Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1934)

18 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, May 18, 1934 Services for Shea Saturday Morning (Continued from page 1) Many notables are expected to attend the funeral. A memorial service for Shea will be held by the Buffalo Variety Club, of which he was honorary president, on May 28. Although members of the staff of the Shea Theatres, Inc., and performers appearing on the stages of the circuit houses, were grief-stricken, performances today went on as usual at all the 12 spots which he controlled. There will be no changes in the policies as result of his death and the organization will carry on as usual, Vincent R. McFaul, who was Shea's right-hand man, announced today. McFaul, who, in the capacity of vice-president and general manager, has been virtually carrying the burden of operating the theatres alone for several months, will step into Shea's place at the helm. Tributes from leaders of the industry and from representatives of labor started pouring in as soon as word was flashed of the death of Shea. Among statements from those in the film trade of his home town were : Dave Miller, Universal manager, president Buffalo Film Board of Trade and Buffalo Variety Club : "I don't know any man in the show world, or any other phase of life, who was held in such great esteem as was Mr. Shea." "Beloved," Says Michael Jules H. Michael, chairman of the Buffalo zone, M. P. T. O. : "The city of Buffalo and the country at large have lost a showman who was beloved by every branch of the profession for many years." Kenneth G. Robinson, manager Paramount exchange : "Mr. Shea's passing is deeply deplored by the entire industry, which claimed him as one of the pioneers of exhibition." Harry T. Dixon, manager RKO Radio exchange : "Mr. Shea was the greatest showman I have ever known and I knew him for 25 years. His death comes as a great shock to me." Edward K. O'Shea, manager M-GM exchange: "I don't know what to say. 1 ran errands for him when I was a kid in school, then worked for him for four years when I was older. His passing leaves an awful void." George H. Moeser, manager Hollywood Pictures exchange : "I think his death is one of the greatest losses possible to the industry." Harry C. Davis, president Buffalo Musicians' Ass'n. : "The musicians lost one of their best friends in Mr. Shea. In the olden days, when managers used to cut down on orchestras, Mr. Shea used to build them up." Elmer E. Smith, business agent, Buffalo stage employes' union: "In dealings with Mr. Shea over a period of 40 years, I always found him eminently fair and very good to us. We have lost an understanding friend." Albert F. Ryde, business agent, Buffalo operators' union: "I am very much broken up over Mr. Shea's death. He was one of the greatest friends labor ever had. There never was a more fair man to deal with." Dr. Peter C. Cornell, father of (Continued on column 4) Looking 9Em Over "Hollywood Party" (M-G-M) Selling angles have been crowded in wholesale and the story thread has been spun so fine as a result that it is hardly noticeable. Love interest is practically non-existent, but gags are almost as plentiful as names in "Hollywood Party." Here are some of the names : Jimmy Durante, Jack Pearl, Lupe Velez, Polly Moran, Laurel and Hardy, Edgar Kennedy, George Givot, Ted Plealy and his stooges, Charles Butterworth, June Clyde, and Mickey Mouse in a color sequence. It took a lot of ingenuity on the part of the scenario writers and gag men to find something for them to do. Some of the gags are riots. Durante, the "great Schnarzan," needs a new set of lions to make his jungle pictures draw, so does Givot. When the Baron Munchausen comes to town with his trained lions Durante throws a party for him. Givot horns in as a grand duke. Givot needs money so he makes love to Polly Moran, wife of Butterworth, a Texas oil millionaire. Durante tries the same tactics. In one scene he rolls down a flight of stairs with a lion. Just a lot of hilarious nonsense — but what nonsense — on a background that looks as though it cost plenty of money. "Friday, the 13th" (Gaumont British) This is described on the Westminster Cinema program as a story in six episodes. It is exactly that, with separate casts for each. As an example of unusual film technique it is interesting, but as entertainment it probably will be something less than satisfying for American audiences. In the opening sequence, the principal figures of each episode are shown riding on a London bus in a rainstorm. To avoid crashing into a falling derrick, the bus driver swerves into a china store window. Then the tangled threads of the stories leading up to the presence on the bus of the various characters are unraveled by a series of scenes until finally the accident is reached again. The crash has snuffed out the life of a blackmailer who is hounding a young couple; it has prevented a forgetful wife from making a bad investment for her husband ; it has sidetracked a chorus girl on the way to a spite romance with her agent; it has broken up an illicit romance, and it has stopped a runaway wife. The English accents are unrestrained. Some of the dialogue is juvenile. A confidence man says to a Scotland Yard detective: "Sticks and stones will break my bones, but names will never hurt me." That's one example. The film is being distributed in this country by Gaumont British and was directed by Victor Saville for Gainsborough. "Laughing Boy" (M-G-M) Oliver La Farge's "Laughing Boy," Pulitzer prize novel of last year, has been brought to the screen with Ramon Novarro and Lupe Velez as the Indian lovers. It is a simple tale with many touching moments. Most of the film transpires outdoors. The producers have taken full advantage of this fact to give the camera full scope, with the result that the production has tremendous pictorial beauty. The chief fault is that it is so slow-paced that it becomes a bit tedious. Behind the tragic tale of the love of Laughing Boy for Slim Girl is a theme of two clashing civilizations, that of the white man and that of the Indian. Miss Velez lives in town, where she has free consort with white men, one of whom, a wealthy rancher (William Davidson), is her lover. At a dance on the Navajo reservation one day she meets Novarro. They fall in love. Laughing Boy marries her in spite of the opposition of his people. But the old and the modern fail to mix. She pays visits to Davidson on the pretext of going to town to do some trading. The film takes a tragic turn when Laughing Boy discovers her in Davidson's arms during a Fourth of July celebration and kills her with an arrow intended for the man. She expires in his arms. The role gives Novarro a number of opportunities to exercise his singing voice. W. S. Van Dyke directed. (Additional reviews on page 24) Actors Cooperating On Guild Carnival Hollywood, May 17. — Four actors' organizations, including the Thalians, Troupers and Dominos, will cooperate with the Actors' Guild on the three-day film stars' frolic. It opens tomorrow night at the Gilmore Stadium with Ann Harding as queen of the festival and Eddie Cantor as master of ceremonies. Most of the players here will take part in the opening parade. A combination carnival, circus, rodeo and Mardi Gras will follow. The proceeds will go to the guild treasury. Services for Shea Saturday Morning (Continued from column 1) Katharine Cornell, government representative on the grievance board : "I have always had the greatest admiration and respect for him." Charles S. Otto, manager of the Erlanger : "I do not believe there is any one who can take his place. I knew him very well, and I liked him." Business associates and friends of "Mike" Shea will pay final tribute to his memory in Buffalo tomorrow morning. A group leaves New York tonight for the services and will include : Harold B. Franklin, George J. Schaefer, Sau Dembow, Y. Frank Freeman and A. W. Smith, Jr. Goldwyn Loses Suit Hollywood, May 17. — Samuel Goldwyn lost his suit today against Warners for the services of Busby Berkeley, dance director. Superior Court Judge Frank Smith ruled that Goldwyn's contract with Warners was automatically voided when the former gave the latter 90 days, instead of the 45 days' notice for Berkeley's services stipulated in the agreement. Delay Bankruptcy Bill Washington, May 17. — Indications here today were that pending bankruptcy relief measures already passed by the House and Senate, but sent back to the House for conference will be tabled until the next session of Congress. The desire to adjourn the present session soon is given as the reason. Loew Operating Poli New Haven, May 17. — Poli-New England chain of 18 houses has gone under Loew operation, it was learned today with an announcement from Louis M. Sagal, general manager of the circuit, confirming reports of a switch in control. Illness Took Kent West Hollywoodi, May 17. — Quick return to the coast of S. R. Kent is occasioned by the illness of his wife, who is in a local hospital recuperating from a minor operation. To Show French Films John S. Tapernoux will stage a preview of a French feature, "La Maiternelle," on the Paris tonight. Four shorts will also be put on.