Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1934)

Wednesday, May 9, 1934 MOTION PICTURE DAILY 17 99 Seattle Tips "Bottoms Up, Show, $6,250 Seattle, May 8. — "Bottoms Up" and a strong vaudeville bill at the Paramount were the winners in the week's race for box-office honors. The gross was about $250 over an average $6,000. Second came "Catherine, the Great" at Hamrick's Music Box, with an average $4,000. It went into a second week. "It Happened One Night" finished a 10th week and went into the 11th, with business fairly low. Total first run business was $20,750. Average is $25,500. Estimated takings for the week ending May 4: "HEAT LIGHTNING" (Warners) "FINISHING SCHOOL" (Radio) BLUE MOUSE— (950), 25c-35c, 7 days. Gross: $3,000. '('Average, $3,500) "TARZAN AND HIS MATE" (M-G-M) FIFTH AVENUE — (2,450) , 25c-40c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $5,000. (Average, $7,000) "IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT" (Col.) LIBERTY— (1,800), 15c-25c-35c, 7 days, 10th week. Gross: $2,500. (Average, 1st week, $4,000) "CATHARINE THE GREAT" (U. A.) MUSIC BOX— (950), 2Sc-35c-50c. 7 days. Gross: $4,000. (Average $4,000) "BOTTOMS UP" (Fox) PARAMOUNT— (3,050), 25c-35c, 7 days. Vaudeville headed by The Kitaros. Gross: $6,250. ('Average, $6,000) M-G-M Testing Out New Little Theatre HoLLYWooa, May 8.— M-G-M is sponsoring a little theatre movement in Beverly Hills in a concentrated search for new talent. The studio will inaugurate the system with the production of five oneact plays, picking outstanding writing and histrionic talent from a group of 40 actors and actresses and 15 writers. Oliver Hinsdel, talent coach at the Culver City lot, and Samuel Kayzer will be in charge of production. Audience will consist of executives, producers, directors and writers on the studio staff. University professors and accredited newspaper heads will be called upon to suggest prospective talent. Oregon Archbishop Joins Film Cleanup Portland, May 8. — Rev. Edward D. Howard, Catholic archbishop of Oregon, in a letter addressed to the clergy, reveals a desire to cooperate with the Bishops' Committee now active in a campaign for clean pictures. The committee has been named by the National Catholic Welfare Conference and has been busy here in recent weeks. John Scully Joins Fox Boston, May 8.— John J. Scully, formerly a district representative for Educational here, has been added to the Fox sales force. New Termer for Armetta _ Hollywood, May 8. — Universal has signed Henry Armetta to a new long termer. MOTION PICTURE DAILY* HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "Circus Clown" ( Warners) Hollywood, May 8. — Evoking comparatively mild interest, Joe E. Brown is here seen as an acrobat and the son of an acrobat, who just can't get circus out of his blood. Strung on a slender story are gags of the pre-roaring days, with one of Clown Brown roaring in competition with Leo, a lion. Against his dad's wishes, Brown practices acrobatics in his barn. When the circus comes to town he gets a job as prop boy and falls for a girl bare-back rider who turns out to be a man, and becomes the butt of the circus for his good deed toward a drunken brother of an aerial artist whom he loves. He loses his job, goes home but pjnes for the circus, returns at the psychological moment, and takes the place of the drunken acrobat in the act and wins the girl. Brown plays the dual roles of himself and his father. His is a sort of a "Boob McNutt" role with appeal to pathos. Others in the cast, Patricia Ellis, Dorothy Burgess, Donald Dillaway, all play to Brown. The circus atmosphere is authentic, with the final trapeze stuff thrilling. Youngsters should like this one. "The Party's Over ( Columbia) Hollywood, May 8. — Comedy and drama stemmed from the domestic situation of Bread Winner Stuart Erwin leeched upon by his entire family. The story might happen in millions of American homes today. Mother Catharine Doucet is a nut on family trees and is somewhat light-headed. Father Henry Travers is a good-natured slob who makes touches, tipples and flirts with Servant Girl Patsy Kelly. The sister falls for Chick Chandler, erstwhile shipping clerk aspiring to be a crooner with Erwin supporting them. Collegian Brother Billy Bakewell gets a waitress into trouble, marries her and needs money. The only one who doesn't sponge on Erwin is Ann Sothern, his secretary. After shelling out to everybody, Erwin cracks under the strain, confronts each and tells them the party's over. Walter Lang directed S. K. Lauren's screen play from Daniel Russell's stage play. This is pleasing family entertainment, not big but good for laughs and relaxation with particular interest to home and fireside folks. Looking 'Em Over "Smarty {Warners) A sophisticated comedy in which Joan Blondell and Edward Everett Horton do nice work. Supporting them are Warren William, Frank McHugh, Claire Dodd, Joan Wheeler, Virginia Sale and Leonard Carey. Robert Florey directed with a whimsical touch. As a spiteful and spoiled wife, Miss Blondell irks her husband to the point where he forgets himself and slaps her in front of guests in theii home. The incident leads to divorce, which the kittenish wife has desired all along. This gives her a chance to marry Horton. At the same time it makes her ex-husband, William, feel foolish, for later he is invited to the home of his divorced wife and gets a chance to review the happenings of which he already has been a victim. Later, Miss Blondell leaves her husband, and goes to William's apartment. There she finds he is entertaining another woman. Her husband follows her to the William apartment and finds her in a bathrobe. A scene follows and when it is all over William and Miss Blondell are left alone and decide to get married all over again. However, the husband promises not to be the meek and coddling kind. McHugh provides comedy moments. « UAgonie des Aigles ( Tapernoux) For those who understand French and those groups interested in the art aspects of pictures this is really a remarkable film. Some of the characterizations are striking and the scenes are developed with considerable power. These angles of the production are so well dono that {Continued on page 18) Tax on Sales Is Bothering Houses in N. M. Denver, May 8. — Theatres in New Mexico are having a tussle with a 2 per cent sales tax just passed by the Legislature. New Mexico is getting a reputation for passing so-called nuisance legislation that makes the life of a manager or owner in the state anything but monotonous. The sales tax carries a penalty of a fine up to $150 and six months in jail for any one who fails to pass it along to the public. This is the second law passed in the past year or two that hits theatres. The other concerned buying of films and was intended to give all theatres in competitive situations equal rights or chances at buying product. The law was declared unconstitutional. Realizing that numerous kicks would be received, most theatres are printing their entire schedule of prices in their ads, showing the admission prices and the tax on each. Ohio's Legislature Quits; Tax Unsolved Columbus, May 8. — After manj weeks of parliamentary wrangling, the legislature, which was reconvened to formulate a general sales tax or an equivalent revenue-producing measure, was adjourned by Governor White until Nov. 19 without the objective having been attained. Although the legislature will reconvene for a brief special session in two weeks to enact building and loan legislation, it is not expected that the sales tax again will come up prior to November. By that time, the Governor reasons, the revenue problems will have become so acute that much of what now is considered controversial will be clearly defined. Paramount Holds Fields Hollywood, May 8. — Paramount has renewed its option on W. C. Fields. The comedian is now starring in "The Old-Fashioned Way." Paramount also has renewed options on three "search for beauty" winners, Gwenllian Gill, Colin Calpey and Julian Madison. To Star Shirley Temple Hollywood, May 8. — When the contract of Shirley Temple, fiveyear-old Fox actress, comes up for renewal, she will be made a star. The new ticket is slated to stipulate first billing, but the lettering will be smaller than that of the male stars in the cast. Mascot Adds 7 Writers Hollywood, May 8. — Seven additions have been made to the Mascot writing staff. They are Earle Snell, C. Edward Roberts, Dore Schary, Douglas Doty, F. Sayre, Marion Orth and Joseph Santley. Marin Signs With M-G-M Hollywood, May 8. — Edward L. Marin has been signed by M-G-M to a long term contract as a director.