The Hollywood Reporter (Jan-Jun 1933)

Page Two i^japj^iBwa^i Jan. 16. 1933 D A. I I. "T I jjj*^te|p J ^(f% mjw p W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher FRANK POPE Managing Editor Published and copyrighted by THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd. Executive-Editorial Offices and Offrce of Publication. 6717 Sunset Boulevard. Hollywood. (Los Angeles) . California Telephone HOIIywood 3957 New York Office: Abraham Bernstein. Mgr.; 229 W, 42nd St. Wisconsin 7-7193: Chicago. 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London. 41 A Carlisle Mansions; Paris. 122 Blvd. Murat; Berlin. 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires. San Martin 501; Sydney. 198 Pitt St. Published every day with the exception of Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates, including postage, per year in the United States and Canada. $20. Foreign, $25Single copies, 10c. Entered as second class matter )une 4, 1932. at the Post Office at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3, 1 879. Mike Levee was determined to give a party that Elsa Maxwell and all the folks would talk about — instead of vice versa vi'hich is usually the case. And he did just that — Friday night. All the guests were males except Polly Moran and the guest of honor — who fooled 'em completely by arriving made up as Einstein. A studio makeup man. Gary Cooper's full-dress coat, Ric Cortez's silk hat, a wig and moustache did the trick. To say nothing of Elsa's broken English. )immy Durante, Maurice Chevalier. Croucho Marx. Polly Moran and the Maxwell put on an impromptu show that had all the guests agape, aghast and agog, and later a pre-arranged "raid" was staged by the wives of the men present— which far from broke up the "stag" party. Everybody had a werry merry time — wot with the specially printed menus and all — especially Elsa. More back-fence stuff. A wellknown major studio exec has been carrying on an intrigue with a waitress in the Beverly Derby whose last name begins with L. 'Don't ask us how we found out — but we DID!) Well, some weeks ago. the two were cooing in a parked car on a secluded Beverly Hills corner — when two naughty, bad mans jumped their car and held them up They took considerable cash from the exec — and robbed the girl of a diamond ring. Naturally the exec (who is married ) couldn't report the robbery as it realty occurred — so he repoted it as having happened to him. alone and in another spot entirely. So of course, the girl's loss has remained a total loss. Well, maybe not quite— for she is very excited over the fact that the exec has promised her another ring — a "bigger and better" one. Andif you think we go around getting the confidences of waitresses, you're currazzy — it's a^l over town! HewYo THE BITTER TEA OF GENERAL YEN" Columbia prod. : director, Frank Capra; writers, Edward Paramore. Radio City Music Hall Grace Zaring Stone. Times: A handsomely mounted affair with conspicuously good portrayals by Nils Asther and Walter Connolly. World-Telegram: Although the production of the film is excellent as regards its settings and its acting, I must add that in other directions it does not work out well enough, that it slows down and drags so much it must be classed as a handsome and ambitious bore. Sun: The juxtaposition of Eastern civilization with Western is worked out better than the actual tale itself — although the latter, while a bit slow and not particularly dexterously told, is holding enough. Mirror: Capra is Columbia's ace director, a young man happily endowed with the ability to make a conventionaj film story interesting and credible. He has such a story in "General Yen" and he works his usual miracle with it. News: The capacity audience expressed thorough approval of "The Bitter Tea of General Yen," an impressive tale of modern China, slow-pacd in continuity but intelligently directed and ably acted. fournal: Excellent entertainment, A romantic melodrama that one might — and one will, if you don't mind — describe as a Chinese version of "The Sheik." It provides a grand comeback for Nils Asther. Post: Its beauty is fleetingly captured in photographic compositions and in the cunning authenticity of its atmosphere. There is a redo!ence of Chinese culture which puts the picture, on those grounds, far ahead of the numerous films in a similar vein; but the story is overlong and too deliberate. and the dragged-out dialogue sequences rob the climax of its proper suspense. Herald-Tribune: A slow-paced, but shrewdly-d rected melodrama, bassd on Mr, Kipling's favorite theory of race, with some better than average d alogue, a surprisingly restrained performance by Nils Asther. another of Walter Connelly's impeccable characterizations and the highly-satisfying presence, in a small role, of an extremely pretty young Japanese actress named Toshia Mori. American: The film adds distinction to the theatre, and holds with utmost dignity a worthy headline position amid the excellent program of entertainment, "THE ISLAND OF LOST SOULS " Paramount prod.; director, Erie Kenton; writers, Waldemar Young, Philip Wyhe. H. G. Wells, Rialto Theatre American: This critic, for one, fails to see entertainment in the theme of vivisection which changes beasts to men-like monstrosities. News: If you can imagine a hundred or more Frankensteins on an island like the one in "The Most Dangerous Game," and a crazy and inhuman scientist no more concerned with the feelings of his victims than the hunter in that picture, you've got an idea of the kind of photoplay that has been made from the novel by H. G. Wells. Ousted Members of 306 Will Receive Damages New York. — judge McCook has ruled that Local 306 must pay damages to the ousted members. He ordered $2000 for Nathaniel Doragoff, $3000 for Ernest Gieseman, $3000 for Charles McDermott, and $2000 for Samuel Simon. Sam Kaplan has been ordered to make an accounting of all funds entrusted to him Harvey Day Coming New York. — Harvey Day, sales manager of Educational, left for Hollywood yesterday. March 15rh Is The Deadline Have your income tax return for 1932 compiled now and be prepared to pay the first quarter of your tax on March I 5th, the final day for filing. Avoid the last minute rush by arranging an oppointment with SI MASTERS, who has been specializing in income tax for professional people since 1922 at 6381 Hollywood Boulevard. HEmpstead 6672. Stars In Air Show Pack Palm Springs An air show, with Wallace Beery, Clarence Brown, Paul Lukas, Roscoe Turner and other movie aces entered, a fashion parade, and Marlene Dietrich in her best pants, combined to draw a big crowd to Palm Springs over the week-end. It was hard to tell which was the star attraction, but possibly La Dietrich got the honor. Among the guests at El Mirador were Maurice Chevalier, Max Ruppa, the Harry Cohns, Monroe Owsley, the Richy Craigs, the Jules Furthmans. Charles "Santa Glaus" Furthman, Raquel Torres, Charles Feldman, Townsend Netcher and Connie Talmadge — the latter on crutches — Frank Capra, the Milton Brens, Frank Condon, Gilbert Roland, May Sunday, and Mme. Dietrich's small daughter with her two husky bodyguards. Jack Curtis Opening Office Here Today Jack Curtis, New York agent for the past 24 years, is opening his Hollywood office today in the Taft building. Curtis plans to bring out from New York a number of big stage names to exploit for pictures, in addition to handling the plays of the leading producers on Broadway. He has just placed Jesse Ralph, veteran stage actress, at Columbia for a term contract. New York Daily Mirror: Miss Kenyon's voice has improved tremendously. She has added to it all the experience and tempered rhythm of a poised emotional actress. The result last evening was amazingly fine New York American: Doris Kenyon is that rare combination, a soprano who can really act, and an actress who can really sing. New York Times: She enraptured a large aud ence with sprightliness, pathos* and drama and was altogether charming. DORIS KENYON in a dramatic concert Philharmonic Auditorium JANUARY 17 Management L. E. Behymer