Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1934)

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MOTION PICTURE DAILY MOTION PICTURE DAILYS HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "Murder at the Vanities" {Paramount) Hollywood, May 4. — Combining a girly-girly show with comedy, songs and murder mystery drama, Earl Carroll's recent Broadway show translated to film should do big business in most spots, and healthy grosses in nearly all. The production is drenched with luxurious beauty and introduces Carl •Brisson, a Danish import, who will stir discussion, and Kitty Carlisle, a stage beauty and a screen bet. For the first time, a back-stage drama is given a novelty twist, pacing the "show must go on" formula with killings, unravellings and laughter interspersed with music plus fascinating femininity in flimsy fluff. The story concerns murders committed backstage at a Broadway opening of the "Vanities." Jack Oakie, the manager, and Victor McLaglen, a dumb cop, link the plot with musical divertissements. Their friendly antagonisms supply the major laughs. Gertrude Michaels is the feminine heavy. The finger of guilt points to Brisson and the wardrobe mistress, Jessie Ralph. The denouement affords Dorothy Stickney an opportunity for rare emotional trouping. Toby Wing is an eyeful. Duke Ellington's band, with a black and white chorus, render hot tunes and steps. Earl Carroll's draw, dovetailed with the other names, and the satisfying show produced make "Murder at the Vanities" look like a hit in the high bracket class. Looking 'Em Over "Success at Any Price" (Radio) John Howard Lawson's "Success Story," a Broadway stage tenant last season, has been turned into a talker that pins its hope primarily on acting and production values. In point of entertainment value, it leaves something to be desired. Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., does what he can with the lead, but the. difficulty in the screen treatment is that the role leans so far to the spurious it has trouble in ringing true. The title gives the plot away. Fairbanks, thrown into a job with possibilities after the murder of his brother, a gangster, takes a vow to make Mammon his god. Determined to sacrifice everything for the sake of financial success, he steps over everybody in his way. With rapidity, Fairbanks soon finds himself sitting pretty with a firm which makes beauty preparations. He forgets the sweetheart of his less affluent days (Colleen Moore) and ties himself up with the mistress (Genevieve Tobin) of his former boss (Frank Morgan). Happiness misses him in his rise to wealth. When his old sweetheart turns him down in a final stab at happiness, he shoots himself. The girl summons medical aid, and the film closes upon their reunion. Other players are Edward Everett Horton, Allen Vincent, Nydia Westman and Henry Kolker. J. Walter Ruben directed. "Blue Steel" (M onogram) A lively western for juveniles with John Wayne freely using his fists and' always ready with his gun. He is supported by Eleanor Hunt, George Hayes, Ed Peil, Yakima Canutt, Lafe McKee, George Cleveland and George Nash. The story deals with Peil heading a group of outlaws trying to starve out homesteaders in a small western village. Wayne is called in and incognito investigates the setup.. With Hayes, he curbs the activities of the outlaws and as a reward signs up Miss Hunt for life. "Whirlpool," current at the Casino, was reviewed by wire from Hollywood April 4. 4 "Wild Cargo/' "Tarzan" Vie For K.C. Lead Kansas City, May 4. — "Tarzan and His Mate," at the Midland, pitted against "Wild Cargo" at the Mainstreet, finished in the money at $9,900, although below par. The Frank Buck film got off to a heavy opening, but slumped later in the week for a take of $6,000, below average by $1,000. Both attractions were billed like a circus, with extra advertising. "Narcotic," an expose film of the drug traffic, showed surprising strength at the 810-seat Royal. Despite considerable adverse criticism from newspapers and the women's clubs, the picture proved a sensation at $5,000 and was held. Combination shows at 25 cents at the reopened Tower continued in favor a second week, credited with drawing business away from other box-offices. "Advice to the Lovelorn" plus a stage show garnered $5,000, and the management is optimistic about the future. "As the Earth Turns" on a double bill, with "No More Women" at the Newman was so-so, while "Bottoms Up" gave the Uptown an average take. Total for the week was $35,000. Average is $33,500. Estimated takings : Week Ending April 25: "NARCOTIC" (State Rights) ROYAL — (810), 25c. 7 days. Gross: $5,000. (Average, $3,000.) Week Ending April 26: "WILD CARGO" (Radio) MAINSTREET— (3,049), 25c-40c, 7 days, plus Saturday late show. Gross: $6,000. (Average, straight films. $7,000.) "AS THE EARTH TURNS" (Warners) "NO MORE WOMEN" (Para.) NEWMAN— (1,800), 25c, 7 days, plus Saturday late show. Gross: $5,500. (Average. $6,000.) "ADVICE TO THE LOVELORN" (U. A.) TOWER— (2,200), 25c, 7 days, plus Saturday midnight show. Stage: "Springtime Frolics" revue, with Bob Stickney & Co., Buddy Lake and His Girls, Novak and Fay, Clarence Rand, Al Belasco, m. c. Gross: $5,000. (Average, $4,000.) Week Ending April 27: "TARZAN AND HIS MATE" (M-G-M) MIDLAND — (4,000), 25c, 7 days, plus Saturday midnight show. Gross: $9,900. (Average, $10,000.) "BOTTOMS UP" (Fox) UPTOWN— (2,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $3,600. (Average, $3,500.) Bowling Will Enter Senate Race in R. I. Providence, May 4. — That Eddie Dowling will try his luck at politics was revealed yesterday by his brother, William F. Goucher, who said the musical comedy star would make the race this year for the Democratic nomination for U. S. Senator from Rhode Island. Dowling, a friend of President Roosevelt and Postmaster General Farley, is not expected to have the backing of the State organization. Fox Musical Holds Up "Stand Up and Cheer" held up to good business for its second week at the Music Hall, garnering $61,800 for the last seven days. For the first week, the take was $78,000. The Paramount, with "The Witching Hour," finished with a gross of $22,000, while the Roxy, with "Journal of a Crime," took in $19,100. "The House of Rothschild," in its seventh week at the Astor, chalked up $19,600. Hecht, Mac Arthur Signed Paramount has closed a deal with Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur to produce four pictures for next season at the Astoria Studio. Powell in Hospital Hollywood, May 4. — Dick Powell is in the Cedars of Lebanon Hospital under observation for sinus trouble. Saturday, May 5, 1934 Film Confab Opening On Coast on Monday Hollywood, May 4. — The first annual Western Motion Picture Conference opens here Monday at the Biltmore with educators, church workers, club women and members of the industry in attendance. The gathering was called by Mrs. Mark Jones, State film chairman of the General Federation of Women's Clubs and is sponsored by various women's organizations. Mary Clint Irion, president of the visual aids section of the California Teachers' Ass'n will preside. Objectionable films will be among the topics of discussion. Lesser Gets O'Brien With Fox Releasing Hollywood, May 4. — Sol Lesser has signed George O'Brien for a series of non-western features, for Fox release. The first will be "When a Man's a Man," starting within the next month. Operators File Pay Suit Denver, May 4. — What is looked upon as a test case by many theatre men has been filed by two operators against the State. They seek $550, alleged to be due under the President's reemployment agreement, which, they claim, provided for a maximum of 35 hours weekly to be worked by men of their class. According to papers filed in the case, the operators worked 91 hours each, which is the number of hours the booth operates. Erpi Men Meet in K. C. Kansas City, May 4. — H. M. Wilcox of New York, Erpi vice-president in charge of operations, held a twoday session here with company representatives. Attending were Stanley Hand, Chicago, central division sales mana.ger ; Hugh Owen, Dallas district manager, and the following Kansas City men : G. L. Carrington, division operating manager ; T. A. Cameron, district superintendent, and M. M. Buchanan, divisional sales representative. . Mexico Divorces a Worry Hollywood, May 4. — Considerable concern was caused in the film colony today by a ruling of Superior Judge Frank M. Smith's decision holding illegal a divorce decree obtained by Attorney Carl S. Kegley from Mrs. Hazel Kegley. Mexican divorces have been frequent among film folk in recent months. Farewell for Schiller Col. E. A. Schiller, vice-president in charge of theatre operations for Loew's, will be honored at a dinner Monday night at the Warwick being arranged by executives of the circuit to wish him godspeed on the eve of his departure for Hawaii. Harvey Day Returns Harvey Day, special "TerryToon" representative with Educational, returned yesterday from the coast. He went west to attend the M.P.T.O.A. convention and later visited the Fox exchanges in San Francisco and Seattle. Fox Production Retitled Hollywood, May 4. — Fox's "Always Honest" is now "Baby Take a Bow."