Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1936)

10 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Thursday, December 31, 1936 Headlines Review The Closing Year (.Continued from page 9) Nov. 23. — Regulation of broadcasting: under way. Maxwell sets new drive on U.S. market. Warners' net for year is $3,177,312. Nov. 24. — RKO reorganization plan presented; hearing set for Dec. 23. Ostrers intend to retain G.B. control — Isidore. Loew's net of $11,076,822 six-year high. Nov. 27. — Separate film conference, is capital plan. 20th Century-Fox for cancellation, conciliation. Nov. 28. — Moyne Committee asks 50 per cent quota in 10 years. Nov. 30. — British see harm in quota of 50 per cent. Chicago games threatened by business men. December Dec. 1. — Second Ostrer says Maxwell has no option. CEA-KRA may jointly fight Moyne report. Dec. 2. — "Square Deal" promised ITO by Lichtman. Chicago group moves against theatre games. Dec. 3. — "U" to apply cancellation on split buys. Court fight is begun on RKO plans. Dec. 4. — Kuykendall to seek talks on local boards. Dec. 5. — Copyright on Bank Night voided by U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Dec. 7. — MPTOA seeks united front on new laws. Dec. 8. — Hays pleased, he states, by Italy accord. U. A. to drop score charge next season. Dec. 9. — Schenck gets contract and stock option. G.B. "A" shares to Maxwell or deal will fail, report. Dec. 10. — Capital film meet called off by Berry. French plan to ban duals U.S. threat. Dec. 11. — RKO moves to end the claim of Orpheum. Quietly name Lichtman and Katz Loew vice-presidents. Dec. 12. — Refused sale of G.B. stock, Mayer states. World halts for eight minutes to hear Edward's farewell. Legislation seen outcome of Berry conference. Dec. 14. — Local boards to start soon where desired. Dec. 15. — Loew's admits buy into G.B. from 20th-Fox. Bank Night is lottery says Kansas court. Dec. 16. — IATSE now aims to organize house staffs. Charge A. T. & T. with monopoly of radio wire. Dec. 17. — U.S. names distributors in trust case. Dec. 18. — Dual billing regulation up in Texas anti-trust suit. Dec. 19. — Twentieth-Fox gets 83 per cent of stock in Roxy plan. Dec. 21. — NBC to drive on Hollywood. Expansion on. Dec. 22. — Ostrers to go with G.B. sale in status quo. Court is told RKO majority favor plan. Dec. 23. — Conciliation boards await majors' stand. M-G-M sales policy flexible, Rodgers assures U.M.P.T.O. Dec. 24. — Italy ready to admit 250 films yearly. Dec. 26. — Congressional bill hitting theatres has three years' grace. Dec. 28. — Howard Cullman seen chairman for new Roxy company. Expect deluge of laws aimed at broadcasts. Dec. 29. — Arrests mark Chicago drive on giveaways. Theatre takes top last year from 15 to 20 per cent. Dec. 30. — Networks now lean heavily on Hollywood for talent. Dec. 31. — Paramount and Loew stock issues hit new highs. Hoblitzelle Reply Is Due by Jan, 24 Hoblitzelle theatre interests and distributor defendants in the Government anti-trust action brought in Dallas recently have until Jan. 24 in which to file answers to the complaint based upon the contracts entered into by the distributors with Texas Consolidated Theatres and the Interstate Circuit, it was stated here yesterday. Indications, as a result, are that the case cannot be set for hearing by the U. S. District Court at Dallas during February unless a preference is granted on the court's calendar. Hardwicke Distinguished in Well Done, Intelligent Play (Continued from page 1) ance as Emile Delbar ranks well up with the first half dozen renditions of the season. If you press this department ever so slightly, he'll bend and place it among the first three. In point of plot, "Promise" is almost completely static. That is to say, nothing of consequence happens. Frank Lawton, artist and designer, thinks he is in love with Louise Piatt, Irene Browne's daughter by her second husband who is Hardwicke. But Lawton looks through this brittle, ambitious, fun-loving and disagreeable young thing to find on the other side Jean Forbes-Robertson, a half-sister. There is a row, of course. Miss Forbes-Robertson and Lawton eventually marry. Miss Piatt swirls around in a wealthy set to forget something which hurt only her pride anyway and heads toward marriage with the scion of a wealthy family. This leaves the parents alone. Not quite all, however. It works tricks on the chief characters. It gives Miss Forbes-Robertson release from a mother in many ways unnatural toward her daughter. It saves Lawton from an unfortunate marriage with Miss Piatt and gives him happiness with the girl he loves and who loves him. It supplies the patient, benign Sir Cedric of the old school, muddled by the swift modernity of his wife, with a haven. That haven he finds a restful and a promising one in the point of view, the confidence and the faith of Lawton. And, finally, it robs Miss Browne, the tyrannical, of dominance over her two children and over Hardwicke and leaves her alone, an old woman in tears as the curtain drops. Good, But Not Hollywood Hardwicke does a distinguished job. Miss Browne is splendid as the wife. Miss Forbes-Robertson, true to her theatrical heritage, is well nigh superb and Lawton is thoroughly likable and competent. Miss Piatt, subscribing to the throaty school of diction and the debutante swing in her carriage, is inferior by far. Thomas Collins, in an unimportant role, is satisfactory. "Promise" is too thin in content for Hollywood. It leans too heavily on character reformation, not action, to make any point as a film. But let there be no mistake about it as a play. It is one of the comforting contributions of a theatrical season which, the signs seem to say now, is slowly but gradually coming into its own. Ship Strike Delays Films for Far East Film shipments to the Orient, Australia and other foreign countries are being delayed because of the seamen's strike, thereby causing a temporary disruption in releasing schedules. In some countries home office executives pointed out, releases have been held up for a month or more due to late arrivals of prints. Send Checking Tutors Four checking instructors are being sent to Detroit and Cleveland exchanges by Alan Cummings, who is inaugurating Loew's own system in a number of branches. She Likes It After finishing "You Only Live Once" for Walter Wanger, Sylvia Sidney rushed east to be met by reporters, photographers and press agents who asked whether shows or clothes brought her. "I have only one reason," she said. "I like New York!" The Honest Ballot Ass'n is now striking a medal for her. Cinesound Sets New Production Program Sydney, Dec. 10. — Cinesound Prod., Ltd., Australia producing company headed by Stuart Doyle, plans five or six features annually for domestic and world distribution. The company was formed in 1931. Next year a second production unit will be established for outdoor pictures. In addition, 52 Cinesound Reviews will be produced annually, and items of international interest will be used by the company under contracts with the Pathe Gazette, London ; Ufa, Germany ; Pathe Freres, Paris, and MG-M in the United States. Organizations have been set up in London and Hollywood for the borrowing of foreign players, and Shirley Ann Richards, Australian actress, has been signed to a long term contract. For 1936-37 eight films have been scheduled by the Capt. Frank Hurley producing unit, which specializes in films of domestic industries and scenic pictures. The company also plans to encourage the use of its Bondi Studios by independent producers through reductions in rentals. Distribution through Cinesound's Associated Distributors, Ltd., is also available to independents. Decision Impends on Ending of "Enemy A decision as to which of two endings for "Beloved Enemy" will be used for the nationwide booking of the print is to be made early next week by Daniel Mulvey, vice-president of Goldwyn Prod., it was stated at United Artists yesterday. Test screenings of prints with either the happy ending which has been provided, or the ending implying the death of Brian Aherne, were given recently at Newburgh and Poughkeepsie. Results appeared to show that the latter ending was the most satisfactory. This ending is the one being used in the only two regular showings of the picture now in progress, which are here and in Philadelphia. There is a possibility that the happy ending may be used in the smaller cities and towns, while the version now being shown at the Rivoli here may be the one to be used in the larger cities. M-G-M Signs Machaty Gustav Machaty, director of "Ecstasy," which was made in Czechoslovakia, has been signed to a long-term contract by M-G-M. Knickerbocker Sued By Its Stockholders A suit for $100,000 was brought against Knickerbocker Theatres, Inc., Louis Schneider, Jacob Bradkin and Stanley LaCov in N. Y. Supreme Court yesterday. The plaintiff, Charles Stiner, is vice-president of the company and is suing for himself and other stockholders. He charges that the credit of the theatre company has been damaged to the extent of $100,000 and the public made to believe that it was insolvent through the filing in Federal Court last July 17 of a petition in bankruptcy. He opposed the petition at the time and the bankruptcy action was dismissed in October. The defendants contend the bankruptcy action was filed as a result of a vote of the board of directors and they denied that they had falsely declared the organization insolvent. They also intend to ask for a dismissal of the suit next week. Knickerbocker controls 10 theatres on the East Side. Court Sets RKO Claims A report of Thomas D. Thatcher, special master, sanctioning the claims of the Illinois Central Railroad Company, George B. B. Land and Cora C. Gregg against RKO in the amounts of $157, $14,500 and $17,109 respectively has been referred to Judge Bondy by Judge Goddard for arguments. W. E. Sales for' 35 Near $140,000,000 Western Electric sales for 1936 ran away ahead of 1935 and the prospects are for a continued increase in 1937, says Edgar S. Bloom, president. Total sales for 1936 will exceed $140,000,000, he says. In 1935 the total was 5105,417,000. A large number of former employes has been taken back, he states. During the year the force was increased by more than 11,800, bringing the total to about 33,000. Wall Street Sharp Gains on High Columbia 36% Columbia, pfd 4254 Consolidated 554 Consolidated, pfd.. 17% Eastman Kodak.. 172 Gen. T. Equip.... 3054 K.-A.-0., pfd. ...110 Loew's, Inc 67 Paramount 25 Paramount 1 pfd.. 174 Paramount 2 pfd.. 22% Pathe Film 10 RKO 8J4 20th Century-Fox. 35% 20th Century, pfd.. 44% Universal, pfd 101 Warner Bros 17% Entire Board Net Low Close Change 33J4 36 +2% 42J4 554 1754 172 3054 110 41 5 17 172 +254 + % +1 + 54 + 54 +3% +2% +1654 110 63% 67 22% 25 158% 174 2054 22% +2% 9% 10 + % 7% 854 34% 35% +1% 4354 43% +1% 101 101 16% 17% +154 Technicolor Leads Curb Net High Low Close Change Grand National ..3% 3% 3% + 54 Sentry Safety % % % cash Sonotone 1% 1% 1% Technicolor .• 21% 20 2154 +1% Trans-Lux 4% 4 4% +56 Warner Bonds Rise Net High Low Close Change Loew's 354s '46.... 101 101 101 Paramount Pict. 6s '55 10054 100 10054 Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 9954 99 9954 + 54 (Quotations at close of Dec. 30)