Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1934)

s MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, May I, 1934 MOTION PICTURE DAILY* HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "Stingaree" (Radio) Hollywood, April 30. — Richard Dix and Irene Dunne, reunited for the first time since "Cimarron," appear in a romance between a bandit and an opera singer. The time is 1874 and the place Melbourne, Australia. The film parallels the alleged romance of a world-famous singer and is adapted from a story by E. W. Hornung. The bandit, Stingaree (Dix), comes to the house of rich Miss Clarkson (Mary Boland) to rob and discovers Hilda Bouvarie (Miss Dunne), one of the domestic help, singing. They sing together and become enamored. Stingaree urges a Sir Kent (Conway Tearle), a visiting London impresario, to hear Hilda. The police arrive, Stingaree is shot but escapes. Sir Kent, impressed with Hilda's voice, sponsors her continental tour. She goes from triumph to triumph. In London, at the height of her career, Stingaree, as he promised, returns after a concert and sweeps her off. The police follow and they ride together to their destiny. Dix and Miss Dunne hold the spotlight. The latter's singing of "Tonight Is Mine" is splendid. For comedy Miss Boland stands out, helped by Una O'Connor, that fine character actress, and Andy Devine, who plays Stingaree's aide. Henry Stephenson and George Barraud round out the cast. The picture is interesting, clean and romantic, with a nice balance of values. It is nothing big, but it is satisfying. "Handy Andy" (Fox) Hollywood, April 30. — Fast on the heels of the successful "David Harum" comes this new Will Rogers vehicle loaded with down-to-earth, homespun, wholesome qualities which characterize all of the comedian's pictures. An ambitious wife, played effectively by Peggy Wood, persuades Will on this occasion to sell his drug store to the chain interests. With nothing on his hands but some money, Rogers finds that the hardest job of all is to get rid of time. He makes himself a nuisance around the house and finally is tipped off that the way to cure his wife is to follow her footsteps at the Mardi Gras ball in New Orleans. Rogers goes as Tarzan. What happens thereafter is a howl, and he wins his point. The minor love thread is carried forward principally by Mary Carlisle. "Handy Andy" is a typical Rogers vehicle, highlighted by the golf episode and the Tarzan sequence, with many laughs in a somewhat minor key throughout. It's a good show. Looking 9Em Over "Hitler's Reign of Terror" (Jewel Productions) "Hitler's Reign of Terror" probably will bring crowds to the boxoffice regardless of what its merits as entertainment may be. Besides being timely, the subject is one that has stirred wide discussion. The production will create a varied reaction, depending upon the feeling of each member of an audience toward Hitler and his policies. At a showing at the Mayfair yesterday, for example, there were scenes that brought applause from some and hisses from others. "Hitler's Reign of Terror" is the type of picture to keep an audience in a ferment. The film is a compilation of newsreel shots and of film taken by Cornelius Vanderbilt, Jr. It is difficult to say just how much of it has been contributed by Vanderbilt, who is supposed to have made what part of the film he is responsible for "at risk of his life." Some of the scenes poke the camera's "nose" intimately enough into Nazi affairs to have this statement taken as a fact. Scattered through the film are interviews with many notable German figures. Exciting moments are numberless. Vanderbilt alternates with Edwin C. Hill in providing the production with a running narrative. Michael Mindlin directed-. Samuel Cummins is sponsoring the production. Court Writ Issued For "Hitler" Film (Continued from page 1) board and Police Commissioner John F. O'Ryan. The stay was sought because the picture has been classified by the producers as a newsreel and under this classification is being shown without a license from the censor board. Those named in the writ were : Frank P. Graves, commissioner of education ; James Byrne, Thomas Mangan, William Day Walling, William Bonday, Robert W. Higbie, Roland B. Woodward, William Leland Thompson, John Lord O'Brien, Grant C. Madill, George Hopkins Bond and Owen D. Young, the board of regents of New York University; Irwin Esmond, director of the censor board, and the police commissioner. Kuykendall in Plea For Unity at R. C. Kansas City, April 30. — Addressing the Variety Club today on his way to his home in Memphis, Ed Kuykendall pleaded for cooperation among all industry branches for the common good of the business. He called on exhibitors and conferred with A. F. Baker, president, and R. R. Biechele, secretary of the K. M. T. A. He leaves tomorrow. Irene Castle Returning Hollywood, April 30. — Upon her return from Chicago, where she was called by the illness of her mother-inlaw, Irene Castle McLaughlin will make a screen comeback with Warners, who made several tests last ,veek with favorable results. LeRoy to Resume Work Hollywood, April 30. — Contrary to reports that Mervyn LeRoy will take an executive production post now that he has returned from his round-theworld honeymoon, the studio is ready vith several stories for him to direct. Omaha Sale Up to Court Omaha, April 30. — Transfer of the Orpheum, which was bid in by a bondholders' protective committee last week at a foreclosure sale, awaits approval of the Federal court. A hearing is scheduled for May 3. Gets Call to Meeting Kansas City, April 30. — Grace Gannon, board secretary, was instructed today by John C. Flinn to attend a meeting of middle western secretaries in Chicago Thursday. Bomb 4 in Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, April 30. — The fronts of four local houses were damaged by bomb explosions today. Labor trouble is blamed. Damage is put at $25,000. Farrell Is Flying to N. Y. Hollywood, April 30. — Charles Farrell started by plane tonight for New York, from where he sails aboard the Majestic Friday on a one-picture deal with British Gaumont. Warner Execs. Leaving Arriving today, Hal Wallis and William Koenig are sailing Saturday for a six-week European vacation. David Back from Frisco Salt Lake City, April 30. — Harry David, general manager of L. Marcus theatres in Utah and Idaho, has returned from San Francisco, where he attended the funeral of his mother. FitzPatrick Going West in Two Weeks (Continued from page 1) in the East, some parts of the picture may be made on the Coast. From Hollywood, FitzPatrick will go to Mexico with a Technicolor unit where he will make a Traveltalk for M-G-M. Mrs. FitzPatrick is now in The Hague with a Technicolor unit which will make "Tulip Time in Holland," the first of the eight 1934-35 Traveltalk M-G-M will release. From there Mrs. FitzPatrick will go to Switzerland, France, England and Ireland. FitzPatrick has just completed "Egypt, Kingdom of the Nile," eighth of the 12 black and white travelogues being released by M-G-M this season. He will turn out the other four at the rate of one every two weeks. Zirn to Supreme Court Washington, April 30. — Samuel Zirn, counsel for a group of Paramount Publix bondholders, was here today to make preparations for a plea to appeal to the Supreme Court his action seeking the removal of the Paramount Publix trustees in bankruptcy. Opens Office in Italy Norton V. Ritchey has completed arrangements for distribution of the entire 1933-34 Monogram product of 20 pictures in Italy. Distribution headquarters have been opened in Rome. Camden Theatre Burned Camden, April 30. — Damage estimated at more than $200,000 was caused by fire yesterday at the Broadway. The theatre was only recently constructed. "Rates High As Film Entertainment" — VARIETY . . "Swell picture . . . will keep audiences in suspense" — M. P. DAILY... "Outstanding mystery story"— BILLBOARD . . . "One of the topnotch independent productions of the year" — N. Y. STATE EXHIBITOR. 1935