Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1938)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Thursday, February 17, Short Subjects "March of Time, No. 7" (RKO) It has come to be a foregone conclusion that the successive issues of the March of Time will be strong in general interest, as well as expert in technical production. The subj ect matter is invariably of considerable significance and often entertaining. This reel is no exception. The three episodes consider the plight of the socalled White Russians in various parts of the world, still steeped in the tradition of the Czarist regime ; picture in interesting fashion the work of the New York Police Department's Bureau of Missing Persons, as well as the activity of private agencies, and describe the southern rennaissance which has come about with the development of slash pine for paper making. With flashes of the late Czar of Russia, the first subject tells of the exodus of Russians when the revolution struck, pictures them in France and the United States, and notes their fear that the Nansen Committee of the League of Nations, which has done much for them, may be abolished, at the request of the Soviet Government, which contends that the organization, in effect, is aiding the enemies of today's Russia. An interesting human story of an elderly chemist with an idea, Dr. Charles Homes Herty, former president of the American Chemical Society, is the keynote of the story of the south's renewal of industrial activity. Herty made the discovery that slash pine, which grows rapidly, is excellent for wood pulp and paper, and his fight to interest southern men and the financiers of the north is reenacted cleverly. From that beginning has grown an industry. The missing persons episode is clearly indicative of the amazing number of non-criminals who disappear daily, and shows the exacting, careful work of the police in tracking them. More detailed is the recounting of the manner in which Daniel Eisenberg, heading a private agency, works with every available clue, his success indicated by the fact that he has found 150,000 persons in 14 years. Running time, 20 mins. "G." "You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth" ( Fleischer-Paramount) Past performances of the bouncing ball type of screen song in which the audience takes part should be the exhibitor's guide in playing this one. It has the usual assortment of cartoon gags, not very humorous, and a good band, in this case it's Jerry Blaine and his tunemakers. Phyllis Kenny, an attractive brunette, aids with the vocals. Running time, 7 mins. "G." "The Miss They Missed" (Educational) Here is more mirth provoking comedy featuring Willie Howard. This time he is a detective and, in addition to his French dialect, he hilariously proves his versatility with Chinese, Scotch and English tonguetwisters. He eventually detects what he started out to find and gets the reward but loses his girl. It is a ripsnorting comedy, packed with laughs of the abdominal kind. Running time, 18 mins. "G." Hollywood Preview Wide Open Faces" (Loew-Columbia) Hollywood, Feb. 16. — Exhibitors and film audiences have come to expect that a Joe E. Brown picture be crowded with action of a comic character, and not a few hilarious episodes. Also they have come to expect that his comedies will be good clean fun which the entire family may see. "Wide Open Faces" fills that bill. It is what might be called a gangster yarn "reductio ad absurdum," which, without the Latin, means that Joe E., mouth and all, gets himself involved with the object of the attentions of the G-Men, then with a horde of crooks who come in search of loot, all set to a comedy tune. Supporting Joe E. are Jane Wyman, Alison Skipworth, Lyda Roberti, Lucien Littlefield, Sidney Toler and Berton Churchill, among others. It is a fast-moving yarn which should please the youngsters and the adults who enjoy unpretentious comedy not of the "smart" type so common on the screen today. Joe, soda jerker in a small town, accidentally "assists" in the capture of a bank robber, and meets Miss Wyman and her aunt, Miss Skipworth, who have inherited an old abandoned inn and are trying to reopen it. The newspaper publicity achieved by Joe in the capture brings every gangster in town after the loot which the robber was supposed to have left. They fill the hotel, then wreck it in the search. There follows a wild and laughable chase, including gangsters, sheriff, Joe and his girl, to the ultimate capture, romance and success. Running time, 66 minutes. "G." Sirovich Talks to President on Bill Washington, Feb. 16. — President Roosevelt is "very much interested" in the proposed new Department of Science, Art and Literature, it was declared today by Representative Sirovich of New York, author of the plan, following a visit to the White House. The President, however, he admitted, favors creation of the department only if it can be made self-supporting. The bill, on which hearings were concluded last week, is now in the hands of a sub-committee of the House Patents Committee for revision, but the Congressman did not say how he would make the department self-supporting, as demanded by the President. He did say, however, that the WPA theatre project should be cut to $5,000,000 a year and should produce experimental plays only instead of competing with the commercial theatre. "Holiday" Grosses $28,000 3rd Week The Paramount finished with $28,000 for the third and final week of "Every Day's A Holiday" with Benny Goodman and his band on the stage. "The Buccaneer" opened strongly yesterday. "Double Danger" grossed $5,100 in six and a half days at the Rialto. Switch Mae West Film Atlanta, Feb. 16. — Declining to comment on the reason, Lucas & Jenkins, Inc., this week switched the booking on Mae West's "Every Day Is A Holiday" from the 5,000-seat Fox to the smaller Paramount. The film will open Friday. Apparently the recent storm of opposition to the West-McCarthy broadcast was responsible, as Atlanta is a strong town for preachers. "I'm No Angel" was banned in Atlanta, but ran for seven weeks at the suburban Buckhead. Local 306 to Mark 25th Anniversary A banquet in the ballroom of the Hotel Astor on May 8 will climax the 25th anniversary celebration of Local 306, I.A.T.S.E., said to be the oldest operators' union. George E. Browne, international president, and other officials will attend, as well as representatives from locals in other cities. As a prelude, 200 members who have served as operators 30 years will hold their annual reunion at the Martinique Hotel on March 8. Joseph D. Basson, president of the local, will be the principal speaker. An exhibit of old-time projection equipment will be held. New Booth Contract Signed by Weinstock Dave Weinstock, operator of the Republic on West 42nd St., yesterday signed an agreement with Local 306 providing for an increase in booth costs from $275 to $330 weekly, a boost of 20 per cent, and the employment of six operators instead of five. The terms are the same as those recently granted by the Eltinge. The agreement runs to Aug. 31, 1939. The negotiations reached a deadlock Monday night and the union called the operators out of the booth when Weinstock threatened to replace them. An agreement was reached and the men returned after being out an hour. Ohio Makes Only 2 Cuts Columbus, Feb. 16. — Another newlow record by the state censors was established for the week ending Feb. 11, when only two eliminations were ordered out of a total of 175 reels reviewed. Rome Adds a Theatre Baltimore, Feb. 16. — The Rome interests have acquired the Leader from Moe Kohn, who has taken his wife to Florida due to her ill health. Variety Club Dallas Dallas, Feb. 16. — Tent No. 17 hold its spring golf tournament M; 7 at the Brook Hollow Country C There will be prizes and all the ti mings. Homer Fritts, manager of the c rooms, is in Methodist Hospital a broken leg. New members for January^ Walter Henshel, Palace; E. J.™ I livan, Majestic; E. J. Solon, In state Circuit; Raymond Willie, terstate Circuit; E. B. Colem M-G-M ; Jack Pickens, H. Hai Wineburgh and G. A. Luchese. Detroit Detroit, Feb. 16. — Plans for Var' Club's annual ball, which will be in the Book-Cadillac March 5, progressing rapidly under the gen chairmanship of William Carl: chief barker. Carlson is assisted by the foil ing committee chairmen : Progi William Flemion; entertains Fred Schader ; tickets, Carl Bi mele ; publicity, Schader ; d rations, William G. Bishop ; li ing and settings, Hobart J. Mc finance, Frank J. Downey ; recep1 L. H. Gardner ; transportation, I old C. Robinson; hostess, Mrs. F: Kaplan. Dedicate Twain Plaq\ A plaque dedicated to the memoi Mark Twain was placed on the brick building at 14 West 10th St. terday in a ceremony arrangec David O. Selznick. Twain live* the house in 1900. The tablet b the following inscription : "Dedic by David O. Selznick to the men of Mark Twain, author of the imr tal classic, 'The Adventures of Sawyer.' He once lived here." Change "Herds" Titl Hollywood, Feb. 16. — "The I Star Rises" has been selected Paramount as the final title for film formerly called "Marcl Herds." Wall Street Small Board Changes Open High Low Close ( E. K. ..165]4 165/ 165/ 165/ H .. 47/ 47 Para ■ ■ 97/s 95i m Para. 2 .. .. m 97/8 m 974 Pathe .. 53/4. 554 554 5Vs RKO .... .. m 35-s 3/ 3/ 20th Fox ■■ 2l}4 21i/ 21/ 21/ 20th pfd. .. 29/ 29/ 29/ 29/ W. B. ... .. 5V% 5Vs 5% 574 Curb Declines Fractionally t Open High Low Close Ch; G. N 9/16 9/16 9/16 9/16 Monogram 2/ 2}4 2/ 2/ Sonotone . . VA 154 Wa 154 Tech 18/ 18/ 18 18 RKO Bonds Drop 3 Points } High Low Close Chi Loew 3/s '46 Para. B'way 98/ 98/ 98/ ' 3s '55 59 59 59 I i Para. Pict. 6s '55 9154 9154 9154 •■ RKO 6s '41 67 66 67 W. P>. 6s '39 . 71/ 71 71 f 1 (Quotations at close of Feb. 16)