The Hollywood Reporter (Jan-Jun 1933)

Ian. 23. 1933 iaiiP©mriiH!i Page Three rHi:illI\D JIIIY UOOKS' RATES WELL FOR I\i:i<.;ilROItllOOD$i» rday in LW 191 Writing, Cast Good, But Direction Lame "BEHIND lURY DOORS" Fanchon Royer-Mayfair Direction Breezy Eason Story by Frank Fenton Screen Play John Thomas Neville Photography Ernest Miller Cast: Helen Chandler, William Collier Jr.. Blanche Frederici, Franklin Parker, John Davidson. Walter Miller, Jessie Arnold. Lewis Natheaux. Patsy Cunningham, Arthur Loft. Cordon de Main. A little grease on the fingers that controlled the purse strings on "Behind Jury Doors" and the production would have leaped lightly over the fence that separates the independent from the major. It was unfortunate that its producers could not have gone the whole hog and permitted its story to be told as it should be. with half the gabby dialogue transformed into action in the purest of motion picture terms. Then the production would certainly have seen a motion picture instead of a gabfest, and a picture which would have rated well alongside major product at the same time. As matters stand, it is a good independent production. Buster Collier seems ideally suited to the part of a smart aleck newspaper reporter. When a man is convicted of murder, he smells banana oil. He proceeds to fall in love with the man's daughter, digs into a political machine and findi enough rot there to uncover the man's innocence. The man's wife, surprisingly enough, is revealed as the murderess. Collier discloses real trouping ability, despite the handicap of inadequate direction. Some major studio executive should go to New York to "discover" him, and, while there, do the same for Franklin Parker and the unnamed gentleman who played the part of Cus, the speakeasy operator. There's talent in these three that's worth exploiting. jack Neville's screen play, in spite of obvious supervisory restrictions, is a first class job. The dialogue is continuously interesting, its over-abundance being no fault of his. Photography may have been up to standard. There was no way of telling, the print was so bleary and foggy One thing was positive, sound was horrible. The exhibitor who has a metropolitan audience had best handle it with care, promising little. But you in the theatrical by-ways can go it great guns and clean up on the five and ten cent customers. Taurog Will Direct 'Don't Call Me Madame' Norman I aurog is slated to direct the Mary BolandAlison Skipworth picture. "Don't Call Me Madame," as his next assignment to follow the Chevalier picture for Paramount. Ray Harris. Crover Jones and William Slavens McNutt are doing the script. Efficiency Note An exhibitor, operating a small house 75 miles from Los Angeles, brings his eight reels into Los Angeles after each show, picks up another feature and shorts and returns home. But — business is bad and he is without a car, so he hitch-hikes both ways with his load of film — three times a week Allied Exhibs Still Haggle on Contract New York. — The board of directors of the Allied States Exhibitors will gather here Wednesday in an effort to find something new to object to in the new Standard Contract. The body rejected it at the convention and now that the producers have agreed to all their terms, they must find something new to squawk about, as it is quite definite they want no part of the contract. Chevalier Picture In Work At Para. Today Paramount starts shooting on the Chevalier picture, "A Bedtime Story." today, although there are a couple of feminine roles which it is having difficulty in casting, Norman Taurog is directing and the cast includes Maurice Chevalier. Helen Twelvetrees, Edward Everett Horton. Lilian Bond and Charles Ruggles New Post For Steffes Minneapolis. — The Allied Theatres of the Northwest have elected Al Steffes chairman of the legislative committee to fight chain theatres and tax measures. W. R. Frank was named president of the Association. New Deal For Cowen After seeing the daily rushes on "Oliver Twist." Monogram wrote out a new ticket for William Cowen, who is directing the production for I. E. Chadwick He gets a two picture deal, Fox Buys Mslander' S<si has purchased a south sea island story, titled "The Islander." original by John Stuart-Fife, to be Jose Mojica's next starring vehicle in Spanish versions. Lasky Tests Sheehan Jesse Lasky is making a test of John Sheehan for the comedy lead in "Warrior's Husband," which will be released under the Fox banner Buster Collier Signed William Collier Jr has been signed for the leading role in "Love Is Like That." George Batchellor's next production for Chesterfield Radio City Title For 'U' Release New York. — The title of "Radio City" will not be available for use by Radio Pictures for a short reel picture depicting the building, completion and actual operation of the Radio City RKO houses. Monte Brice. William Rowland and Robert Andrews have not only registered the title through the Hays office, via their release. Universal, but have actually started a feature picture by that name at the Eastern Service studios, with Morton Downey and an all-star cast of radio favorites *U' Wants Sherman To Direct Half-Way CnV Universal is trying to borrow Lowell Sherman from Paramount to direct a story called "Half-Way Girl,'" which the company wishes to make before closing down next month. Sherman is set for the lead in "Dead Reckoning" at Paramount, but might be able to do the Universal picture before starting that, Ruth Donnelly in Cast Of 'Private Detective' Although her recently negotiated ticket with Warners does not go into effect until February 6. Ruth Donnelly got off the train Friday to find a request from the company for her services immediately. She joins the cast of William Powell's "Private Detective" for a featured spot. Jesse Crawford May Join Radio-Keith New York — It is understood here that Jesse Crawford. Paramount organist, will leave the Paramount Theatre and go over to the RKO Music Hall in charge of the console. Evans With Novarro Madge Evans is slated to play the lead opposite Ramon Novarro m this next starring picture for MCM, "The Man of the Nile." Sam Wood will direct, Harry Poppy Quits Harry Poppy, associate producer for Nat Levine's Mascot Productions, has severed relations with the company as of Saturday. He is working on a deal with another company. Marsden At Warners On arriving m Hollywood last night, John Marsden found a deal completed for his services and today he joins the cast of Jimmy Cagney's "Reform School" at Warners, New Actress For MCM Elizabeth Allen. English actress, arrives in Hollywood February I 5 to fulfil a contract with MCM. The first big opening of the year took place this week. The Algonquin, the good, old Algonquin, opened up a supper club amid much gaiety and one of the very goodliest crowds one would want to meet all in one place. Put it down on your list as one of the places you'll want to look to find people when you take that long-needed rest in New York. . . . Ernst Lubitsch and Lillian Harvey together again. Marc Connelly, Mr and Mrs. John Krimsky, Andy Lawlor, Tallulah Bankhead. Ina Claire, Osgood Perkins, Eddie Mayer, Betty Starbuck, John S, Cohen Jr.. (who had more fun listening to Tallulah and Ina Claire) among those who attended to make Frank Case feel happy in his new role of night club host. , , . Rumors flew around town that Ann Harding and Harry Bannister had secretly re-married. But she's in Pennsylvania and Bannister started to forget his illfated show two or three nights before it actually closed and has been hard at it ever since. Believe it or not. there's a musical show due in town shortly, that, in spite of a number of difficulties, finally turned into a hit on the road and to date the overhead is only $37,000. Of course, that means that the authors and composers had to pay their own trainfare back to New York, but compare, ladies and gentlemen, compare it with one that is about to start rehearsals all over again that has already cost well over two hundred thousand dollars. Seems to all depend on what profession your backer is working at. . . . You'll never guess who said this, because he's in New York and said it in New York. But. he is in the picture business. He was describing someone's beautiful home and had just only gotten to the foyer when he came out wtih, "I'm simply crazy about that REFRACTORY table he has in the hall as you come Depression parties still seem to be in vogue, for Clara Bell Walsh gave one this week that had Bea Lillie, Grace Moore, Gracie Allen and Fanny Brice carrying on in calico and getting pitchers m the papers, . . Which reminds us that the annual Warner Club dance takes place this week. A formal affair. And when it was found that a number of members couldn't attend because of a lack of tuxedo, arrangements were made with a costumer to supply forty of them |ust for the asking. , , . Jim Celler, of the Morns office, spends one night a week at least on 'the radio, singing ye olde songes and giving their histories. He had a big moment this week on receiving his first and lone fan letter which was a request for information about Helen Hayes! Ah, well, fair exchange is no robbery, the writer listens to the music, in return for which he's entitled to learn something if he asks for it.