Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1933)

Thursday, October 19, 1933 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Censors Here Ban 10, Cut 317 in Year (Continued from fane 1) for other reasons were: 917, "tending to incite crime" ; 569, "indecent" ; 360, "inhuman" ; 58, "obscene," and seven, "sacrilegious." Classification of films and number of deletions in each group were given as follows : Dramas, 221 ; comedies, 42; comedy dramas, 21; scenic, 11; serials, five ; educational, three ; novelty, three ; miscellaneous, 22. No deletions were made in cartoons. Receipts of the board for the year totalled $226,834, the report shows. Expenditures were $65,136, leaving a net revenue for the state of $161,697, an increase of $487 over the previous year. Total receipts since organization of the board have been $2,447,699, which, with total disbursements for the period of $929,605, makes a net revenue for the state of $1,518,093 for the 12 years of the board's existence. Eliminations 3,035 The total number of eliminations ordered by the board during the year was 3,035, of which 1,793 were deleted scenes and 1,242 were dialogue eliminations. Sound films comprised 1,685 of the 1,762 total of films licensed, and eliminations were ordered in 317 of these. There were 77 silent films and eliminations in 11 were made. The report states that 31 requests for re-examinations of films in which eliminations had been ordered were made, and one further appeal to the Board of Regents was made during the year, with what results it is not noted. No court proceedings were instituted during the year as a result of the board's rulings, it is stated. The report notes that the board's reviewing staff is undermanned and in view of the 8,916,000 feet, or 1,689 miles, of film inspected during the past year, "at least two reviewers" should be added to the staff. Checking Staff Too Small The report also calls the board's present inspection staff, delegated to checking on theatres and film storage vaults, as "altogether too small to adequately cover the theatres of the state." It notes that a neighboring state with fewer theatres has an inspection staff double New York's and declares that many instances are found of theatres exhibiting pictures without the prescribed license leader or with a leader issued for another him. Reputable" producers and exhibitors, however, are commended in the report for cooperation. Looking ^Em Over 'Big Executive' {Paramount) The moral of this picture is the Richardsons always get their man, financially and romantically. The man happens to be Ricardo Cortez and the Richardsons are Richard Bennett and Elizabeth Young. Aside from this angle, there is the battle of financial giants, Bennett representing one of the past era and Cortez one of the modern wizards. Bennett and Cortez become bitter enemies in their stock dealings and the former threatens to wipe the latter out. A romance between Bennett's granddaughter, Miss Young, and the hero develops. This prevents fireworks for a time. While hunting one day Cortez accidentally kills his wife, but he is not convicted. Later, however, a letter written by Dorothy Peterson, the wife, prior to her death turns up which makes the killing appear premeditated. When Cortez shows it to Bennett, the latter resolves to wreck the hero and he does. Still believing Cortez innocent, Miss Young decides to stand by him and deserts her grandfather. Sharon Lynn, as secretary to Cortez and in love with him, although she loses out to Miss Young, is effective in the small role. "Man of Sentiment" {Chesterfield) This is a mixture of a character study of Christian Rub as a hospital recorder and a romance between Marion Marsh and William Bakewell. When Bakewell brings Miss Marsh to the hospital after he has run her down with his car. Rub takes an interest in the couple and watches the romance develop. The affair runs amuck shortly after when the hero brings the heroine to his home for family approval. Edmund Breese and Emma Dunn, Bakewell's parents, disapprove of the romance, believing that the girl is after the hero's money. Bakewell is put out at this and both lovers decide to wed and start from the bottom. The couple have no money. Miss Marsh calls on Owen Moore, a former lover, for financial aid. Moore frames the meeting by calling Bakewell to his home while the heroine is there. The hero falls for it and calls the whole affair off. Miss Marsh is brought to the hospital later when she is on the verge of catching pneumonia. Rub visits Bakewell's parents and gets them to lend financial assistance. The hero later turns up and reoents at his hasty decision at Moore's home and all's well again between the lovers. Engineers to Seek 2,000 Membership (Continued from pane 1) also to effect economies in its operation. Part of the plan calls for the creation of posts for five additional vice-presidents to handle various association departments as aids to Goldsmith. The plan, he said, will be approved in the near future "Harmony" $6,500 Wow in Oklahoma Oklahoma City. Oct. 18. — "Too Much Harmony" played to full houses at the Criterion last week, sending the gross to $6,500, above average by $1,500. This is the best business the Criterion has seen since "Tugboat Annie." "Private Detective 62" at the Capitol was the next best, going over average of $3,000 bv $500. The Liberty flopped with "Pilgrimaee" the first three days, but "Ann Carver's Profession" the last of the week brousrht it up to the average of $3,000. The suburban Victoria had one first run. "Halleluiah, I'm a Bum," which took $700 in four days. Total first run business was $13,700. Average is $11,700. Estimated takings for the week ending Oct. 14: "TOO MITCH HARMONY" fPara.) rPTTKRTON— ^.700^. 10c-2nc-26<:..16c-41c'^''r. 7 days. Gross: $6,500. (Average. $5. nnn.') "PRIVATE DETECTIVF dZ" fWamers) rAPTTOT.^n 7001, 10c-2nc-26c3'V-41c. 7 dnvs. Gro«=: M son. rA„Pr.->irp. $3,000.) "PIl.r.RIMAGE" fFox^ TJBERTV— n Smi. inc-15c-26c-3fir. ?■ ''-"•<;. Gross: $1.,100. CAveraRe week. %^. "AMM TARVER'S PROFESSION" (Col.> LTRET>Ty_d iJOnv I0c-15c-26c-.16c. ^ -!->"<;. Gross: $1,700. (Average week. $.1. "WAIT PiijjAH. I'M A BUM" (U. A.^ ■V'TrTr.rjT/\_r8n0). \0c-\Sc-'>0r.''fT i ,hvs. r.-o-,,: !t7m. (Average week. $1,200.") u Mary Stevens" Is Buffalo Sensation Buffalo. Oct. 18. — "Mary Stevens, -M.D." was a sensation here last week at the Great Lakes. It niled up a arross of $22,300. more than double the usual take, aided bv a stage show headed bv Earl Carroll's "Vanities." "Penthouse" was also a remarkable erosser, with a take of $24,400 at the Buffalo. This is $9,400 over average. The staafe show was headed by Fred Waring's Pennsvlvanians. Other first runs suffered as a result. Total first run business was $70,800 Normal, including the Erlanger. is $54 300. Estimated takings for the week ending Oct. 13: "PENTHOUSE" (M-G-M) KXTFFAT.O— fS.,™). 30c-5.';c. 7 davs. Stace: Fred Warinc's Pennsylvanians. Tom Foley McCIintock. Tv,ane Sf'^ters. Smoothies. Tohnnie Daviis (Average. SIS.OOOV Durante Gets Manaaer HoLi.vwoon. Oct 18. — Tinimv Durante, who heretofore has been his own business manager, has signed an actor-manager contract with Ralph Farnum. THE GLORY" 7 days. Gross: Waring. ■Rahs. Three Gross: $24,400, "THE POWER AND (Fox) rvNTTTRY— (3.0001, 2.';c, .^.ino, (Average, $6,000,) "DINNER AT EIGHT" (M-G-M) FRT.ANGER— (1,400). 55c-Sl,fi5. 7 davs. Twice dailv. 2nd week. Gross, $7,600, <^^'er■.,ee. $10,000,) "MARY STEVENS. M.D." (Warners) GREAT T,4KE,'=;— (,1000). 2.';c-40c. 7 d-nvs. qtaqre: E-'rl Carrnirs "Vanities." with Rav Rnleer, Gro"!«: $2?„^00, (Average, $10,000,) "ONE MAN'S JOURNEY" (Radio) TriPPOnROME— (2.100). 2^f--40c, 7 davs. Gross: %^.9X) (Averace, $6,000) "INDIA SPEAKS" (Radio) TTOTJ.VWOOD— (,^00), 25c-40c, 10 days, Gro»'.: $<?00. (Average for week. $800.) "SATURDAY'S MILLIONS" (Univ.) r.AFAYETTE— (.1..100). 25c, 7 days. Gross: $,'5,000. (Averagre. $6,500.) Hollywood Personals Hollyivood, Oct. 18. BETTY FURNESS, who will play in "Just Off Fifth Avenue," has been assigned by Radio to search for 50 girls in eastern finishing schools for parts in the picture. Emerson Treacy, Paul Nicholson, WiLLARD Robertson, James Farley and Sam Godfrey will have roles in "Wild Birds" (Radio). Constance Bennett's latest film for Radio will be released as "After Tonight," instead of "Without Glory" or "The Woman Spy." Yakima Canutt, Wally Wales, Lane Chandler and Art Mix are in the supporting cast of "Sagebrush Trail" (Monogram). Leonard Fields is to become a director for Monogram as soon as he finishes writing "Diary of a Bad Woman." Norman Foster is going to Honolulu for a two-week vacation when he finishes "7 Lives Were Changed" (Fox). Will Rogers plans to spend a vacation touring the east by plane as sopn as he completes "Mr. Stitch" for Fox. Robert Barrat, Donald Meeker and Hobart Cavanaugh added to the cast of "Hi, Nellie" (Warners). Grant Whytock, film editor, has returned to Hollywood from New York to rejoin Reliance Pictures. Lew Brown's return to the Fox lot has reunited the trio of DeSylva, Brown and Henderson. Robert Benchley is doing additional dialogue for "Once Over Lightly" (Radio). Natalie Moorhead and Herbert Bunston have gone into "Long Lost Father" (Radio). Henry O'Neill and Ferdinand Gottschalk cast in "King of Fashion" (Warners). R. N. Bradbury will direct "West of the Divide" and "Blue Steel" (Columbia). George Waggner is responsible for the dialogue of "Born Tough" (Monogram). Willy Pogany signed by Salient Pictures to design the sets for "Mating Time." George Bertholon has been engaged by Monogram to supervise "The Ape." Donald Cook has been loaned by Columbia to Radio for "Fury of the Jungle." Irene Dunne will be teamed with John Boles in "Stingaree" (Radio). Warren William has started work in "Bedside" (Warners). Jean Muir goes into "As the Earth Turns" (Warners).