Motion Picture Daily (July–Sept 1938)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, August 9, 1933 Para, to Take Stock Interest In Television (Continued from page 1) Balaban said. The DuMont organization has been financially successful, he added. Paramount's interest is in the experimental developments and the company is ready to make extensive investment, an official said. Allen B. DuMont, president of the laboratories, said he believes the arrangement with Paramount will make possible "complete realization of the possibilities inherent in the patents and apparatus" which his organization has developed. Ask Nov. 1 Date on Anti-Trust Replies (Continued from page 1) bill of complaint and the scope of the relief sought. They pointed out that it would be next to impossible to complete answers to so voluminous a complaint even though the usual additional 20 days for filing answers was granted by the court, and that an agreement on a reasonable period of time would save considerable trouble for the Federal court here and for the Government and defendants by eliminating the necessity for repeated appearances of attorneys for the 167 defendants to petition additional time for filing answers. The first batch of answers is due next Monday, 20 days after the date of the first service. G.N.-Educational Pact About Ready (Continued from page 1) president, since his arrival from the coast last week. When the proposal is in formal order, Mr. Wright said, it will be resubmitted to Grand National creditors for their approval, as they gave only tentative approval to the proposal when it was outlined to them informally last week in Los Angeles. If approved by the creditors it will then go to the Federal court for final approval. The deal could be placed in effect before the end of September, barring unforeseen complications, a principal in the negotiations said last week. Hilliard En Route Here Hollywood, Aug. 8. — John Hilliard, chairman of the Academy's Theatre Standardization Committee, today left for New York by train to confer with circuit executives and sound equipment companies on the standardization program. He will also check the sound apparatus of the Astor Theatre prior to the opening there of "Marie Antoinette." Acquires 16mm Rights Commonwealth Pictures Corp. has acquired exclusive world 16mm distribution rights to all Majestic releases including "Scarlet Letter," "Night Alarm" and "Mutiny Ahead." Hollywood Previews "Sing You Sinners" (Paramount) Hollywood, Aug. 8. — "Sing You Sinners" is a human story of a family which is well worth seeing. It blends comedy, drama, romance, pathos and music. While Bing Crosby's singing in one of the highlights an unexpected departure is made in that Bing is presented as more of a dramatic character than ever before. He handles the role in a way that augurs well for future similar appearances. As Crosby hits a new peak, so does Fred MacMurray. Donald O'Connor is one of the most appealing personalities to hit the screen in months. The plot is simple. Because Bing, who is always waiting for a chance to make a big cleanup, won't work, MacMurray, who wants to marry Ellen Drew, must remain the family breadwinner. A sore trial to his mother, Elizabeth Patterson, and sometimes a pain in the neck to O'Connor, young brother who worships him, Crosby leaves home. In Los Angeles, following some amazing luck at the racetrack, he buys a swap shop, wires for his mother and young brother to join him and advises MacMurray to marry. Before they arrive he swaps the swap shop for a racehorse. When the household is reduced to eating beans, MacMurray and Miss Drew arrive to encounter disappointment. Following a brawl, Miss Patterson takes charge and makes her brood become entertainers again. Nevertheless Bing's horse runs. A crackerjack race is followed by a knock-down-drag-out fight in which the two mature brothers whale the tar out of a pair of double crossers. With the purse, plus the money won on bets in the hands of Miss Patterson, the trio resume its career as entertainers and the way is cleared for MacMurray and Miss Drew to marry. It should appeal to every member of the family. It seems headed for highly profitable grosses. For side bits, sustaining the work of the principals, Irving Bacon, as a lecturer, and Tom Dugan, as a race track fan, are good for dozens of laughs. Besides transforming Crosby into a dramatic actor, Director Wesley Ruggles has taken full advantage of all the material made available in Claude Binyon's original screenplay and the talents of the players. Music numbers by Hoagy Carmichael and Frank Loesser and James V. Monaco and John Burke, one a Crosby solo and the others sung by the brother trio, are important in embellishing the story, but they are secondary to the basic romantic, dramatic, comedy theme. Running time, 85 minutes. "G." McCarthy "Safety in Numbers" (20th Century-Fox) Hollywood, Aug. 8. — Sound entertainment pointed at every member of the family, "Safety In Numbers" continues the class established by prior episodes in the Jones Family series. Short in running time, yet laden with romantic comedy and action, the film parades the familiar cast in characterizations up to expectations. The film is based on a lively original by Dorothy Manney and Zena George and the screenplay is by Joseph Hoffman, Karen DeWolf and Robert Chapin. It is full of peppy dialogue and situations. Malcolm St. Clair made good use of suspense in holding the plot together. Though Lucy Jones wins a radio contest for describing her mother as the world's best, Spring Byington gets a radio job sponsored by a crowd which is going to market mineral water to give advice to worried wives and mothers. Meanwhile the slick promotors, headed by Henry Kolker, plan to fleece the town by selling stock in the proposed company. As Jack Jones falls in love with Iva Stewart and they plan to elope, Miss Byington unwittingly gives advice recommending such course. Meanwhile Billy Mahan and Marvin Stephens, after a citizens committee headed by Jed Prouty has begged to be permitted to invest $100,000 in the company, discover the water is no good. They rush their information to Prouty and that worthy is about to be subjected to dire treatment at the hands of his fellow partners until Miss Byington broadcasts a ruse that brings Kolker back to town. An exciting chase follows before the money is recovered, peace is reestablished in the family, and Mayor Jones is again everyone's friend. Running time, 55 minutes. "G." McCarthy Builds at Pryor, Okla. Oklahoma City, Aug. 8. — R. L. Barton, owner of the Ritz in Disney, Okla., and two theatres at Stroud, Okla., is constructing a new theatre seating 300 in Pryor, Okla. The new house is expected to be in operation by Sept. 1. To Show French Ad Films A series of French advertising films in color and sound will be shown in America for the first time at an invitation luncheon meeting at the Architectural League today. The films were brought here by Therese Bonney, who will show them. Short Subjects 'The Memory Lingers On' (Screen Memories, Inc.) The producers of this short have hit upon an idea that, while it is not new, is a clever treatment of the days gone by adage. They have culled the film libraries and assembled a noteworthy assortment of clips that strike a pleas 1 ant note in memory. Such per/ and events as William S. Hart,Mse ] Armistice, the Dempsey-Willard fight, "Fatty" Arbuckle, Mabel Normand, Enrico Caruso, Charles A. Lindburgh and a dozen other worthies flash on the screen in brief episodes. An audience at the Music Hall received the film enthusiastically. Running time, 9 mins. "G." "Pudgy the Watchman" (Paramount) Betty Boop's pup lets the mice situation in his mistress' house get out of control. Consequently she calls in a cat and Pudgy goes into a blue funk. The cat is a raffish fellow, who, after he captures the rodents, takes a liking to the cider barrel in the cellar. He gets plastered. The mice make their getaway and proceed to give their captor his lumps. Miss Boop becomes nervous and excited and Pudgy comes to the rescue. The animation is clever and the laughs are plentiful. Running time, 7 mins. "G." "Moments of Charm" (Paramount) This is a musical short that definitely commands attention. Phil Spitalny's orchestra of accomplished girl musicians and singers appear here amid Technicolor surroundings of sheer beauty. The musical content is also noteworthy with its fresh instrumental arrangements and finished performance. It shows a marked departure from accepted form. The showman, really has something distinctive and tasteful here to offer his patrons. Running time, 10 mins. "G." Wall Street Stocks Have Short Decline Net Open High Low Close Change Col • 1454 1454 1454 + 54 Cons . 154 154 154 V/z + V* Cons. pfd. . m m 854 17854 E. K. .. .178 178 54 Loew .... SO 50 4954 4954 -54 Para. . . . . 1054 1054 10^4 1054 54 Para. 1 . 8954 893,4 8954 8954 Para. 2... 1054 1054 1054 103/g 54 Pathe . 9J4 954 9 9 -34 RKO . 254 2Vs 254 254 20th Fox . 25% ...654 26 2554 255i W. B. .. 654 6V2 654 54 W. B. pfd. 44i/ 4454 43 43 —2 Curb Issues Off Net Open High Low Close Change G. N % 54 $6 . . . .1 i Sentry 5/16 5/16 5/16 5/16 Sonotone .. 154 154 154 154—54 Monogram 254 254 254 254 — 54 Tech 25 2554 2454 2454 — 54 Univ. Corp. 354 354 354 354 + 54 Warner, RKO Bond Increase Net High Low Close Change Loew 354s '46 10054 100 10054 — 54 Para. TVway 3s '55 63 63 63 RKO 6s '41 7454 7454 7454 +154 W. B. 6s '39 79 7854 79 +1 (Quotations at close of Aug. 8)