Motion Picture Daily (July–Sept 1938)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Hollywood Preview "Four Daughters" {Warners) Hollywood, Aug. 9. — From Fannie Hurst's story "Sister Act," Warners have evolved a photoplay of exceptional merit. It is bound to strike a responsive and appreciative chord in the hearts of any audience no matter how widely tastes and preferences may differ. It has prestige value and withal is a commercial attraction, and when placed in the hands of the exhibitor it should yield handsome returns. Seldom has a picture so charmed an audience as this one did at a preview at the Warner Hollywood Theatre here. This picture is no ordinary film. Furthermore it is one which went without excited advance exploitation and clamor. An understanding adaptation, masterful direction, talented players and the whole roster of the production staff down to the humblest company attache all contributed to the admirable transition from script to screen. "Four Daughters" is rich in homey, human entertainment essentials, whether they be romantic, dramatic or humorous, which strike a note of frustrated pathos or are tragic. Although it is sometimes perplexing, it has the fascinating power to hold attention, and create the illusion that the spectators are actually living with and undergoing the experiences which are the lot of-the characters. The story is a melodrama of love sacrificed. The four daughters, Priscilla, Rosemary and Lola Lane and Gale Page live for the happiness of each other and that of their uncle, Claude Rains, and their aunt, May Robson. Priscilla, the youngest, and Miss Page, the oldest, pledge that neither will marry, but will continue to live as a happy family. Then comes Jeffery Lynn to set their hearts aflutter. As Miss Page hides her disappointment he becomes engaged to Priscilla. As Rosemary leaves to pursue a music career no one can foresee the complications that will ensue when Lynn's cynical friend, John Garfield, in spite of himself, falls in love with Priscilla. For him she deserts Lynn at the altar and Lynn, stunned, leaves the house of happiness broken in spirit. Miss Page finds comfort in the affection of Dick Foran, a small town florist. The married life of Priscilla and Garfield is bravely pathetic. At a Christmas homecoming she and Garfield both realize how a home has been shattered and how many lives have become snarled by their rash act and its effect. But Garfield's sacrifice, as bitter as the way life has treated him, untangles the skein. Time re-knits the threads of romance between Priscilla and Lynn and joins Miss Page with Foran. Life is newer, sweeter and bigger for the four daughters, Rains and Miss Robson. In addition, the film offers the talents of Julius J. Epstein and Leonore Coffee who adapted the story, direction by Michael Curtiz and production by Hal B. Wallis. Exhibitors and patrons have three new personalities in Miss Page, Lynn and Garfield to extend a warm welcome. Audiences are already familiar with the capabilities of the Lane sisters, Miss Robson, McHugh, Foran and Rains. "Four Daughters" is a show audiences must see and one which demands that exhibitors exert all their showmanship acumen to see that they do. Running time, 85 minutes. "G." G. McC. (Additional Reviews on Page 4) 2 Loew's Disregards Roadshow Picketing Loew's executives yesterday were paying no attention to pickets in front of the Astor and the Loew's State Bldg. carrying signs demanding that members of the Theatrical Managers, Agents and Treasurers Union be employed for the Astor roadshow of "Marie Antoinette," which will open next Tuesday. Lodewick Vroom, president of the union, said the picket lines were posted because Loew's and M-G-M officials have failed to answer the T.M.A.T.'s demands for recognition and employment. He said the union regards film roadshows in the same category as stage shows and the union claims jurisdiction where reserved seat tickets are sold. Mr. Vroom said that wherever film roadshows operate, in New York or elsewhere, the union will demand employment of its members, crews to consist of two ticket sellers, a manager and a press agent. Additional staff members in the same classification will also have to be union members, he said. The T.M.A.T. some months ago obtained a basic agreement with the stage producing' managers in New York, but there has been no move for a similar pact with film circuits. Wright to Talk with Alperson on GN Deal After completing discussions today on Educational's proposal for a merger with Grand National, Loyd Wright, co-trustee of the latter company, will leave New York tomorrow for Chicago where he will confer with Edward A. Alperson on the results of the discussions here. Mr. Wright declined to comment last night on the status of the proposed merger after five davs of conferences with Earle W. Hammons, Educational president. He had predicted completion of the final work on Educational's proposal by last night or early today, but when queried on the progress made yesterday he stated, "I will have no comment to make until after I have conferred with Mr. Alperson in Chicago on Friday." Principals in the negotiations denied that any "hitch" had been encountered, but no forecasts were made yesterday as to when the proposed merger might be consummated. Mr. Alperson will go to Chicago from Hollywood for the Friday conferences with Mr. Wright. Laboratories Safe, McElligott Asserts The city's fire laws make adequate provision for safety at laboratories, and the places where film is stored are subject to constant inspection, according to Fire Commissioner John J. McElligott. This is the commissioner's reply to the request of Motion Picture Laboratory Union, Local 702, for a "rigid investigation" of all film laboratories in the metropolitan area, made following the fatal explosion at the Warner Bros. Cellulose Products reclaiming plant in Brooklyn late last week. No changes in the city's regulations are needed to cope with the situation, Commissioner McElligott indicated. He has referred the union's letter to the Fire Prevention Bureau. Michalove Leaves Sunday Dan Michalove, assistant to S. R. Kent, 20th Century-Fox president, will leave Sunday for Los Angeles from where he will sail next Wednesday on the Monterey for Australia. He will return late in the year, after completing a survey of Hoyts theatre properties. Irving Barry, short subjects buyer for National Theatres, will accompany him, after attending the circuit's regional meetings in Kansas City and Los Angeles. Atwill to 20th-Fox Hollywood, Aug. 9. — Lionel Atwill today was signed by 20th CenturyFox to an actor-writer-director-producer contract. The other two players holding such contracts are Gregory Ratoff, also at 20th Century-Fox, and James Gleason, Republic. "Hardy" Returns Quickly M-G-M claims something of a record in the fact that within two weeks of its original run, "Love Finds Andy Hardy" will reopen Friday at Loew's, Reading, Pa. The film opened there July 22. M-G-M-Selznick to Sign The contract for M-G-M's release of Selznick's "Gone with the Wind" is due for signing, "but it is not set yet," it was said at the company's executive offices yesterday. School Film Firm Leases The Association of School Film Libraries, Inc., distributors of educational films, has leased headquarters in the Time and Life Building in Rockefeller Center. Wednesday, August 10, 19! Monogram Sales Up. Ray Johnston State Hollywood, Aug. 9. — W. R; Johnston, president of Monogram, t , day stated that Monogram sales a • 38 per cent ahead of last year at tl same time and that booking dates habeen arranged with more than 6,0( theatres throughout the country. 1 also stated that his top bracket pi' tures will be given budget increases < 20 per cent. These allotments^} , said, were made after conferences ^ Scott Dunlap, production head, who a ready has finished four films for tl new season. The proposed Monogram deal ft producing in England, Mr. Johnstc said, will be determined at the ne: board meeting to be held in Ne York next month. Roach Suspends Laurel Hollywood, Aug. 9. — Stan Laur and Hal Roach are again at odds, was disclosed today when the stud suspended Mr. Laurel without salar for four weeks. The reason given f( the move was Mr. Laurel's refusal return to the studio for retakes ( "Blockheads," the last feature lengl Laurel and Hardy for M-G-M ri lease. The first Laurel and Hardy f( United Artists release, original! scheduled to start last week, has bee postponed. Small Increases Budget Hollywood, Aug. 9. — Returnir from New York after conferring wil executives of United Artists, Edwai Small today stated that his budget f( 1938-'39 will be increased by $250,00 Committed to the making of five pic tures for U. A., Mr. Small may do o additional. ' MOTION PICTURE! DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) MARTIN QTJIGLEY. Editor-in-Chief and Pul lisher; J. M. JERAULD. Managing Edi,JAMES A. CKON, Advertising Manager. ED TORIAL STAFF: Charles S. Aaronson. Jack Bai ner, Al Finestone, Thomas Fitzslmmons, Sberw A. Kane, Irene Euhn, Joseph Priore. Published daily except Sunday and holida Sept. to May and daily except Saturday. Sundi and holidays June, July and Aug. by Qulgli Publishing Company, Inc., Martin Quigley, pre3 dent; Col via Brown, vice-president and treasure Publication office: 1270 Sixth Avenue at Rock feller Center, New York. Telephone: Circle 7-310 Cable address: "Quigpubco. New York." A contents copyrighted 1938 by Quigley Publishii Company, Inc. Address all correspondence to tl New York office. Other Quigley publication MOTION PICTURE HERALD. BETTER THI ATRES. TEATRO AL DIA. INTERNATIONA MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC and FAME. HOLLYWOOD: Postal Union Life Buildln Vine and Yucca Sts. ; Boone Mancall. manage William R. Weaver, editor. WASHTNGTOI Albee Building. Bertram F. Linz. representativ CHICAGO: 624 S. Michigan Ave.. C. B. O'Nell manager. AMSTERDAM: 37 Waalstraat: Phil: de Schaap. representative. BERLIN: Steule strasse 2, Berlin W. 35: Joachim K. Rutenber representative. 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