Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1934)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Saturday, April 28, 1934 Theatre Men Protest New Tax by City (Continued from page 1) Frey of Loew's, and P. M. Stern, listed as representing independent theatres, put in appearances to register objections to the bill. Frey contended that the city's theatres are already bearing a heavy tax burden and the new bill "would just about drive the theatre men out of business." O'Reilly stated that the theatre delegation will point out to the board of aldermen when the bill comes before that body next week that the proposed measure is unfair to theatres which are already paying heavy realty taxes. "The theatres should be exempted from this measure," O'Reilly said, "because of the high realty taxes they pay. A business firm occupying small office space may do a gross of $1,000,000 annually, pay no realty tax and still pay less than a theatre ^circuit under the proposed measure." Labor Muddle Goes On in Kansas City (Continued from page 1) need for new contracts arises next fall. Since Dec. 1, last, operators and stage hands at suburban theatres have been working without contracts on the temporary scale effected in the spring of 1933 following the bank holiday. Present indications are the situation will remain undisturbed until early fall. Of several points in controversy, the most serious difference revolves around labor provisions in the code. Exhibitors feel the code is partial to organized employes, inasmuch as it fixed wage scales in force as of Aug. 23, 1933. The unions so far have successfully defended their interpretation of that clause to mean last year's temporary agreement under which they granted one-man-in-a-booth operation, but with an increase ranging from 20 to 30 per cent for each operator. Warner Men Shifted In Pittsburgh Area Pittsburgh, April 27. — Ted Thomas, until last week manager of Warners' Enright in East Liberty, has been transferred to the Capitol in Wheeling, W. Va. Thomas' successor at the Enright is Harry Kendrick. Another shift in the Warner managerial setup sends Sam Gould, manager of the downtown Davis until it closed a week ago, to the Schenley, a neighborhood house in Oakland, to succeed Frank Roberts. Accept Booking Defense C. C. Petti john, general counsel of the M. P. P. D. A., and George Schaefer, Paramount general mana ger, have accepted invitations to ad dress the Women's Republican Club of Boston, May 16, on the subject of block booking. Opponents of the prac tice who will also address the meet ing will be Dr. A. Lawrence Lowell of Harvard and Mrs. Florence Bag ley, according to present plans. MOTION PICTURE DAILY$ HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "Sadie McKee" (M-G-M) Hollywood, April 27. — Joan Crawford, who by this time has won some spurs as a dramatic actress, rates far better material than the hackneyed story handed her in "Sadie McKee." She does what she can in the role, but her prowess proves insufficient to make complete amends for that which "Sadie McKee" lacks. Disappointed in romance, Joan decides to barter herself to the highest bidder and, through much detail not always convincing, marries Edward Arnold, a good-natured, drink-sodden millionaire. -It is with Gene Raymond, however, that Joan remains in love. To prove she is regular she saves Arnold from a rum-soaked death and tells him of her love for Raymond. Lurking in the background as a righteous individualist is Franchot Tone, who subsequently gets to know what an upright gal Joan really is. So he falls for her, and the scenario falls over itself in its efforts to eliminate Arnold and Raymond to clear the path for Tone. Arnold is made to go noble and bows out. Raymond is given tuberculosis and dies. Clarence Brown's direction overstresses many sequences in point of footage and emphasis, thereby making editing most essential. Strange, too, for an M-G-M attraction is the mediocre camera work. Arnold gives Miss Crawford a close run for acting honors, with Jean Dixon not very far behind. "Sadie McKee" certainly is not a "Dancing Lady," but on the strength of the star's personal draw may prove duck soup for Crawford fans. K A N N "The Last Gentleman" (20th Century-U. A.) Hollywood, April 27. — Proud of his family, George Arliss, with distinctive artistry, portrays Cabot Barr, last of New England's Barrs, in a memorable manner. The characterization recalls the epigram that "A gentleman never insults anyone unintentionally." Eccentric, unafraid of death, with a passion for the collection of clocks, Arliss summons the family for a memorial service for a niece, vents his spleen on a sister, Edna May Oliver ; her son, Frank Albertson ; his daughter, Janet Beecher ; her daughter, Charlotte Henry; his son, Donald Meek; his best friend, Ralph Morgan, and his butler, Edward Ellis. The services end up in riotous laughter. Intrigued by Charlotte Henry, Arliss contrives to bring a romance with Albertson to fruition. He is shocked by his son's intention to establish him as insane and changes his will. After his death Arliss manifests himself via the talking screen, speaking his last testament to the assembled family. The central idea, by dipping into the unknown, contains an intriguing, fantastic quality packed with interest. Blending Puritanical harshness with unique comedy gives the production a well rounded entertainment value. Story and direction are good, with all performances likewise. Followers of Arliss will get full satisfaction, though the factor of young folks' attendance may need exploitation. Following "House of Rothschild," it should do real business. "Many Happy Returns" (Paramount) Hollywood, April 27. — The title of this Burns and Allen feature suggests what the film will do at the box-office. Slim story values countered by nonsensical dialogue and situations typical of the comedy duo round out 66 minutes of high speed laugh entertainment. Guy Lombardo gets featured billing and is spotted prominently in the musical and visible foreground. Veloz and Yolanda give the customers something new in fancy ballroom dancing. The skeleton yarn revolves around George Barbier, distressed pater, trying to marry off Gracie, his goofy daughter, and conspiring to prevent his other daughter from marrying and going into pictures. There are plenty of laughs when Gracie turns her dad's store and radio broadcasting station into an aviary. Barbier hires gangsters to kidnap one couple, but Gracie kidnaps the kidnapers. There is lots of fun in Hollywood when Gracie poses as a masked marvel and George Burns poses as a tenor contest winner. The picture defies all routine formulae. It is extremely funny, getting by on sheer idiocy. Norman McLeod's swell direction is supported by an able cast, including Joan Marsh, Franklin Pangborn, Egon Brecher, Stanley Fields and John Kelly in addition to the principals. Grievances Go Back for Use Of New Forms (Continued from page 1) authority ruling. The cases will be heard in the order in which the new grievances are sent in. Secretaries are giving special attention to a checkup on exhibitors registering complaints and in a number of instances it has been found that nonassentors are among the complainants. These theatremen are being notified their grievances cannot be accepted. The three forms are printed on white, blue and pink paper with each type of complaint indicated. The only grievance case so far heard is the Milwaukee action involving Saxe Amusement, which was awarded 30 Warner features previously contracted by Ashley Theatre Corp. The case comes up on appeal next Friday before Campi in New York. Code Boards Agree On Local Schedule Schedules for the New York code boards and the trio of advisory committees of the main clearance and zoning group have been set. On Mondays the advisory committee on clearance and zoning for Manhattan, Bronx, Staten Island and Westchester meets at 10 :30. At 2 :30 the same afternoons, the advisory group for New Jersey convenes. On Tuesdays, the grievance board gathers to hear protests and on Wednesday, 2:30 P. M., advisory clearance and zoning members for Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island confer. Thursdays are given over to the main clearance and zoning men to act on recommendations of the three subordinate groups. No grievances are expected to be heard next Wednesday when the board handling protests congregate. This is due to the fact that original protests are being returned to exhibitors for resubmission on legal forms provided by Campi. The next meeting is being held Wednesday, instead of Tuesday, because Milt Kusell, attending a Paramount district managers' meeting in Chicago, having asked for the delay because he could not return on time for the Tuesday session. Other meetings will be held according to schedule. Legality of NIRA Act Is Questioned (Continued from page 1) Court of Appeals of the dispute between the I.T.O.A. and Local 306. Five questions were brought up for determination by the appeals body. Three of them involved the matter of constitutionality. The other two were as follows : Does Section 7a of the NIRA forbid the hiring or discharging _ of an employe by reason of affiliation or non-affiliation with a particular union? Does the code confer any rights upon individuals to legally enforce the same ? Milton C. Weisman represented the I.T.O.A., while Charles Turtle appeared for Local 306. A decision is expected soon.