Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1934)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Saturday, October 13, 1934 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 36 October 13, 1934 No. m Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN Editor JAMES A. CRON Advertising Manager Published daily except Sunday and holidays by Motion Picture Daily, Inc., subsidiary of Quigley Publications, Inc., Martin Quigley, President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President and Treasurer. Publication Office: 1790 Broadway, New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address "guigpubco, New York." All contents copyrighted 1934 by Motion Picture Daily, Inc. Address all correspondence to the New York Office. Other Quigley pubication7: MOTION PICTURE HERALD, BETTER THEATRES, THE MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC and THE CHI CAGOAN. . „ ■ r -f Hollywood Bureau: Postal Union Lite Building, Vine and Yucca Streets, Victor M. Shapiro, Manager; Chicago Bureau: 407 South Dearborn Street, Edwin S. Clifford, Manager; London Bureau: Remo House, 310 Regent St., London, W. 1, Bruce Allan, Representative. Cable address: "Quigpubco, London"; Berlin Bureau: Berlin-Tempelhof, Kaiserin-Augustastrasse 28, Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative; Paris Bureau: 19, Rue de la Cour-desNoues, Pierre Autre, Representative; Rome Bureau: Viale Gorizia, Vittorio Malpassutt, Representative; Sydney Bureau: 102 Sussex Street, Cliff Holt, Representative; Mexico City Bureau: Apartado 269, James Lockhart, Representative; Glasgow Bureau: 86 Dundrennan Road, G. Holmes, Representative; Budapest Bureau: 3, Kaplar-u, Budapest, II, Endre Hevesi, Representative; Moscow Bureau: Civtzev Vrazhek, N. 25, Apart. 146, Moscow, U. S. S. R., Bella Kashin, Representative. Cable address: Samrod, Moscow. Entered as second class matter, January 4, 1926, at the Post Office at New York City, N. Y., under Act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year; $6 in the Americas, except Canada $15 and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. Temporary Film Shift Philadelphia, Oct. 12. — For the first time since United Artists and Warners started joint operation of the Aldine, a non-United Artist film is booked. "Madame Du Barry" went into the house Thursday, replacing "Our Daily Bread." Booking, however, marks no drastic change of policy. The house returns to U. A. with its next film, "Today We Live." Feist to Honolulu Felix F. Feist, general sales manaager of M-G-M, sails on the Santa Elena today for Los Angeles, en route to a vacation in Honolulu. He will return to San Francisco about midNovember and resume duties from that point, visiting the studio and exchange points on the way east. Zapp Joins Trendle Detroit, Oct. 12.— Henry Zapp, one of the partners in Monarch Films here for the past three years, has accepted a post as buyer for the United Detroit Booking Service, formed by George W. Trendle. Zapp fills the berth formerly occupied by Arthur M. Elliott, recently resigned. Chaplin Starts Picture Hollywood, Oct. 12.— Charlie Chaplin started shooting his latest production today and the first scene was made with Chaplin directing himself and Paulette Goddard, who has the feminine lead. Power {Gaumont British) American — Another marvelous motion picture has come across the sea to complete with its tragedy the trinity begun with the comedy of "Henry the Eighth" and the romance of "Catherine the Great." Under its new name, "Power," the drama of "Jew Suss" stands shoulder to shoulder with this company as one of the mightiest movies ever filmed. In conception, in production, in portrayal and direction it ranks with the most memorable creations in the new medium. Daily Mirror — ***a distinguished and impressive picture in "Power" which matches any of Hollywood's "epics" in magnitude, force and drama. It is brilliantly played by a great cast, headed by Conrad Veidt, who gives the performance of his career. Gripping and narrowing, "Power" is a film for adults***. Daily News — ***an impressive picture***. But it is a heavy picture weighted with the burdens and injustices of a people who strive in humility and sorrow for a place of equality among their fellow men. Conrad Veidt's performance is finer than anything he has heretofore done on the screen***. Evening Journal — The film is interesting its depiction of the pomp and pageantry of the eighteenth century. It is lavish in costumes, opulent in period decoration and stunning in backgrounds. Pictorially, it is succession of unusually handsome tableaux. In the way of story, the film is a serious and stately series of episodes***. Conrad Veidt, one of the screen's ablest actors, plays the principal role with force and dignity. Herald Tribune — It does not, I think, take full advantage of its rich and impressive dramatic opportunities. Nevertheless this latest English photoplay importation is dignified, striking and ambitious, and, although its narrative often falters, it never fails to be intelligent and arresting. Post — ***has the fatal earmark of an un restricted budget; certainly in this GaumontBritish production no expense has been spared, and the result is lavish enough to squeeze much of the life from the acting and the sense from the continuity***. Indeed, the stately quality of the film and its lack of a centralized story work a particular hardship on Conrad Veidt, whose assumption of the role of the power-ridden Jew Suss is virtually negated by the profuse pageantry which surrounds him. Sun — It is a shrewd and penetrating character study, the story of a man driven by ambition to destroy everything he loved and, in the last, himself.*** This is a strong and moving drama, produced lavishly both as to cast and settings. The gallant and terrible ending might have been heightened by a more vicious portrait of Suss in his days of power. "Power" is still a compelling production. Times — Since "Power," under the unwieldy direction of Lothar Mendes, divides itself rather neatly into historical tableaux, it is no less than justice to isolate this lovingly photographed episode as the most striking part of a film which is always a little less than brilliantly convincing. What effectiveness there is in this pageant of Reb Joseph Suss Oppenheim and the eighteenth-century court of the Duke of Wuerttemberg must be credited to Conrad \ eidt.*** Thus Mr. Veidt stands out as almost the sole merit of a photoplay which is muddy in its development and ornately uninspired in its general arrangement. W orld-Telegram — Although "Power"***is a dignified and lavish production, I find myself unable to rise and cheer for it with any honest enthusiasm. I am willing to respect the compelling things it tries to say and honor the earnestly picturesque job of staging that has gone into it. But don't ask me to say I have liked it. or to say anything more than that it is theatrically lavish but dull. Charles H. Bur key Buried About 200 persons, mostly from the industry, attended funeral services for Charles H. Burkey, veteran exhibitor, who died of heart disease. Active pallbearers were Jay Means, who succeeded Burkey as president of the I.T.O.; Arthur Cole of Paramount ; William Warner, Warner branch manager ; Harry Taylor, Columbia branch manager ; R. R. Biechele, secretary of the K.M.T.A., and C. A. Schultz. president of Commonwealth Theatres. Ward Robertson Dead Kansas City, Oct. 12. — Ward C. Robertson, in the theatre business in this territory 27 years and former manager for Fox Midwest in Kansas, is dead. He managed theatres in Hutchinson, Kan., Springfield, Mo., Pueblo, Colo., Pittsburg, Kan., and other cities and was. 60 years old. Gets New Dickens Yarn Hollywood, Oct. 12. — Favorable preview notices on "Great Expectations" have prompted Universal to assign direction of "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" to Stuart Walker. Edmund C. Grainger is the supervisor. Epstein in from West Dave Epstein, coast agent, arrived from Hollywood by air yesterday to confer with Michael Balcon of Gaumont British on talent deals. He will be here only a few days and then return west. Pete Smith Back Hollywood, Oct. 12. — Pete Smith returned todav by plane from the east where he has been vacationing. He is sick with what he calls a "New York stomach." Dinner for Sophie Tucker The American Federation of Actors will give Sophie Tucker a banquet at Mecca Temple Casino, Nov. 3, at 11 P. M. The "red hot mama" is sailing from Southampton on the Manhattan. Oct. 25. and will be in New York Nov. 1. Twelve toastmasters will officiate at the banquet. Eddie Cantor and George Jessel have already signified their intention of being present. Reopens Detroit House Detroit. Oct. 12.— Joseph Portell, operator of the Greenwood, opened his recondition, revamped Virginia in the northern section of the city today The house has been closed three months and Portell has installed new projection and sound equipment, new seats and a new front. The house now seats 600 and is now deluxe. Ellison Is Candidate Millard H. Ellison, a brother-inlaw of Felix Feist, M-G-M sales manager, is now a candidate for Justice of the Supreme Court on the Republican, City Fusion and Recovery Party tickets. Ellison is a well known attorney and was assistant district attorney, New York County, from 1910 to 1916. Fox to Make "Inferno** Hollywood. Oct. 12. — Fox plans to film Dante's "Inferno" in Technicolor with production to start Nov. 5, under the direction of Harry Lachman. Binkov Expanding Jimmy Binkov, operating the Temple, Union City, N. J., has taken over the Pastime, same city. i Purely Personal ► GENE LOCKHART, stage comedian who appeared in the Theatre Guild production of "Ah, Wilderness," has been signed to a long term contract by Radio. Mrs. Sam Liggett, wife of the Columbia executive, is recovering from an operation at the Presbyterian Hospital in Medical Center. Cross and Dunn, night club singers and radio entertainers, start work next week on a Vitaphone short at the Brooklyn plant. Boe O'Donnell has returned to Dallas after a few days here conferring with Publix home office executives. R. M. Hatfield, Erpi's managing director in England, will be here for another month on his annual home visit. Dorothy Dolan, former stage ingenue recently signed to a long term contract by Fox, is off for Hollywood. Jeanette MacDonald returned to the coast yesterday after the opening of "Merry Widow" at the Astor. Morris Segal of Majestic, Cleveland, arrives Monday for conferences with E. H. Goldstein. John Boles leaves Monday for a motor tour of New England, accompanied by his wife. Harry Asher of the Majestic exchange in Boston is due in town next Wednesday. Ona Munson gave a cocktail party for Erxst Lubitscii at the Lombardy yesterday. E. Boreth of Masterpiece Attractions. Philadelphia, arrived in town yesterday. John Meyers of London Films will return to these shores in six months. Joe Plunkett is now in London in the course of an extended trip. Ketti Gallian sailed for France on the Berengaria the other day. Kay Francis expects to leave for the coast late next week. Moe Streimer is back from a trek upstate on U. A. business. Leon Schlesinger returns to the coast on Tuesday. Dave Chatkin is in town from Cleveland. J. Walter Rubin, M-G-M director, is in town. Jules Michaels has returned to Buffalo. Bailifs Swing Ends Hollywood, Oct. 12. — Tom Baily is back from a tour to key cities where he visited editors for the purpose of lining up new angles on publicity copy and art. Para. Re-Signs Three Hollywood, Oct. 12. — Paramount has renewed contracts on Randolph Scott, Lou Sheridan and Colin Tatley. Sten Title Changed Hollywood, Oct. 12. — The title of Anna Sten's next picture for Samuel Goldwyn has been changed from "Broken Soil" to "The Wedding Night."