Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1934)

Monday, October 29, 1934 MOTION PICTURE DAILY 7 MOTION PICTURE DAILYS HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "Evelyn Prentice" (M-G-M) Hollywood, Oct. 28. — Starting as a domestic problem play of a busy lawyer, William Powell, with little time for his wife, Myrna Loy, it switches to motivate Miss Loy's harmless rendezvous with a poet, Harry Stephens, and winds up as a murder mystery in a courtroom with Powell defending Isabel Jewell, who is on trial for murder, and his own wife, a self-confessed slayer. While it appears that the novel by W. A. Woodward, from which the screen play was adapted by Howard Emmett Rogers and Lenore Coffee, had a vogue, the film creates the impression of struggling with marital and extra-marital situations not so readily filmable. Aside from the fact that the characters fail to stimulate strong sympathies to win audience favor, the production pace is draggy in spots, except for a pickup at the finish when interest and suspense are aroused. Both Powell and Miss Loy perform well, if not wholeheartedly, with their artistry shining forth. Una Merkle contributes her distinctive brand of joy. Edward Brophy, one of the screen's funniest men, makes the most of a small opportunity. Miss Jewell has her moment and registers. Rosalind Russell seems miscast while Cora Sue Collins is cute. William Howard's direction has difficulty rising above the story values. The photography and sound are okay. Although the marquee names of Powell and Miss Loy should draw, the film may require previewing to secure correct exploitation angle. No code seal. Running time, 88 minutes. "College Rhythm" (Paramount) San Diego, Oct. 28. — Take Lanny Ross, Joe Penner and his duck and peppy Lyda Roberti out of the picture, previewed at the Fox Theatre here, and you have just another college picture. With this trio of stars, Director Norman Taurog has turned out a rollicking, snappy, tuneful, hangup collegiate comedy which is a natural to all audiences. There are plenty of crack exploitation angles in the melodious tunes by Harry Revel and Mack Gordon, radio and screen names, plus timely football season tieup. The story by George Marion, Jr., has plenty of action and laughs, although just a wee bit improbable. The plot is built around the rivalry between wisecracking Jack Oakie and bespectacled, scholarly Lanny Ross on the football gridiron and in business life. Mary Brian furnishes the love theme, but Ross finally tumbles to the fact that he is that way about Helen Mack. Hard up after graduating from college, Oakie begs a job from Ross, son of a wealthy department store owner. The fun begins when Oakie turns on the collegiate atmosphere, much to Ross' disgust. Penner is easily the hit of the picture with his duck and nonsense. The audience at the preview got its biggest laugh out of a scene where Penner makes love to Goo-Goo, his duck. No code seal. Running time, about 80 minutes, but should be cut in the stadium cheering scenes and store opening. Contracts Get Full Approval In CampiVote (Continued from page 1) Mass., situation. When Campi voted on this issue, the tally was five to three, two members being absent. Code Authority members at the last meeting held a discussion of this case with the result that a rehearing and new vote was ordered. No action was taken on the Los Angeles and Kansas City clearance and zoning schedules, indicating that both will be sent back for clarification and modification. It was expected that the Los Angeles plan would be the first approved and to be put into effect. The Kansas City outline, approved by 90 per cent of exhibitors, also was in pretty good shape except for certain clarifications. Distributors' chief objections to all schedules is inclusion of clauses whereby subsequent runs charging the same admissions are to be given identical availabilities following prior runs. This, it is held, will create a print shortage in each key city. One plan suggested was to follow provisions in the uniform contract whereby subsequent runs can date within 30 days after prior runs, thus eliminating minimum and maximum clearance dates. Another thought was to change the national releasing scheme so that key cities do not release on the same date. It is figured that if Chicago prints were available before Kansas City, and Kansas City before Detroit, the print shortage situation would be reduced so some extent. In the Mason City Fontenelle case involving transfer of lease, Campi is understood to have reversed the Omaha board which certified the complaint for Code Authority action. It is understood Campi's vote was seven tc three for throwing the argument back to the local board, which in all probability will dismiss the complaint. Cleveland Cases Up For CampVs Ruling Cleveland, Oct. 28. — Two cases have been certified to Campi by the grievance board. One is an overbuying complaint of the Alden Seitz Amusement Co., Sandusky, against the Warner Ohio, that city, and the other is a complaint on the 10 per cent cancellation clause filed by Jerome Steel, Apollo Theatre, Oberlin, against RKO Radio. Stop orders have been issued in the complaints against Sam Deutsch, Sun, Cleveland, and Erie, Cleveland, on distribution of passes. A premature advertising complaint against C. W. Bickert, Palace, Ashland, has been certified to Campi. Iowa Stand on Bank Nights Is Modified Des Moines, Oct. 28.— Modifications of the stringent rules laid down in previous grievance cases against bank nights were noted in the decisions handed down by the local grievance board in a case just passed on. Bank nights were allowed to continue in three _ Iowa towns where a noncompetitive situation existed, but in the fourth bank night advertising was ordered discontinued. This was the case of J. H. Johnston of the Princess, Stuart, la., against G. W. Morgan of the Grand at Greenfield, A. B. Petitt of the Iowa at Winterset, Allen & Allen of the Garden at Guthrie Center and J. C. Doop of the Rialto at Stuart. Since the complainant was operating a theatre in a town other than those where bank night was being carried on, the board decided his was not a competitive situation. However, the Norman & Keuch theatre at Sac City, la., the Chieftain, was ordered to end bank nights immediately on complaint of W. W. Watt of the Casino at Sac City. Sennett Loses Suit Los Angeles, Oct. 28. — Mack Sennett has lost his $35,000 suit against Myrtle Mack for injuries suffered by him in the motor crash that killed her husband, Charles E. Mack, of Moran and Mack, in Arizona in January of this year. Ontario Government Drops Studio Staff Toronto, Oct. 28.— Dismissal of 24 of the staff of the Ontario Government film studio at Trenton, Ont., and at Toronto, has been announced by the new provincial premier, Mitchell Hepburn. Only six employes are being retained and are to be transferred to the Department of Education to handle distribution of releases that may be appropriate for educational purposes. Among those discharged were Major G. E. Patton, director in charge, who has been on the job since the studio was established IS years ago; three cameramen, laboratory specialists, film editor, title artists, mechanics, office clerks and others. The payroll saving will be $57,000 per year. During the past 12 months with film production at a low ebb, the studio spent $75,000 and derived a revenue of $8,000 in rentals. The studio and equipment have been put up for sale. Gains Shown By Premiums In N. Y. Area (.Continued from page 1) they are too old to have drawing power. Even two features have failed to draw, some exhibitors contend, who insist the only way to get patrons is to offer household articles to the customers. In some theatres, exhibitors have been forced to give away premiums on Saturday nights, it is stated. "It has come to a state of affairs that unless we give away these articles we cannot exist. We have tried to discontinue them, but our boxoffice proved this was suicide," one operator said. According to the code, 75 per cent of exhibitors in a given territory must vote against giveaways before they may be stopped. That the practice will be banned in New York seems remote. Not one complaint on this issue has reached the local grievance board. While the independents look to giveaways as a business salvation, circuits in general are shying clear of them. It is reported Warners are distributing free articles in some of their New Jersey houses, but this, it is said, only holds true in a few spots. It is not a general policy but applies only in highly competitive spots, it is declared. Form Rex Premiums Rex Premium Corp. has been formed with Greater New York as its field of operations. Production Gains Slightly on Coast (Continued from page 1) 36 features and eight shorts for the preceding week. In the final preparation stages there are 20 features and eight shorts scheduled to get under way within the fortnight, while 49 features and 20 shorts are in the cutting rooms. Warners, as in the past four weeks, continues to lead the field for activity with seven features in work, three preparing and eight editing : Paramount is a close second with seven, four and three; Fox has six, two and four; Columbia, five, zero and seven; M-G-M, three, three and 10; Radio, two, one and six ; Universal, two, three and three ; 20th Century, one, zero and zero ; Roach, zero, zero and one, while the combined independent studios register a total of five, four and seven. In the short subject division M-G-M has one before the cameras, one preparing and four editing ; Roach has one, one and two ; Columbia, one, zero and one ; Radio, one, one and six, while the independents aggregate three, five and six. Charnas Golden Wedding Cleveland, Oct. 28. — Mr. and Mrs. M. Charnas, father and mother of Harry Charnas of New York, Nat of Toledo, Phil of Bucyrus and Mrs. Jesse Fishman of Cleveland, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary today with a dinner and reception at the Jewish Center.