued: 'He may gather together a competence, of course, a few tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands, but he'll never amass a really great fortune. But let a man start out in life to build something better than it has ever been built before — let him have that determination, and give his whole self to it — and the money will roll in so fast that it will bury him, if he doesn't look out. 'When we were building our original model, do you suppose that it was money we were thinking about? Of course, we expected that it would be profitable, if it succeeded, but that wasn't in the front of our minds. We worked morning, noon and night, until our muscles ached and our nerves were so ragged that it seemed as if we couldn't stand to hear anyone mention the word automobile again. One night when we were almost at the breaking point, I said to the boys, Well, there's one consolation, nobody can take this business away from us unless he's willing to work harder than we've worked. And so far,' he concluded with a whimsical smile, 'nobody has been willing to do that.' " Mr. Ford expresses our sentiments exactly. We do not envy the success of any other trade publication. We have started out to build a publication which in time we feel will merit the good will and respect of the entire industry. In fact, to "build something better than it has ever been built before". Pat Tappan, Garrison Theatre, Garrison, North Dakota, writes: "A stunt that I have found to be very effective, is the use of the "Fictionlzed Biographies" which appear in the Hollywood Review. I have them printed on the back side of star photographs along with attraction copy, and distribute the photographs from the theatre, house to house, and etc. I have received much favorable comment from this stunt." The foregoing is another illustration of the service Hollywood Review is giving to the industry. Biographies were never written in fiction form until they made their appearance in this publication. FREE TO EXHIBITOR-SUBSCRIBERS Upon request, a photograph personally autographed to you, of any star whose picture has appeared on the front cover of Hollywood Review. Showmen will find a star's personally autographed picture, nicely displayed either In lobby frames or attractively placed in your box-office, an excellent business builder. JOE BLAIR THIS WEEK IN NEWS Gene Autry, popular Western star, has received a salary adjustment on his Republic contract and is now back in Hollywood preparing to start work on his next western musical, "Public Cowboy No. I ." Concessions granted Autry, in addition to a salary tilt, include increased budget for his forthcoming picture series. Louis King has been signed by Paramount to direct the next Bulldog Drummond picture, in which John Howard and Louise Campbell will play the I eading roles. Director King just completed the Edward Everett Horton picture "Wild Money," for Paramount, and his new contract and assignment comes as a reward for his good work. David Butler has started cameras grinding on the million dollar musical extravaganza, "Ali Baba Goes to Town," at 20th Century-Fox Studios with Eddie Cantor, famous comedian of the radio and movies, as Ali Baba. June Lang and Tony Martin have been assigned to the romantic leads. Robert Florey, who directed "Mountain Music," and more recently "This Way Please," will direct Anna May Wong and Akim Tamiroff in "Daughter of the Tong," as his next assignment for Paramount. He is leaving Hollywood soon for an extended holiday touring China, Japan and Manchukuo. There he will assemble factual and photographic material to equip himself for his next film subject, or subjects, for Florey possibly will direct "Madame Butterfly" for the company next year. George Burns and Grade Allen have been borrowed from Paramount for important roles in RKO-Radio's "A Damsel in Distress," first solo starring vehicle for Fred Astaire. "A Damsel in Distress" will be directed by George Stevens. George and Ira Gershwin are now working on the musical score. P. G. Wodehouse, noted humorist who authored the original novel, also has been signed by RKO to write the screen adaptation. Archie Mayo, for many years director of outstanding box-office film hits, has been signed by Samuel Goldwyn to a long-term contract, with the $2,000,000 technicolor musical extravaganza, "The Goldwyn Follies," as his first assignment. Mayo for the past eleven years has been with Warner Brothers, and his recent efforts there have been "Petrified Forest," "Call It a Day," "Black Legion," and "Convention City." John Boles has been awarded the starring role in RKO-Radio's "Fight For Your Lady," soon to start filming under the production guidance of Al Lewis. Ben Stoloff will direct. The cast will include Ida Lupino, Jack Oakle, Margot Grahame, Erik Rhodes and Gordon Jones. "Fight For Your Lady," written by Jean Negulesco and Isabel Leighton, describes the romantic predicaments that beset America's No. I bachelor. Charles (Chuck) Riesner, Paramount director who was recently signed to direct Gertrude Michael in "Sophie Lang In Hollywood", has just completed a twenty-five thousand word story for the Minneapolis Tribune. The article deals with the exhibition of films during the early days in which Riesner played a prominent part due to his connections with the old Bijou Theatre in Minneapolis. Archie Stout, ace cinematographer, has been signed to a long term contract, following his work as cameraman on the recently completed Samoan Islands location trip for "The Hurricane." Stout's first assignment under his new deal will be as associate to Cinematographer Rudolph Mate on Goldwyn's "The Adventures of Marco Polo," the Gary Cooper starring picture now in production.