Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1935)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Thursday, August 29, 1.935 Front Pages Supply Most Yarns — Tuttle Producers are getting subject matter for their pictures more and more from the front pages of the daily newspapers because it is there they find what audiences are sincerely interested in, said Frank Tuttle yesterday as he prepared to return to Hollywood after a short visit here. "In the next few years, and probably long before, pictures will begin to be produced with more of a lesson and in more vital and closer contact with people as a whole," he further explained. In discussing the suggestion of M. A. Lightman that exhibitors would do well to zone their territories according to the customers and consequently only show pictures to fit these sections, Tuttle expressed the opinion that directors and producers could turn out better work if they aimed at only one class of audience. There should be certain pictures for the family trade, certain ones for sophisticates and certain ones for general audiences, he continued, and when those making the pictures in Hollywood can aim at certain audiences and concentrate on these, the work will be correspondingly better. Tuttle at present is under contract to Paramount and just finished directing Bing Crosby's latest, "Two for Tonight." His contract comes up for renewal in November. He admitted that he had been approached by Crosby and Emanuel Cohen to direct the picture they will make starring the former, but nothing definite on the deal has been done as yet. Tuttle leaves today for the coast by train and will start work soon on the yet untitled feature starring Jean Arthur and Buddy Rogers for Paramount. Warner Zone Heads Finish Policy Talk The 12 Warner theatre zone managers yesterday concluded a two-day meeting under direction of Joseph Bernhard to discuss policy for the coming quarter. The session was originally scheduled to last two or three days but was concluded in one. Managers attending were James Coston, Chicago and Milwaukee ; Nat Wolf, Cleveland; I. J. Hoffman, New Haven ; Don Jacocks, Newark ; Moe Silver, Albany; Ted Schlanger, Philadelphia ; Harry Kalmine, Pittsburgh; J. J. Payette, Washington; Herbert Copelan, Atlantic City; Lou J. Halper, Hollywood; Howard Waugh, Memphis, and B. F. Moore, St. Louis. The group last night assembled at the St. Moritz to tender a dinner to Bernhard at which home office theatre department executives also were present. Premiums Harmful, Mort Singer States Mort Singer, RKO theatre partner in the middle west, is definitely against premiums and chance games for his nine theatres. He states that this sort of stimulant only tends to kill business, rather than aid grosses. "I want to stick to the theatre business," Singer declares. He plans to leave for his home in Beverly Hills as soon as negotiations between circuits and unions wind up. Looking 'Em Over "Charlemagne" (France-Film) In "Charlemagne" Pathe-Natan of France has produced a highly amusing satire on government. Lack of a knowledge of French ought not to hinder American filmgoers in their enjoyment of this film, thanks to the generous use of subtitles in English and the splendid work of the cast, headed by Raimu, who, in the name part, turns in a most effective performance. In its theme the film is reminiscent of Barrie's "The Admirable Crichton." It tells of a stoker, bullish and crude but with a deep sense of the injustice of things, who finds himself holding the upper hand when a yacht is wrecked on a desert isle. The castaways, among whom is a sole woman (Marie Glory), become completely dependent upon the stoker for their existence. Realizing the strength of his position now, he rebels at being bossed around and sets himself up as king of the island with Mile. Glory, an actress, as his queen. Raimu revels in his new-found glory, forcing the others to take a bit of their own medicine until their rescue reduces the stoker to his former station in life. The satire is extremely well done, with many moments of real fun the result. Fine photography has been lavished upon the film, which was directed in good style by Pierre Colombier. Leon Belieres, Jean Dax, Gaston Jacquet, Pierade and Lucien Baroux are among the other players. No production code seal. Running time, 77 minutes. "G." Public Opinion (Chesterfield) By virtue of an interesting treatment Invincible has turned familiar material into attractive entertainment for neighborhood houses. The film also has the benefit of a good cast. Especially is it fortunate in the services of Crane Wilbur, who offers a sterling performance in the role of a famous bacteriologist married to an opera star (Lois Wilson). The story details the ups and downs of the married life of the scientist and the prima donna. The two separate when Andre de Segurola, an operatic tenor, comes between them. As is usual in tales of this type on the screen, the wife is innocent of any wrongdoing, the husband just insisting on misunderstanding her relations with the third party. After much suffering on both sides, husband and wife are reunited when their boy, dangerously ill of infantile paralysis, recovers through the ministrations of the mother. The happy ending is made possible when Shirley Grey, who consoled Wilbur during his separation from Miss Wilson and who secretly loves him, bows out of the picture. There are to be found in the picture a number of genuinely dramatic moments. Direction is by Frank Strayer. The film has been given a good production and first-rate photography. Luis Alberni, Paul Ellis and Ronnie Cosbey are also in the cast. No production code seal. Running time, 71 minutes. "G." MOTION PICTURE DAILY* HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "Streamline Express" (Mascot) Hollywood, Aug. 28. — Using a streamline train a la Grand Hotel, this rapid comedy clicks, unfolding several plots and counterplots as it goes. Victor Jory, a stage producer, is pursuing Evelyn Venable, who has walked out on his show. He gets a job as steward on her train, where a varied assortment of characters gather. Ralph Forbes is taking Miss Venable home to marry her. Clay Clement, eloping with Esther Ralston, finds Erin O'Brien Moore, his wife, also on the train. Sidney Blackmer, fleeing the police, is an old friend of Miss Ralston. Vince Barnett is rushing his wife west so that his heir may be born in California. Bobby Watson rounds out the group as a drunk. In the ensuing complications a diamond pendant is reported stolen and each character comes under suspicion, though the jewel has been given to Blackmer by Miss Ralston as blackmail. When things are {Continued on page 9) Korda Has 12 to Go For United Artists (.Continued from page 1) Artists. Five of these will be Kbrda Prod, and presumably will be sold through the U. A. machine in this market. The other seven, which may or may not come over, will be sold by the company in England. The producer declined to comment on reports the purpose of his trip has to do with dissatisfaction over his present distributing contract nor would he talk about reports he may make a deal with Twentieth CenturyFox. Korda Goes West Tomorrow Alexander Korda, who arrived in New York Tuesday, leaves for Hollywood tomorrow. He will spend a week conferring with Samuel Goldwyn, Charlie Chaplin and Mary Pickford, and will be accompanied by Al Lichtman, Sir Connop Guthrie, Maurice Silverstone and Stephen Pallos. Lichtman will be host to the Korda party and following U. A. officials, Arthur Kelly, Harry Buckley, Harry Gold, Paul Lazarus, James Mulvey, Emanuel Silverstone, Monroe Greenthai, Morris Helprin and Charles Skouras at a dinner at Jack Dempsey's prior to attending the Baer-Doyle fight tonight. "Karenina" Ads Go To 37 Publications (Continued from page 1) a circulation of 34,000,000 and an estimated reader coverage of 100,000,000. Howard Dietz is convinced that his nationwide billboard campaign in 1,900 cities on "China Seas" got that picture off to a big start and that the magazine advertising now under way will prove a general industry benefit at the start of the new season. The company expects to spend $2,500,000 on advertising during the year, he says. Kathryn Dougherty To Quit Photoplay (Continued from page 1) fective Oct. 31. She will announce her new association shortly. Miss Dougherty (Mrs. John S. Tuomey) took charge of the magazine following the death of Quirk and has continued as editor and publisher since the acquisition of the publication some months ago by the Macfadden interests. United Productions Formed in England (Continued from page 1) pervise "Bonnie Prince Charlie" and Frenke, "Lady Hamilton," with Anna Sten. Garrett Klement Prod, today signed Henry Wilcoxon for the lead in "A Woman Alone" opposite Miss Sten. Leslie Howard is under contract to Warners and, therefore, is understood to be unable to appear in any pictures planned by United Prod. Ltd. K. C. Men in New York Kansas City, Aug. 28. — "Tommy" Thompson, RKO exchange manager; Max Roth, district manager, and Harry Taylor, exchange manager for Columbia, are in New York.