Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1934)

8 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, April 27, 1934 MOTION PICTURE DAILY) HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "Thirty Day Princess" (Sch ulb erg -Paramo lint ) Hollywood, April 26. — Rarely has the Cinderella formula failed, nor does it in the case of "Thirty Day Princess," in which Sylvia Sidney takes all possible advantage of a light role and kicks in with the best performance in the best picture she has done in many moons. What goes on here whirls around the flotation of a fifty million dollar loan for one of those tucked away, miniature kingdoms, called Taronia this time. To put on the necessary show, Miss Sidney goes to America, contracts the mumps and almost wrecks the national ballyhoo deemed necessary to stimulate the American public into a bond buying orgy. Her double, also played by Miss Sydney, is dug up from somewhere in the American scene and a pleasant subterfuge is carried on. Complications threaten exposure, and finally love comes to the thirty day princess with Cary Grant at the receiving and delivering end. Charming treatment aimed at, and successful in striking a high comedy note, plus excellent performances by all hands, place this attraction high on the list of releases just in the offing. The picture is not big in concept, but is wholesome, frothy entertainment of the kind that may not break records, but which will do generally gratifying business up and down the land. K. "The Witching Hour," last night's preview at the Paramount , was reviewed by wire from Hollywood on April 12. "Journal of a Crime," last night's preview at the Roxy, was reviewed on Feb. 27. Richards to Continue as Saenger Head (Continued from pane 1) ger of approximately $7,500,000, is the largest creditor. Paramount will exchange its claims against Saenger for stock in the new company, it was learned, and will continue Richards as operating partner of the circuit. The plan for issuance of stock in the new corporation, an integral part of the Saenger reorganization, has been submitted to the Federal Trade Commission at Washington for approval. The commission's report is expected within the next week or 10 days and, if favorable, will make possible submission of the reorganization plan to creditors shortly thereafter. Expect Cravath to Defend Para. Board (Continued from pane 1) for Paramount, which seeks to recover up to $12,237,071, said to have been paid for repurchase of stock issued by Paramount for the acquisition of theatres several years ago. The Cravath firm handled the bulk of the legal affairs of Paramount during the period of its theatre expansion and that of the redemption of the guaranteed stock issues now in question, and, consequently, is regarded as most familiar with the transactions involved in the trustees' suit. The petition of the trustees, Charles D. Hilles, Eugene W. Leake and Charles E. Richardson, was filed in state supreme court here yesterday. The plenary action will be filed within the next few days. Named as defendants are Adolph Zukor, Sidney R. Kent, Sam Katz, John Hertz, Ralph A. Kohn, Austin C. Keough, Jesse L. Lasky, Jules E. Brulatour, Frank Bailey, William H. English, Daniel Frohman, Felix H. Kahn, Gilbert W. Kahn, Elek J. Ludvigh, Sir William Wiseman and executors for the estates of Casimir I. Stralem and Emil E. Shauer, deceased. The Cravath firm is also counsel for Kuhn, Loeb & Co., Paramount's bankers, several of whose members who served on the Paramount board are made defendants in the trustees' suit. P-P Claim Hearing Off Hearing of a claim filed by Paramount Publix against Fox West Coast for alleged damages arising from the leasing by the latter of Paramount California theatres, which was scheduled for today before Referee Henry K. Davis, has been postponed to May 4. Allied Moves on Monday Allied of New Jersey moves from its present quarters on West 44th street to the Lincoln hotel next Monday. Signs Jessica Dragonette Jessica Dragonette, radio singer, was signed to a long termer by Paramount yesterday. She will leave for the coast during the summer. No Decision Given In St. Louis Case (Continued from page 1) lar, who want to operate the houses through two new corporations, he has indicated that he is not favorable to the proposal. On April 23 in a written opinion in rejecting the request of the First Mortgage Bondholders Committee, headed by Thomas N. Dysart, that the court set a date within which non-depositing bondholders would have to come into the plan in order to participate in its benefits, Judge Davis wrote: "The administration expenses of the consummation of this plan is unreasonable" and added : "The court declines by any act or order to encourage the enforced adoption of the plan by the bondholders." Judge Davis also rejected the request of Warners and Mrs. F. Geller, et al, for permission to intervene in the original receivership suit brought against the St. Louis Properties Corp., owner of the Ambassador and Missouri theatres and the Grand Central leasehold. From the outset Warners have opposed the reorganization. Under the plan, the first mortgage bondholders would become, in effect, owners of the properties through an exchange of bonds and common stock for stock in the new corporations. B. O. Gains Seen in Rise in Tax Receipts (Continued from pane 1) nal Revenue Bureau in March, which showed an increase from $996,861 to 351 .267,375, exceeding collections in March of last year by $19,000, it was reported by the Treasury Department today. Admission tax collections for the three-quarters of the fiscal year ended with March, it was announced, totaled $10,882,367. Monogram to Hold 3 Regional Meets (Continued from paae 1) cinnati June 2 and the third in New York June 29. Edward Golden, general sales manager, will preside. The Salt Lake City meeting will be attended by the Salt Lake, Portland, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle exchanges. The exchanges represented at the Cincinnati session will be : Cincinnati, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Omaha, Minneapolis, Chicago, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Charlotte, Atlanta, Tampa, New Orleans, Dallas, Oklahoma City, Little Rock, Detroit and St. Louis. The New York session will have : New York, Boston, Albany, Philadelphia, New Haven, Washington and Buffalo. U.S. A. T. & T. Quiz Is Sought in Senate Washington, April 26. — An exhaustive investigation by the Senate Interstate Commerce Committee into the operations of A. T. & T. and its subsidiaries is sought by Senator Clarence C. Dill of Washington in a resolution introduced in the Senate today. All angles of the telephone company situation will be studied under the proposed legislation, including financial operations and profits, inter-service contracts between the company and Western Electric and other subsidiaries and possible evasion of regulation and taxes. From the film industry angle, the inquiry is important because of the possible development of relations between the company and Erpi and Western Electric. New Pact for Enright Hollywood, April 26. — Ray Enright, in his 11th year at Warners, has been signed to a new contract. Penn. MPTO Asks Regional Rent Protests (Continued from paae 1) whether or not affiliated with any exhibitor organization. If held, the gatherings will take place within the next two weeks in New York, Chicago and on the coast. "The various sales conventions now being called by the major film companies with the avowed intent of passing the whole NRA costs on to exhibitors in increased film rentals," the letter reads, "make it imperative that the independent theatre men immediately call at least three national film buyers' conventions to take effective measures for protection. Calls for Action "Resolutions and speeches must be translated into action if we are to obtain relief against confiscatory rentals. Higher percentages, increased number of percentage pictures, stiff guarantees with overages, preferred playing time, right to interchange, score charges — all of these have created a lopsided and intolerable condition that is fast diminishing our income and causing our theatre investments to dwindle. "This organization has a very definite plan for relief. We are willing to cooperate mutually — to serve in the ranks — of any effective movement and to contribute our share of activity and financial support towards the common goal of sensible and honest film prices. W e recommend the following : "1. The calling within the next two weeks of three sectional film buyers' conventions — in New York, Chicago and the west coast. "2. Each organization to be represented by two delegates, equipped with facts and figures regarding their territory, and qualified to speak on behalf of their constituents regarding purchasing power and measures of cooperation each can be counted on from their territory. "3. Each convention to be strictly non-partisan, non-political, and to be confined solely to devising an effective program against ruinous film prices." SMPE Men Discuss Laboratory Problem Atlantic City, April 26. — Suggestions for improving film laboratory practices were discussed in open forum today by the S.M.P.E. The society concluded its four day spring convention at Chalfonte-Haddon Hall late this afternoon. Laboratory and general sessions were held this morning and were followed by a symposium on theatre apparatus. Closing sessions in the afternoon were devoted to photography. Properties of the new Agfa 35 mm. film were discussed in a paper by P. Arnold, of the Agfa Ansco Corp. Tips on theatre seating as an aid to correct sight and acoustics featured a paper by P. F. Masucci, of International Seat Corp. Anna Sten in "Barbary" Hollywood, April 26. — Anna Sten will get the role in "Barbary Coast," which had been scheduled for Gloria Swanson by Samuel Goldwyn.