Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (Sep 1936 - Dec 1937)

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1936 What The Newspaper Critics Say: "THE GORGEOUS HUSSY" (M-G-M) . . . Part of the story is historically true, but most of it has an incredible ring and tin players never are quite convincing in their political or emotional arguments . . . We refuse to acknowledge it as fact, and as cinemized fiction it is merely passable . . ." N. Y. TIMES. "... A colorful and heart-warming saga of American history . . . Handsomely staged and persuasively acted, the motion picture translation of Samuel Hopkins Adams' gaudy novel forms a rich and entertaining pageant of life in the Andrew Jackson era . . ." N. Y. HERALD-TRIBUNE. "Lionel Barrymore's 'Jackson' excels Joan Crawford's 'Hussy' ... A colorful and dramatic film that goes beyond historical facts . . ." N. Y. DAILY NEWS. "A SON COMES HOME" (Paramount) ". . . Absurdly contrived story . . . An emotional hodge-podge . . ." N. Y. TIMES ". . . Sobbie, old-time tear-jerker that depends for its appeal on the tragedy of a mother's love for a worthless son . . . Mary Boland gives a fine performance . . . Balance of cast is excellent . . ." N. Y. DAILY NEWS. "San Francisco's picturesque Fishermen's Wharf serves as the background for M.ir\ Boland's first dramatic role . . . Has a certain amount of speed, coincidences and tears and a nice melodramatic twang to it . . ." N. Y. WORLD-TELEGRAM. "PICCADILLY JIM" (M-G-M) ". . . P. G. Wodehouse, England's No. 1 humorist, on the screen . . . The comedy has been brought up to date . . . Montgomery-Morgan-Blore liven the plot with their expert fooling . . . Picture is well mounted and contains plenty of local color . . ." N. Y. DAILY NEWS. ". . . Hilarious version of the P. G. Wodehouse novel . . . Somehow a cast that might h.i\c been invented by Wodehouse himself has been assembled that fits into the exact spirit of the extremely casual atmosphere . . ." N. Y. SUN. ". . . Amiable comedy with Robert Montgomery-Frank Morgan-Eric Blore and Robert Benchley at their best . . ." N. Y. WORI 1)111! CRAM HOLLYWOOD If LIOInERS By DAVID J. HANNA Hollywood, September 8. The big question this week in Hollywood is the authentic that C. B. De Mille would move his spectacle moving unit from Paramount to United Artists. From reports, we understand that George Shaefer, of United Artists, is dickering with the director-producer on a six picture yearly con': two of which he would direct himself. With his current assignment The PI i man" in the can at Paramount, De Mille has been dickering with them new contract but differences as to salary, percentage as well as .ber of pictures scheduled have prevented the deal, and so far they have I get together. Postponing their production of "Danton" Warners have decided upon "Everyman," the 16th Century morality play as their next assignment for Max Reinhardt. As announced in this column a few weeks, age nes Poulsen, was brought over from Europe to direct the production at the Hollywood Bowl, which was originally scheduled for Reinhardt. However the sponsors decided the German's salary demands were exhorbitant so Poulsen. at a tenth the amount, was secured, and is now being given a terrific build up in the Los Angeles papers. So with the announcement that Reinhardt do the picture, we wonder which one is burning? Lew Ayres was signed by Paramount this week to a term contract with the stipulation that the actor be allowed to direct one picture yearly. Ayres is leaving for New York to catch the Bremen for a European trip and is expected on the lot November 1st. Negotiations are at a burning point between Samuel Goldwyn and Ruth Chatterton, the producer wanting the actress for the starring role in "Stella Dallas." The part should be a cinch for Chatterton but she seems lukewarm on the idea. But fast talking Goldwyn wangled her into "Dodsworth" and will probably do it again on this one. Lynne Overman is being borrowed from Paramount by Hal Roach for one of the leading roles in the Patsy Kelly-Lyda Roberti film "Nobody's Bo. Because of censorship troubles in England and probable difficulties with Washington societies in this country, the proposed M-G-M production, "Mr and Mrs. Washington" has been shelved. The Buck Jones Westerns for Universal will go musical. Production has started on the first of the series with four musical numbers set in the horse opera. A new Hildegarde Withers in the person of Zasu Pitts has been announced for "The Riddle of the Dangling Pearl" opposite James Gleason s Inspector Oscar Piper. Edna Mae Oliver was formerly in the series, then replaced by Helen Broderick. As an answer to reports that Columbia was planning to cancel Mary Astor's contract, the Studio announced she will begin work next week in "Lady from Nowhere." No other members of the cast have been announced but Astor will get top billing. George Jessel has returned from New York and his first assignment will be "Music in the Park" which will feature Chas. Winniger and Henry Armetta Negotiations between Sol Lesser and Bill Hart for a series of Westerns reported cold. The actor denied that he had entered into any negotiations with the producer and that any idea that he might re-enter pictures is furthest from his mind. The actor is retired and happily losing $25,000 yearly on ranch. Another team to be reunited is Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur, who so decisively in "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town." The next production for the I announced by Paramount will be "Beyond Sound of Machine Guns.