Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1934)

iday, October 29, 1934 MOTION PICTURE DAILY UPE Expects 200 4t Sessions Today (Continued from page 1) 5. Frances Taylor Patterson, dior of photoplay appreciation at umbia University, he morning session will include ety business and election of :ers for 1935, to be followed by the ling of the following papers : "The •atregoers' Reaction to Audible ture As It Was and Now," by M. 1 ; "Current Developments in Protion Methods in Hollywood," by G. Tasker; "The Use of Motion tures for Visual Education in New ■k Schools," by Miss R. Hockner, director of visual education, v York, and "The Production Siton in Russia," V. I. Yerlinsky, kino Corp. 'his session will be followed by the :heon in the Roof Garden, at which gley, Maxim and Mrs. Patterson '. deliver their addresses, 'he afternoon session will include following talks : "New Developits in Micro Motion Picture Tech" by H. Rosenberg ; "Some Techd Aspects of Wild Animal Photoghy," by Martin Johnson ; "X-Ray ematography," by R. F. Mitchell, 1 & Howell Co. ; "Roentgen Cinetography," by R. F. James, Westhouse Lamp Co., and "Application X-Ray Photography in Industrial velopment Work," by J. R. Townd, Bell Telephone Lab. ?he evening session will be turned r to a showing of current pictures. Kunzman Here for Meeting A'illiam Kunzman of National Carl Co., Cleveland, is in town. He 1 attend the four-day S.M.P.E. sion which gets under way today at Pennsylvania Hotel. WhatN. Y. Critics Think "Have a Heart" (M-G-M) American — . ... is one of those sob-andsmile combinations aimed right for the emotions, and usually finding a sure soft spot in the heart of its audience. It's sweet. Daily Neivs — . . . a sweetly sentimental piece that depends for its love interest on Jean Parker and James Dunn, and for its laughs on Una Merkel and Stuart Erwin. The film is called "Have a Heart" and it is possessed of a quality to be found in the Pollyanna tales. Evening Journal — And the story fashioned for the occasion is a sentimental little piece for those who like to weep softly over the fictional vicissitudes of their screen heroines. Sun — . . . has one of these, a mild little business called "Have a Heart," and it's a painfully sugary concoction. Times — To triteness, saccarinity, hokum and sentimentality the new film at the Mayfair must plead guilty. World-Telegram — Although sweetness and sentiment are drawn out almost to the point of pain in "Have a Heart," and though it is out of a simple and familiar mold — it is fair enough screen entertainment. Missouri Receipts In '33 $8,014,000 ank Appeals Rule On Allied Owners (Continued from page 1) emont, O., and Glens Falls, N. Y. $23,000,000 claim against Paraunt Publix, based on the construcn and leasing of these theatres for ramount, was recently settled and 1 be made a part of the Paramount Mix plan of reorganization, .n the event the U. S. Circuit Court Appeals upholds the Manufacturers' ust appeal the bank would have the st important voice in the reorgantion of Allied Owners, as the $12,),000 of Allied bonds outstanding, which the bank is trustee, repress virtually all of the secured inJtedness of the company. ara. Sets Plans . On National Drive (Continued from page 1) i>n Velde, Herman Lorber, Arthur ;inne, Knox Haddow, Fred Leroy, :k Roper and G. B. J. Frawley. , Other topics discussed at the southi session were future sales policies, (?n problems and sales cleanups. Judge Priest" ■ (Fox) American — Mr. Rogers outdoes himself it] the characterization of the gentle, foxy old Judge, and we hope he'll stay Southern instead of Middle-West or New England. Bu1 for all his scintillance in this star-spangled part, he must take Henry B. Walthall with him for every bow. . . . Both script and sets are well-nigh perfect and John Ford'.' direction is a great attribute. Daily Mirror — You will enjoy the weer of your life at "Judge Priest." It's great entertainment. Don't miss it. Daily News — This happy combination of the right players, the right author and scenarist and the right atmosphere makes this production one for your movie list. Evening Journal — . . . Rogers' best, a heart-warming and genuinely moving glory of a sleepy Southern town in the nineties. Herald-Tribune — . . . Nor can it be set down as one of Mr. Rogers' most enthusiastic fans. Nevertheless, it seems to me that in its sentimentally humorous way, "Judge Priest" is a decidedly entertaining motion picture that is easily the best thing the great Jeffersonian Democrat has yet contributed to the screen. Post — . . . Very much a Will Rogers picture and one of the distinctly better ones. The comedian is wistful, homely and philosophic by turns, and his propensity for occasionally stepping over the borderline into coydom (if there is such a place) has been curbed not only by the dialogue but by the resourceful and level-headed direction of John Ford, who has equipped the picture with neat variations and a rousing staged climax. Sun — It seems pretty safe to come right out and recommend "Judge Priest" to every moviegoer as grand, well-written, shrewdly acted comedy drama. It uses all the tricks and arts of hokum, from flag-waving to beautiful orphan daughters; and it's got more sturdy laughs in a reel than you can find in half a dozen comedies, including "The Merry Widow." Times — The photoplay which Fox has assembled around Dr. Will Rogers, the eminent newspaper columnist, presents the cowboy Nietzsche in one of the happiest roles of his screen career. . . . Also fortunate in its staging and in the superior direction of John Ford. World-Telegram — Nothing could be much simpler than the story of "Judge Priest." , . And by the same token nothing could be much more delightful and entertaining. Berthold Viertel, she makes the . . . picture this week engrossing entertainment. Herald-Tribune — . . . Nova Pilbeam is of vast help to the occasionally overwrought but decidedly effective drama of marital disarrangement. Post — Certainly the selection of Nova Pilbeam was a stroke of casting. This fourteen-year-old actress has the wistful appeal that strikes straight to the heart; her acting is irresistible in its unaffectedness, and the very qualities which she brings to the role poignantly reveal the dramatic crux which the authors have injected into the story. . . . The picture is a wise and sympathetic treatment of divorce as it affects the offspring. It is written with style and insight, and expertly directed by Berthold Viertel. Sun — . . . one of the most human and poignant pictures of the year. . . . "Little Friend" is inconceivable without the presence of Nova Pilbeam, the fourteen-yearold actress whose performance, shines through the entire picture. She plays with a depth and sincerity almost unique in motion pictures. Times — . . . played in a style of directness and enormously effective simplicity by 14-year-old Nova Pilbeam. Under Mr. Viertel's penetrating guidance, the drama has been rigidly purged of the gaudy emotionalism which the theme invites. . . . World-Telegram — A deeply moving story of the bewilderment, fear and indecision of a girl of 14 struggling to adjust herself to her parents' divorce is told with shocking honesty. . . . Its principal role is played with uncanny ntuition and skill by a 14-year-old English [irl named Nova Pilbeam. (Continued from page 1) 35 film and five other theatres in St. Louis, the former with receipts of $2,966,000 and a payroll of $885,000 and the latter with a box-office of $724,000 and payrolls of $434,000. Kansas City reported 37 film houses with receipts of $2,229,000 and payrolls of $410,000 and 14 vaudefilm theatres with receipts of $735,000 and payrolls of $191,000. Other reports included St. Joseph, seven film houses with receipts of $450,000 and payrolls of $102,000; Springfield, five film houses with box-; office of $167,000 and payrolls of; $43,000. Sign Circuit Deal Paramount has signed the Seider;sey & Wheeler circuit on Long and for its entire output. About 30 uses are involved in the deal closed Henry Randel, Brooklyn and Long ! and branch manager for Paramount. "Little Friend (Gaumont-British) American — It is a tense story, well told by Director Berthold Viertal, and exquisitely olayed by the young dramatic artist, Nova Pilbeam, supported by a well-chosen cast of adults. The fourteen-year-old Nova con tributes a portrayal that is hall-marked with sincerity and skillful artistry that may well set a goal for her elders. Daily Mirror — It is a substantial and pow erful story of a child's shattered world heroic, pathetic and infinitely sensitive. . . Nova Pilbeam ... is a matchless artist. Daily News — Little Miss Pilbeam's per formance is so highly competent that she wrings the hearts of the beholders and brings tears of sympathy to their eyes Evening Journal — Charming, unaffected and responsive to the intelligent direction of "Peck's Bad Boy {Fox) American — See this one — and take the kids along. It's fun for the whole family, with a tear or two tossed in to emphasize the laughs. Adapters, directors and cast have caught the spirit with which the piece is endowed and have made it as much an American screen classic as it has been a popular story during a quarter century or more. Daily Mirror — This refreshing and understanding movie about the ancient troubles of the very young is a fine vehicle for Jackie Cooper. Daily News — While it may have lost some of the fun of the original, the picture has gained something in dramatic effect. It is a nice, homely little comedy with several touching episodes***. Evening Journal — And, told with sympathy, and understanding, "Peck's Bad Boy" is an entertaining little drama for and about children. with Jackie Cooper once again demonstrating that he's one of the screen's most natural actors. Herald-Tribune — "Peck's Bad Boy" is no doubt a pleasant little motion picture that you should enjoy quite ecstatically, provided you are: (1) feeling very homespun, or (2) conscientiously taking your young son to a clean film, or (3) given to nostalgic sighs over the joys of your own childhood. Post — ***may have been intended by the producers to be a hilarious sketch of a boyhood, but it turns out to be a pedestrian affair with nothing to redeem it but the aforementioned Master Cooper's ability to plav tremolo on his vocal cords. Sun — It is a mild drama of a small boy and his father***. Jackie Cooper plays young Bill, and plays it with his usual moving combination of small-boy comedy and sympathy.*** A more forceful handling of the climactic situation would have made the picture much more important. Times — Shrewdly arranged by Sol Lesser for the sentimental needs of a vast popular audience, the new edition of George W. Peck's book aims to please, and it succeeds admirably. World-Telegram — ***reasonably entertaining little human interest story. Although the film is paced a little too slowly for comfort and is stretched out both unreasonably and unnecessarily, it still manages to have a nice disarming quality about it that makes if easy for one to wax sentimental over the plight of its young hero. Plan Munitions Film Samuel Cummins and Jacques A. Koerpel are producing a new film called "War Is a Racket," material for which was gathered by the former on his recent trip abroad. The picture is described as "an expose of munitions manufacturers." Clark, Wobber Push Sales Drive in West Los Angeles, Oct. 28. — John D. Clark and Herman Wobber will hold a meeting Tuesday in San Francisco of the Fox sales force as the third tour in the Kent sales drive gets under way. On Wednesday, Clark and Wobber will be in Salt Lake City for a second meeting which will be followed by one in Denver on Thursday and another in Kansas City on Friday. From Kansas City, the Fox sales executives will go to Oklahoma City, New Orleans, Memphis, St. Louis and Omaha. Other exchanges included in the itinerary will be Des Moines, Minneapolis, Dallas, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Detroit, Cleveland, Atlanta, Chicago and eastern branches. Setting "Parade" Runs Plans are under way by Fox to open "The White Parade" in 15 key cities simultaneously during the week of Nov. 16-23. LeRoys Expect Heir Hollywood, Oct. 28. — Mrs. Mervyn LeRoy, the former Doris Warner, daughter of Harry M. Warner, will become a mother early next year, LeRoy confided to friends Saturday before his departure for New York. The LeRoys are accompanied east by Sam Briskin and will remain there several weeks to review current Broadway shows. Warners Quit at Elyria Elyria, O., Oct. 28. — Warners, who have been operating the Capitol, are relinquishing their lease, and the house will revert to John Perkas, owner. Perkas operates the Rivoli, Rialto and Dreamland, and return of the Capitol will give him 100 per cent domination of the town. The *1( 50 Million Radio Fans Want To See Him Again Father Coughlin Returns To The Air Again _ o f\N A Pictorial Review of the Man of the Hour Rev. CHAS. E. COUGHLIN Famous Detroit Commentator State and Foreign Rights for Sale — Metropolitan Bookings Available INTER CONTINENT FILM CORP. 50 East 42nd St., New York City