Motion Picture Daily (July–Sept 1938)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Hollywood Previews "The Chaser" (M-G-M) Hollywood, July 31. — This telling of the story about the ambulancechasing lawyer and the traction company is fresh, spirited and entirely plausible. The oncoming Dennis O'Keefe plays the attorney this time, in a manner combining the best elements of a Lee Tracy performance with a matinee-idol personality, with Lewis Stone portraying the alcoholic doctor indelibly, at whatever cost to his Judge Hardy characterization. Ann Morriss is an eyeable newcomer in the romantic corner, Jack Mulhall is welcomed back to a principal assignment, Henry O'Neill and John Qualen discharge the various comedy chores of the production competently. As produced by Frank Davis with Edwin L. Marin directing from a screenplay by Everett Freeman, Harry Ruskin, Samuel and Bella Spewack based on the original story by Chandler Sprague and Howard Emmett Rogers (not to skip anybody), the picture presents neither too grimly nor too lightly that cross-section of metropolitan life wherein operate the shyster lawyer and the culpable medico who frame damage suits against utility companies. It manages to make it plain that lawyers, doctors and utility companies in general are essentially decent, emphasizing that comfortable assurance by underscoring the exceptions chiefly depicted. The doctor in the case dies heroically and the lawyer goes straight. In common with an increasing number of metropolitan melodramas, this one transpires in Los Angeles, although its specific locale is but incidental. The action is plentifully sprinkled with comedy. The time is now or any time hereafter. Running time, 75 minutes. "G." William R. Weaver "A Desperate Adventure" (Republic) Hollywood, July 31. — This is a modern comedy drama concerning an art-for-art's-sake French artist and wealthy Americans with whose affairs his romantic and, ultimately, social interests become entangled. It is played with a light touch, unhurriedly, with emphasis on the love interest. It opens in Paris, continues on board a transatlantic liner and ends in New York. The ending is happy, although not in the expected manner. Ramon Novarro plays a successful Parisian artist who has painted, secretly, a striking but lightly clothed image of his dream girl. When he attends a ball and meets a young woman who looks exactly like the girl of his painting, an heiress played by Marian Marsh, friends of his, believing she has posed for the painting, steal the picture and deliver it to a gallery. Here it is acclaimed, the artist's fame spreads overnight, and when he goes to demand return of the painting he learns that an American capitalist has purchased it and ordered it delivered to him in the States. In cross-Atlantic pursuit of the painting Novarro woos the heiress, who breaks her engagement with the capitalist who has purchased the picture, to marry him, whereupon he learns that it is really her sister, Margaret Tallichet, with whom he is in love. He finally gets the right girl. Eric Blore and Andrew Tombes supply important comedy performances. Tom Rutherford has a secondary lead. Rolfe Sedan, Maurice Cass, Erno Verebes and Michael Kent are others with speaking parts. John H. Auer is associate producer and director. The screen-play is by Harry Trivers from an original story by Hans Kaly and M. Coates Webster. Running time, 65 minutes. "G." William R. Weaveb Monday, August I. 1938 Short Subjects "'Dick Tracy Returns" ^Republic) True to the fabric of the serial pati, this film at the very outset hits la spectacular action pace in which all 5< rts of elements of a violent nature ire brought into play, eventually reciting in the murder of a Federal ; .^au of Investigation agent. Judgu^frrom the first installment, there .1 arid be little difficulty in selling. I Nothing in the past year can quite ;compare with it. Again Ralph Byrd plays the title role. Here we see him as a FBI agent who goes to California to track down a gang of racketeers. He takes David Sharpe as his assistant. Sharpe is killed in the first installment and Byrd vows vengeance. But in between there is plenty to keep the edges of the theatre's seats in a worn condition. The .,cast also includes Lynn Roberts, Charles Middleton, Jerry Tucker and Lee Ford. Fifteen chapters. William Witney and John English directed. First installment runs about 28 mins. ; ..G;, "A Day at the Beach" (M-G-M) The Captain and the Kids are subject to all the vagaries of the sea, live lobsters and what have you in this cartoon. The animation offers some fairly ingenious variations to typical seashore business. The laughs come I easy. Running time, 10 mins. "G." "Brother Golfers" ( RKO) The six Turnesa brothers play a . friendly game against a windswept Bermuda background in this Sportscope. The golfing fraternity should be advised of its showing for it's the sort of thing, both in comment and treatment, that invigorates a program. Running time, 11 mins. "G." "Hockshop Blues" (Nu-Atlas-Rad RKO) Brad Reynolds's orchestra gives an audition from a pawn shop because , their instruments are in hock. While they play Carolyn Marsh sings and Wally and Verdyn Stapleton dance. Fair. Running time, 10 mins. "G." "How to Raise a Baby" (M-G-M) More cleverly concocted humor in the Robert Benchley "How to" manner. Benchley enacts his talk on the raising of children and he is seen at such tasks as bathing, feeding and "moulding character" in a number of youngsters ranging in age from a few months to a few years. The action takes place in various parts of a house and as usual a big laugh is saved up for the conclusion. This is one for marquee billing. Running time, 9 mins. "G." "Tracking the Sleeping Death" (M-G-M) This "Miniature" documents the expedition of Mary and Robert Bruce into the African interior in a humanitarian and heroic effort to find the cause of sleeping sickness. They learn that the tsetse fly carries the disease virus and effect a migration of native tribes from the affected areas. The film somehow follows the "Yellow Jack" motif and is tastefully handled to make an enlightening tribute to the English couple. Running time, 10 mins. "G." "Hunting Trouble" (RKO) Jed Prouty and Richard Lane enact a familiar vein of comedy here as they portray a couple of Babbitts who return from a convention spree and tell their wives they were hunting. Further complications arise when the wife of Prouty's son enters the scene and makes a nightmare of the pair's hangover, with much reliance on the mistaken identity device. Entertaining and well produced. Running time, 16 mins. "G." "Fool Coverage" (RKO) Edgar Kennedy is here in his familiar style of comedy, replete with father-in-law troubles and business difficulties. Kennedy is in the insurance business and his relative desires to drive the family car. There are many cleverly injected complications and no scarcity of laughs. Running time, 16 mins. "G." 5 Levine Negotiating Three-Picture Deal Nat Levine is negotiating a distribution deal with a major company for two or three pictures he plans to produce within the next year, according to William B. Jaffe, his attorney, who returned Friday, from a three-week trip to the coast. Mr. Jaffe said the deal may be closed shortly. While on the coast Mr. Jaffe settled Gloria Swanson's contract with Republic which called for one film with options for others. Republic had planned a high-budget picture for Miss Swanson, but she changed her mind after several delays, Mr. Jaffe said. Miss Swanson is now in New York. As attorney for Monogram, he conferred with Scott W. Dunlap, story head, on literary properties and attended to other business matters. Name B. F. Zeidman As Browne Executive Hollywood, July 31. — B. F. Zeidman has been named executive vicepresident in charge of production of the newly formed Malcolm Browne Pictures, Inc., which plans to make 20 for the 1938-'39 season. Headquarters are at Talisman studios. Majestic Pictures will produce eight action melodramas for Browne, the first of which will be "Prison Train." Alvin G. Manuel will produce the series and Gordon Wiles will direct the first. Contracts also have been signed with Sovereign Pictures, headed by George H. Callaghan and Jack Vance, to produce a series of westerns. Close Monogram Deals George W. Weeks, Monogram sales manager, has closed deals with the Interstate Theatre Corp. and the E. M. Loew circuit. Steve Broidy, Boston branch manager, helped on both. Bloom Succeeds Ewing Spokane, July 31. — Al Bloom has succeeded James C. Ewing as territory representative for Universal. Wall Street Small Changes on Board Net Open High Low Close Change Col. . , .. 14/ 1454 14 14 Col. pfd. .. 33 33 33 33 +11/16 E. K. .. ..179 179 178 178 / G. T. E. .. 15 15 15 15 .. 49s/, 503/ 49/ 495/6 Va Loew pfd.. 106/ 107 106/ 107 +m Para. . . . 10/ 11 10/ 1054 Para. 1.. .. 92 92 90 90 Para. 2 • ■ 10/ 10/ 10/ 10/ — Vi Pathe 10 10 9/8 9/ — Va RKO • • 27/i 3 2% 2% 20th Fox .. 25 253/ 24/ 24M . -/ 20th pfd. .. 33/ 34 33 33 + Va W. B. :.. .. m 6% 6/ 6/ / W. B. pfd. 36 36 36 36 —2 Technicolor Holds to Rise Net Open High Low Close Change Sonotone .. 154 154 154 154 Tech 25/a 26/ 2% 25/ + Vt Trans-Lux 23/6 2/ 2/ 2/ — / Warners in Best Bond Gain Net High Low Close Change Loew 3/s '46.... 99/ 99'A 99% +54 Para. Pict. 6s '55 96V2 9534. 95M + / Para. Pict. '47... 82/ 82/ 82/ + / RKO 6s '41 75 73/ 73/ —2/ W. B. 6s '39 76/ 75/ 76 +1 (Quotations at close of July 29)