Motion Picture Daily (July–Sept 1938)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, July 29, 1938 'A Letter of Introduction ' (Continued from page 1) well, for Edgar Bergen, a struggling ventriloquist who worships Miss Leeds from afar. To give his daughter the professional opportunity she desires, Menjou consents to return to the stage, playing opposite her. He plans to disclose their identity in a curtain speech at the end of the evening, but failure and tragedy intervene. The latter of introduction reappears, however, to reveal the relationship of Miss Leeds and Menjou and effect the former's reconciliation with Murphy. John M. Stahl's production and direction has given a fine finish to the story and has extracted the best from a splendid cast. Menjou and Miss Leeds give performances which ring true in the most difficult sequences. Murphy's characterization is a human and likeable one. Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy are fitted smoothly into the story and their comedy is of a high order. The producer has been liberal with this potion, too, not only in the prominent part allotted to the popular team but in that of Eve Arden, a bit player struggling for stage recognition, as well. Ann Sheridan, as Murphy's dancing partner, and Ernest Cossart, as a butler, give performances in keeping with the others. ▼ Bergen introduces in this, one "Mortimer," a not very bright country dummy, with results that kept a large preview audience in an uproarious mood. Charlie McCarthy will have to look to his laurels hereafter. The story, by Sheridan Gibney and Leonard Spigelgass, is good craftsmanship, well fitted to its requirements. Running time, 100 minutes. "G." S. A. Kane Grainger Due Monday James R. Grainger, Republic president, will arrive Monday from a trip to the south and west. He conferred with Bob Withers at the Republic office in Kansas City yesterday, will talk today with Elmer Tilton and H. M. Weinberg, Des Moines franchise holders, and with Irving Mandel in Chicago tomorrow. Omaha Has 37 Changes Omaha, July 28. — Thirty-seven theatres in the Nebraska-Iowa distribution area were involved in changes of one kind or another during the first six montths of 1938. A total of 21 changed hands; 10 closed ; two opened ; one was destroyed by fire and three new houses entered the field, according to a semi-annual survey made by Regina Molseed, RKO booker. The Government Action (Continued from page 1) all interests and all persons in the business. The incident naturally creates stress and uncertainty which is an atmosphere not conducive to constructive operation in any business. The uncertainty of it is gravely emphasized in the fact that the government's objectives in this case are at several points diametrically opposed to what but a few years ago the same national administration required under the National Industrial Recovery Act. The Blue Eagle has been metamorphosed into a bird of different feather. It is the declared intention of the government "to encourage and not to retard the development and orderly operation of the motion picture industry." Such an intention may be heartily concurred in and cooperated with by every sensible and constructive person in the business. Such concurrence and cooperation will hasten the advent of more equitable and sounder business relationships within the industry. In the meantime such an attitude will do much to facilitate currently the orderly operation of the business and protect it from mud-slinging and selfish harassment. Unfortunately there are persons in this and every other industry of scope who are neither sensible nor constructive. These may be depended upon to assume the role of troublemaker which is so congenial to them. But with the continued success and prosperity of a great industry at stake we hope it may rightly be assumed that the predominating attitude everywhere will be such as to make easy the way toward a right and equitable solution of the problems presented. The Department of Justice in instituting this anti-trust proceeding against the eight major companies released a statement of challenging importance. The statement is thoroughly comprehensive in its objectives. The American motion picture industry, reformed to meet these objectives, would hardly be recognizable. It is probably reasonable to assume that the prosecution in this case, in keeping with usual practice, has set up formally a goal which represents a point at some generous distance beyond that which it really expects to reach. II THE pros and cons of the several government objectives will of course be ventilated in great detail in the months ahead. One of the objectives set forth, which is described as an economic effect of the system of control which is alleged to prevail in the industry, is so curiously worded and so pregnant with implications as to create particular interest. It reads as follows : "There is no opportunity for new forms of artistic expression which are not approved by those in control of major companies, even though there exist communities which would support them." It will be interesting to learn eventually just what the Department of Justice is driving at here. It does not seem possible that complaint is made that the eight major companies have been indifferent toward novelty treatment in the motion picture medium. It must be known that only during recent months one of the defendant companies, RKO, released "Snow White," which has received world-wide acclaim as a distinctly new form of artistic expression. There is also a seeming lack of logic in this complaint. It could hardly be expected that the executives in control of these companies would be expected to create opportunities for either new or old forms of artistic expression of which they would not approve. No intelligent institution, including the Department of Justice, could be expected to create opportunities for policies which are not approved by those in control. Anything else is stupid if not vicious mismanagement. T The argument, if reference is made to the business of entertainment, is also cloudy when it imputes to these major companies such commer[Continued on page 3] 20th-Fox Net On Half-Year 3,419,658 — Twentieth Century-Fox reports a consolidated net operating profit of $3,419,658 for the 26 weeks ending June 25. This is 'after all cha^"* including Federal income tax. y^c0:>mpares with a profit of $3,755?¥oj for the first 26 weeks of 1937. For the second quarter ending June 25 the consolidated net was $1,778,121, which compared with a net for the first quarter of $1,641,537 and a net of $1,687,885 for the second quarter of 1937. No National Dividends No dividends were received from National Theatres Corp. during the first half of either year. After allowing for the preferred dividends for the half year there remained a profit equivalent to $1.55 per share on the 1,741,932 shares of common outstanding June 25. For the quarter ending June 25, after allowing for the preferred dividend, the profit was 81 cents per share on the common. "U" Board Hears Cowdin A report on the new financing and extended distribution arrangements for Universal product in England, which were closed in London recently by J. Cheever Cowdin, board chairman, was given to the company's board of directors yesterday. Reports on the company's British and European business were also presented by Mr. Cowdin. MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) MARTIN QUIGLEY. Editor-in-Chief and Publisher: J. M. JERAULD. Managing Editor: JAMES A. CRON. Advertising Manager. EDITORIAL STAFF: Charles S. Aaronson. Jack Banner. Al Finestone. Thomas Fitzsimmons, Sherwin A. Kane, Irene Kuhn, Joseph Priore. Published daily except Sunday and holidays Sept. to May and dally except Saturday. Sunday and holidays June, July and Aug. by Quigley Publisuing Company. Inc., Martin Quigley, president; Colvin Brown, vice-president and treasurer. Publication office: 1270 Sixth Avenue at Rockefeller Center, New York. Telephone: Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." All contents copyrighted 1938 by Quigley Publishing company. Inc. Address all correspondence to the New York office. Other Quigley publications: MOTION PICTURE HERALD, BETTER THEATRES, TEATRO AL D1A. INTERNATIONAL MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC and FAME. HOLLYWOOD: Postal Union Life Building. Vine and Yucca Sts. ; Boone Mancall, manager; William R. Weaver, editor. 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