Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1938)

MOTION PICTURt DAILY Bids Received for Government Films The Newsreel Parade Washington, Jan. 27. — Bids for furnishing motion pictures exploiting the Government's housing activities were opened today by the Federal Housing Administration. Bids were asked for production of 35mm. sound film in lengths up to 1,000 feet, 1,000 to 3,000 feet, and 3,000 to 5,000 feet; 35mm. silent film in the same lengths ; optical reduction ■of 35mm. sound film to 16mm. film in the same lengths, and reduction of 35mm. silent film to 16mm. film in the same lengths. Proposals received were as follows : Lauks & Norling, New York : 35mm. sound film, $5 per foot up to 1,000 feet, $4.75 to 3,000 feet, $4.50 to 5,000 feet; silent 35mm. film, $4.60 per foot to 1,000 feet, $4.40 to 3,000 feet, $4.20 to 5,000 feet, with an alternate bid that if no new material not incorporated in the sound film was required, silent could be furnished at 75 cents, 65 cents and 60 cents, respectively, in the three lengths ; reduction of sound film, 7 cents per foot up to 1,000 feet, 6.75 cents to 3,000 feet, 6.5 cents to 5,000 feet, with the same prices for reduction of silent film. Ruby Films, New York: Sound film, $4.50 per foot to 1,000 feet, $3.50 to 3,000 feet; $3 to 5,000 feet; silent film, $3.50 to 1,000 feet, $3 to 3,000 feet, $2.50 to 5,000 feet; reduction of sound film, 2y2 cents per foot to any length ; reduction of silent film, 2 cents per foot to any length. Pathe Bids Listed Bray Studios, New York: Sound film, $6 per foot to 1,000 feet; $5.45 to 3,000 feet, $4.75 to 5,000 feet ; silent film, $4 to 1,000 feet; $3.60 to 3,000 feet, $3.25 to 5,000 feet; reduction of sound film, 16*4 cents to 1,000 feet, 16 cents to 3,000 feet, 15}4 cents to 5,000 feet; reduction of silent film, 16 cents to 1,000 feet, 15^ cents to 3,000 feet, 15 cents to 5,000 feet. Pathe News, Inc., New York: Sound film, $4.90 per foot to 1,000 feet, $4.80 to 3,000 feet, $4.70 to 5,000 feet; silent film, $3.90 to 1,000 feet, $3.80 to 3,000 feet, $3.70 to 5,000 feet ; reduction of sound or silent film, 9/10ths cent per foot in any length. Stark Films, Baltimore : Sound film, $2.25 per foot to 1,000 feet, $2.15 to 3,000 feet, $2 to 5,000 feet ; silent film, $1.75 to 1,000 feet, $1.60 to 3,000 feet, $1.50 to 5,000 feet; reduction of either sound or silent film, 3j^ cents per foot up to 3,000 feet, 3 cents to 5,000 feet. Sound Masters, Inc., New York: Sound film, $4.52 per foot to 1,000 feet, $4.10 to 3,000 feet, $3.64 to 5,000 feet; silent film, $1.00 per foot less than for sound film ; reduction of sound film, 3 cents per foot to 1,000 feet, 2.75 cents to 3,000 feet, 2^ cents to 5,000 feet ; reduction of silent film, 2.75 cents to 1,000 feet, 2^ cents to 3,000 feet, 2.25 cents to 5,000 feet. De Frenes & Co., Philadelphia: Sound film, $8 per foot to 1,000 feet, $7.30 to 3,000 feet, $7 to 5,000 feet; $6 if without European scenes. Heads Portland Union Portland, Me., Jan. 27. — George Gould has been elected head of the Projectionists' Local 458. Lester Bragdon has been named Vice-president ; Earl Hamm, treasurer ; Leslie Way, secretary ; Frank Smith, sergeant-at-arms. Movietone News Vol. 20, No. 40 (20th Century-Fox) A regulation assortment of interest-holding material went into the makeup of this reel. It moves along breezily ; it is serious when the occasion arises and it spices the whole with a few laughs. The items are not necessarily vivid news, but they are treated with live comment and edited for their utmost. Niagara Falls takes first place with the ice threatening the nearby Falls View Bridge. It is followed with shots of the Samoan Clipper at Auckland on one of its last flights. The recent harrowing experience of the two passengers on a Washington-bound plane which landed in Hartford is re-enacted and comes off well, with sighs of relief breathed by all concerned. Names in the News offers the Princess Baba and her wrestler-husband being greeted by the Ranee of Sarawak, King Ghazi of Iraq making an airplane flight, King Farouk of Egypt about to be married and Bruno Mussolini preparing for his flight to South America. Ed Thorgersen vividly describes the Golden Gloves tryouts, vocally grows mellow with fine scenes of yachting in Australia and pulls a few nifties as Southern California bathing girls fool around with bowling balls and get themselves photographed from many interesting angles. Lew Lehr has a lot of laughs for a good finish. Two chimpanzees are the butt of his dialect. They play with various musical instruments and supply hilarious sound effects. Running time, 8^4 mins. P. News of the Day Vol. 9, No. 238 (M-G-M) An average issue. The material involved is currently interesting and the personalities and events pictured get deserved attention. The clips are nicely varied. In the case of the sailing of the Leviathan for the Scotch scrap heap they are tastefully handled. The "lost" transport 'plane provides a theme for the re-enactment of the plight of the passengers and crew while they were buffeted by a storm. The sequence is a good bit of documentation in spite of the dramatics. News Snapshots offers glimpses of the kidnapper of Charles Ross in the custody of G-men and shots of Chinese troops and civilians in preparation for military invasion. The Leviathan sequence follows. The ship is seen in a number of fine camera compositions against the background of lower Manhattan and standing off down the bay. The library was combed for war-time scenes which are blended into the footage. The Woman's Page offers the well known Olga Celeste and her wild animals and the Princess Baba and her wrestler-husband arriving on the Manhattan. The sporting end offers the Golden Gloves three-ring slugfest and a thrilling ski-meet in the Italian Alps. Running time, 8 mins. P. Paramount News No. 51 (Paramount). Paramount uses the technique of reenactment effectively in presenting a visualization of the plane lost in the air during the big blow last Monday night. The dramatization is very effective. A Douglas airliner is shown in flight, the two passengers sit beside each other and converse, radio announcers ask for information, listeners respond, a switchboard gets busy, the plane comes down to Hartford and the pilot and passengers tell how glad they are to have landed. Gabriel Heatter waxes eloquent over a description of the work of fortifying Hong Kong. Some subjects just don't lend themselves to this type of vocal effort. Shots of the departure of the Leviathan are good. Prime Minister Eamon de-Valera's proposal for uniting Ireland and Ulster is timely. The arraignment of John Henry Seadlund in the Ross kidnapping case and the arrival of the Princess Baba with her wrestler husband are human interest news. Some excellent cutting has been done in presenting views of Georgia's new prison, with Governor Rivers explaining the abolition of chain gangs, and the introduction of closeup shots of prisoners, one of whom sings. The narration by Joseph Boley is handled effectively. Running time, 9 mins. J. Friday, January 28, 1938 Miami; the honoring of the unknown i soldier at Arlington by a women's group. Mussolini's son is seen on the take I off of a flight across the ocean to Brazil, and the central figures in the most recent French Cabinet crisis are shown chatting with reporters in Paris, that being the extent of the foreign material. The Sarawak Prin i cess Baba arrives in New York with her English wrestler husband, to be greeted by her mother, but he shc^A \ have rehearsed his speech. The spO/4J ing division is handled actively with "j pictures of the Golden Gloves preliminary bouts in New York, and an exciting moment on the bobsled run at Lake Placid. Running: time, 9 mins. \ Schwartz Reelected By Cleveland Unit Cleveland, Jan. 27. — Ernest Schwartz was elected president of the Cleveland M. P. Exhibitors' Association today for the sixth consecutive ■ term. Other officers elected were: Albert E. Ptak, vice-president; M. B. Horwitz, treasurer ; George W. Erdmann, secretary. Elected to the board of directors to fill unexpired terms were: Morris Berkowitz, John Kalafat, Meyer Kaplan, Frank Porozynski. The board members whose terms have not expired are: Henry Greenberger, P. E. Essick, L. D. Baldwin and Frank Gross. Pathe News Vol. 9, No. 55 (RKO) There is a combination of routine news coverage, a clip of the feature type and a sporting thrill in this issue of the reel. The first category includes the transfer to Chicago of John Sealund, confessed murderer of Charles Ross, whom he kidnapped; the departure of the Leviathan from New York on its final voyage; Justice Reed expressing appreciation of the Senate's action in confirming his Supreme Court appointment ; the ice jam which destroyed the Falls View Bridge over Niagara, with excellent pictorial results ; Chinese girls in Canton, training for war as nurses and soldiers ; Bruno Mussolini's takeoff on a Rometo-Rio Janeiro flight. The second group includes the Milwaukee ex-engineer who says he "is still going strong" at the age of 100, after 83 years of service with the railroad ; typical scenes in the coal mining town of Dakota, W. Va., indicative of the major problem which faces the country in the coal mining industry, and the Maine University students who live in a cabin colony to cut expenses. The thrill lies in a fast dirt track automobile race in California, with skids and danger much in evidence. Running time, 9 mins. A. Virginia M. P. T. O. Hears Tax Warning Richmond, Jan. 27. — The possibility that a tax on amusements may be instituted in this state was voiced by Charles J. Somma, chairman of the legislative committee of the Virginia M.P.T.O., which held its mid-winter convention here today at the John Marshall Hotel. Somma conceded that there are no theatre bills in the Legislature at the present time, but he pointed to the fact that the state beer tax has just been increased from one to two cents a bottle. Wall Street Board Generally Off Universal News Vol. 10, No. 636 (Universal) The opportunity for beautiful scenic effects afforded by the ice jam about Niagara Falls, which destroyed the Falls View Bridge, results in unusually effective pictorial material. The rest of reel is routine coverage, showing the Leviathan leaving; New York on its voyage to the junk yard; the capture of the Ross kidnapper and his transportation to Chicago ; small children in their own "night club" in Net Open High Low Close Change Col ■ 12M 1254 1254 1254 Col. pfd 3254 32J4 3254 3254 + 54 Cons. pfd.. . 6 6 SVi s% E. K. ... 15554 15554 15554 15554 -154 G. T. E... . 12 12 1154 1154 4554 47 4554 4554 -m Para. 10 1056 95/s 954 Para. 1 86 86 86 86 —4 Para. 2 9Vs im 956 10 + Vt Pathe SVs 556 554 554 RKO 4 454 4 454 + 56 20th Fox . 2154 2254 2154 2254 + 54 20th pfd. . 3056 3056 30 30 W. B. 654 656 6 6 X W. B. pfd 3754 38 37J4 3754 Curb Dips Fractionally Net Open High Low Close Change G. N 11/16 54 n/16 11/16—1/16 Sonotone .. 156 154 156 156 — 56 Tech 1754 1854 1754 17& — 56 Trans -Lux 254 254 254 254 Univ. Corp. 3 3 3 3 ..... Bonds Decline Net High Low Close Change Loew 35^s '46 9856 98 9856 — *6 Para. B'way 3s '55 60 60 60 Para. Pict. 6s '55 93 93 93 W. B. 6s '39 7454 7454 74J4 — % (Quotations at close of Jan. 27)