Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1936)

MOTION PICTUBJt DAILY Monday, December 7, 1936 Boy in Crowd Scene Sues Twentieth-Fox Whether a producer can use a crowd scene in a feature without getting the consent of individual members of the crowd is a point of law raised in a suit against Twentieth CenturyFox on "IS Maiden Lane." Harry Cook, an 18-year-old boy, has filed suit in N. Y. Supreme Court for $50,000 because he appears in five feet of film. Fuller Files Bill of Equity New Orleans, Dec. 6. — A supplemental bill of equity against Twentieth Century-Fox, RKO, Paramount, M-G-M, Harold Wilkes Gaston Bureau, United Artists and Universal asking an injunction issued against Vitagraph compelling them to live up to their contract to furnish film to the Pensacola theatres of George E. Fuller was filed here yesterday by Fuller's attorneys 15 minutes before closing time. Fuller alleges an effort to deprive him of films. Federal judges will act in the case probably on Monday. Hackett-Korda Case Dated The suit of Francis Hackett against Alexander Korda, London Films, Ltd., and United Artists charging plagiarism and asking for an injunction and damages in connection with the picture "Henry the VIII" has been set for trial Oct. 15, 1937, by Federal Judge Caffey. Anti-Trust Case Up Feb. 15 Federal Judge Coxe on Saturday set the trial of the suit of Vocafilms against A. T. & T., Erpi and Western Electric for Feb. 15, 1937. The suit charges violation of the Sherman Anti-Trust laws and seeks damages for $65,953,125. Joyce Allowed $10,000 Federal Judge Coxe on Saturday granted John E. Joyce an interim allowance of $10,000 for his services as special master in the Paramount bankruptcy and reorganization proceedings. Pollard Bankrupt Bud Pollard, director, has filed a voluntary petition of bankruptcy in the U. S. District Court for the southern district of New York. He lists liabilities of $15,850 and no assets. To Fill Bright 's Job A successor to Willis C. Bright, former treasurer of Grand National, will be named at a board of directors' meeting this week, it was learned over the weekend. Edward L. Alperson, president, has just returned from the coast. No board meeting was held during his absence. "Holiday" to Paramount "College Holiday" will be the Yuletide attraction at the Paramount. "Pennies from Heaven," a Columbia release with Bing Crosby, has been dated to start Wednesday. Columbia Dance Feb. 13 The Columbian Club will hold its annual formal dance in the grand ballroom of the Waldorf-Astoria on Feb. 13. Leading stage and screen stars are scheduled to attend. November Grosses Weaken; Total Dips to $1,568,247 Comparative grosses for the latest available periods Week Ending Nov. 27-28 No. Theatres Gross Boston 7 $84,300 Buffalo 5 43,200 Chicago 8 123,400 Cincinnati 8 57,900 Cleveland 5 48,000 Denver 7 36,750 Detroit 6 80,800 Houston 4 25,300 Indianapolis 4 35,300 Kansas City 5 37,500 Lincoln 5 15,250 Los Angeles 9 88,522 Louisville 7 26,900 Milwaukee 5 25,700 Minneapolis 5 29,500 Montreal 5 33,500 New Haven 4 18,500 New York 9 239,875 Oklahoma City 4 14,000 Omaha 4 29,600 Philadelphia 9 72,600 Pittsburgh 5 48,000 Portland 6 39,800 Providence 5 45,900 San Francisco 9 72,700 St. Louis 7 63,750 St. Paul 4 20,250 Seattle 8 40,850 Washington 7 70,600 No Week Ending Nov. 20-21 Theatres Gross 7 5 8 8 5 7 7 4 4 5 5 10 6 5 5 5 4 10 4 4 9 5 6 5 9 8 4 8 8 176 $1,568,247 180 Key city grosses from January to the week ending Nov. 27-28 : No. Theatres Jan. 9-10 179 Jan. 16-17 176 Jan. 23-24 173 Jan. 30-31 177 Feb. 6-7 168 Feb. 13-14 174 Feb. 20-21 175 Feb. 27-28 178 Mar. 5-6 179 Mar. 12-13 181 Mar. 19-20 174 Mar. 26-27 172 Apr. 2-3 174. Apr. 9-10 177 Apr. 16-17 180 Apr. 23-24 179 Apr. 30-May 1 186 May 7-8 182 May 15-16 169 May 22-23 170 May 29-30 169 June 5-6 165 June 12-13 \ 166 Tune 19-20 160 June 26-27 165 July 3-4 168 July 10-11 169 July 17-18 165 July 24-25 165 July 31-Aug. 1 166 Aug. 7-8 169 Aug. 14-15 166 Aug. 21-22 162 Aug. 28-29 160 Sept. 4-5 163 Sept. 11-12 173 Sept. 18-19 176 Sept. 25-26 177 Oct. 2-3 : 177 Oct. 9-10 175 Oct. 16-17 174 Oct. 23-24 175 Oct. 30-31 177 Nov. 6-7 178 Nov. 13-14 180 Nov. 20-21 180 Nov. 27-28 176 (Copyright. 1936, Quigley Publications, Inc.) $89,000 42,002 116,700 60,650 59,400 31,000 84,800 26,300 26,850 37,900 11,360 100,500 21,100 32,100 29,300 44,500 24,600 257,800 16,100 27,600 80,700 58,000 41,200 43,400 85,850 70,450 12,700 46,350 76.100 $1,654,312 Gross 1,901,455 1,722,400 1.539,065 1,515,300 1,591,350 1,680,180 1,558,185 1,777,650 1,689,550 1,761,547 1,502,583 1,521,800 1,373.875 1,354,624 1,732,100 1.703,822 1,583,945 1,565,050 1,432,569 1,441,980 1,379,250 1,458,666 1,357,750 1,349,200 1,376,208 1,557,696 1,431,650 1,357,200 1,426,153 1,468,800 1,518,011 1,550,120 1,559,350 1,532,319 1,747,748 2,090,144 1,806,350 1,744,332 1,705,308 1,625,287 1,780,168 1,690.044 1,625,216 1.629,560 1.711,209 1.654.312 1,568,247 Legion Approves 16 Of 18 New Pictures Only two of 18 new films reviewed and classified by the National Legion of Decency in its list for the current week were not approved, either for general patronage or for adults. Of those approved 11 were called unobjectionable for general patronage and five for adults. The two were classed as objectionable in part. The new films and their classification follow : Class A-l, Unobjectionable for General Patronage — "Arizona Mahoney," "Besehl 1st Besehl" (German), "Die Ganze Welt Dreht Sich Un Liebe" (German), "General Spanky," "Jungle Princess," "Roaring Lead," "Sing Me a Love Song," "Song of the Gringo," "Stormy Trails," "Three Smart Girls," "Yellow Cruise." Class A-2, Unobjectional for Adults — "Banjo on My Knee," "Der Mutige Seefahrer" (German), "Laughing at Trouble," "Lloyds of London," "Poil de Carotte" (French). Class B, Objectionable in Part — "Rembrandt," for "questionable dialogue and promiscuous love affairs," and "WaldWinter" (German) because "the plot is solved by divorce." Nafl Board Group Picks Child Film Approximated 50,000 pupils in New York's public and private schools are being influenced in their film tastes as a result of the work of the Schools Motion Picture Committee, sponsored by the National Board of Review, the board estimates. More than 50 schools are represented in the movement for the selection of programs designed especially for weekend child audiences between 12 and 16. The plan originated some months ago under the chairmanship of Mrs. Alonzo Klaw. The programs are selected for adults' suitability as well, the selection dependent upon elimination in the program of war glorification, unnecessary brutality or killing, undue sympathy for immoral actions or characters, and risque sex situations. At present 38 theatres in the city are cooperating in the movement, the National Board declares. The committee sees all films before release, and prepares lists which are sent to all schools enlisted in the movement. Forms Theatre Service Richmond, Dec. 6. — Eumer C. Briant, theatre operator, has formed the Theatre Business Service here, which is designed to offer to the theatre owner all types of needed service, including management, advertising and exploitation, financing, accountancy, income tax consultation and the like. Incorporate Theatre Company Kansas City, Dec. 6. — Commonwealth Carrollton Theatre Corp. has been formed in Missouri, and has purchased the Johnson at Carrollton from Ethel Johnson. Officers are: C. L. McVey, president ; C. A. Schultz, vice-president, and O. K. Mason, secretary-treasurer. Start New English Exchange London, Nov. 27. — National Provincial Film Distributors is a new British distributing company, which shortly will trade show British film? from Incorporated Talking Films, Morgan Prod., and Medway Prod., independent units.