Motion Picture Daily (Jun-Aug 1931)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, June 17, 1931 1 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Kegistered U. S. Patent Office Formerly Exhibitors Daily Review and Motion Pictures Today \"ol. 30 June 17, 1931 No. 15 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN Editor James A. Cron Advertising Manager ^^f\ PUBLISHED daily, except Sunday I Jl 1 and holidays, by Motion Picture ^Cl^ Daily, Inc., a Quigley Publication, ^ at 1790 Broadway, New \ork. Telephone: Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, iNew York." All contents copyrighted. Hollvwood Office: Pacific States Life Building, Vine and Yucca Streets; William A. Johnston, Manager, Chicago Office: 407 South Dearborn Street; Edwin S. Clifford, Manager. London correspondent: l-V. H. Mooring, The Bioscope, 8-10 Charing Cross Road, London, W.C. 2. Berlin correspondent. Alfred Weiner, "The Film Kurrier," Berlin, W. 9. Entered as second class matter January 4, 1926, at the Post Office at New York City, N. Y., under Act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, including postage: $10 in the United States and Canada; foreign $15. Single copies, 10 cents Product W HEN the characters battle the elements, "The Viking" (J. D. Williams and Associates) reaches awesome heights rarely before caught by a motion picture camera. When the characters tussle with human emotions, the picture goes 1915 and it's very bad. Produced by V^arick Frissell, who later lost his life when the boat that gives the film its name blew up, "The Viking" deals with seal hunting and two seal hunters' love for the same girl. The ice and sea stuff are terrifying, fascinating and comment provoking and will stand as much exploitation as any showman may care to put behind them. Those unique sequences may be enough to send the film over if the plug is heavy enough. But under all circumstances lay low on the story. For safety's sake. "Just A GIGOLO" (M-G-M) sounds melodramatic but, is diverting fun. Someone on the M G M lot is bearing down on Billy Haines' wisecracking in favor of a more subtle approach on comedy situations. That's something. The gigolo business, as you might presuppose, is a means to an end and that end is to find out if the girl Haines goes for in a big way is the faithful kind. In the process, some of the circumstances turn risque, but dialogue and handling never permit them to become offensive. Haines is good, but Irene Purcell's aiifected high-nasal English accent becomes a pain. Also, she is inclined to overact. KANN V/'OU'VE probably heard those stones about Sid Kent taking over *■ Paramount production, in addition to his job in distribution. Here's the inside on that : • Kent attendetl tliat memorable Denver meeting, held not so long ago, at which Ben Schulberg was told he was to be boss of the studios. East and West. From that confab sprang the yarn. As a matter of fact, Kent is taking no more interest today in production than he has in the past, but, curious as it sounds, that interest is plenty. After all, he has to sell what the studio turns out and it, therefore, becomes entirely reasonable for him to be plentifully concerned with production and its policies. • W. A. Steffes, general manager of the Northwest exhibitor association and founder of Allied, is in New York en route to attend the annual convention of the New Jersey exhibitor unit. At the sessions, StelTes is to defend himself from allegations that he was on the payroll of Sentry Safety Control, which company effected a hook-up with Allied. Joe Pastor, Chicago exhibitor, is accompanying Steffes. • P. G. Wodehouse, British humorist, is not going to work after his experience in Hollywood. "Sudden work after all this might prove fatal," he declares in a wire from Hollywood declining Sam H. Harris' offer to appear in '"Once in a Lifetime." Harris wanted him to play the role of a playwright, disillusioned by Hollywood. In reciting his picture experiences Wodehouse says a film company had paid him a salary of $2,000 a week for a year and that he could not see "what thev engaged me for." • Who is the chap that pulled a boner at the last public hearing of the fire ordinance and almost caused the mayor to cut the hearing short ? 0 What is the real motive behind that fire ordinance just signed by Mayor Walker? Who is the man it will benefit most? Circuit heads can tell you. First Columbia Outing Columbia will hold its first annual outing Saturday, June 27, at Karatwnvi's, at Glen Cove, L. I. Sold to Famous Canadian RKO Pathe has closed its 19311932 product with Famous Players Canadian Corp. Hart Gets Post Milwaukee — Harry Hart has replaced Ben Louthain as manager of tlie Big 4 exchange here. Signs Bessie Love Hollywood — TifTany has signed Bessie Love to play opposite Conway Tearle in "Morals for Women." Stocks Irregular; Loew's Pfd, Off 2% Hieh Consolidated Film Industries .S.'n Consolidated Film Industries pfd l.'V^ Eastman Kodak \?-2Va Fox Film "A" General Theatre K(|uipment new l.oew's, Inc l.oew's. Inc.. pfd Paramount Pnblix .... Pathe F.xchangc RKO Warner Bros 19.^ .S'/s 4M/4 85 '/s V'A m Low U'A 129'A 19!4 4.)4 40>4 85/8 22J4 VA U Net Close Change 5-H U'A uz'A 19^8 5 41.>^ 85/8 2.V/S VA 1354 S'A 'A +2A 'A + H -2H % Sales 100 ino 1.800 4,700 5,600 _'.oon 100 5.400 ,100 3,200 13,900 Fractional Losses on Curb Hish Low Fox Theatres "A" iA 3^ General Theatre Equipment pfd ll->^ 10 Technicolor 6 6 Trans Lux 6'A 6 Net Close Change Sales 3% 600 10)4 — .K 7.000 6 100 6 'A 700 Bond Issues Slightly Irregular High General Theatre Equipment 6s '40 47 Keith B. F, 6s '46 65 l.oew's 6s '41 ex war 9754 Paramount Broadway 5'/2S '51 10154 Paramount Publix 5!^s '50 79'A P.-ithe 7s ',17 WW 82 Warner Bros. 6s '.19 wd 48/ Net Low Close Change 42/ 65 ■ 96 101/ 79 81 46/ 44 65 97SAs 101. H 79 82 47/ -2 + / +15'^ + A -1/ -1-1 —1 Scdes 18 1 17 4 4 16 24 Sheehan Wins Suit vs. Fox; Trial Dropped (Continued from page 1) tained he had placed in Fo.x's hands lor sale. In his action Sheehan alleged that on Dec. 24, 1926, he turned over the stock to Fox, who agreed to return the shares on request or the proceeds in the event he sold them. Sheehan alleged Fox sold the stock for $410,852 and paid only $100,000. In his answer Fox entered a counterclaim for $190,664. He admitted the receipt and sale of the stock at the figure named by Sheehan. He said he made cash advances to Sheehan of 1190,664, and invested the rest in 6,860 shares of the preferred stock of the Bankers Security Corp. He said he had been holding the stock as security for his cash advances to Sheehan and was ready to surrender it if Sheehan returned to him the $190,664. It is understood the settlement on Sheehan's behalf was for upwards of $250,000 turned over to him yesterday by certified check ; that his stock was returned to him and Fox's counterclaim entirely withdrawn. Warner Zone Heads Will Meet Today In answer to the call sent out by Dan Michalove, head of the Warner Theatres chain, there will be a meeting of the zone managers in New York this morning. The object is to acquaint managers with the coming Warner and First National Films. Among those to be present are : James Coston, of Chicago ; C. J. Latta, of Cleveland ; Cullen Espy, of Indianapolis; I. J. Hoffman, of New Haven; William Goldman, of Philadelphia ; Louis Lazar, of Albany ; John H. Harris, of Pittsburgh ; Leto Hill, of St. Louis; J. J. Payette of Washington, and Harry M. Kalmine, of Newark. Al Brandt Reported Dying of Cancer Joe Brandt left hurriedly for Hollywood yesterday afternoon as the result of a telephone call from Jack Cohn advising that Al Brandt, brother of the Columbia president and attached to the company's production department, was dying. He is suffering from cancer. Brandt will travel by rail to Kansas City where he arrives tonight and will then fly to the Coast Thursday morning, arriving there about 8 o'clock the same night. Gets ''Symphonies" "Silly Symphonies," Walt Disney :artoons, again are to be on the Columbia short subject program, following closing of new contracts. Studio and Location Sound on Film Recording Low Dally or WaelHy Rates Powers Clnephone Equipment Corp. 723-7th AVE., N. Y. BRyant 9-6067