Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1939)

4 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, September 13. 1939 Rise of Peso Is Benefiting Distributors Hollywood Preview 'Honeymoon in BalV {Paramount) Hollywood, Sept. 12. — This is as smart, sophisticated and diverting a comedy as has come from a camera this year. It is built for adult entertainment and its situations and dialogue take their pungency frankly from the thing scientists refer to as the biological urge, Fred MacMurray portraying the conquering male and Madeleine Carroll the resistant female in a pair of mannerly and brilliantly humorous 'though realistic and outspoken performances. In no sense a film for the kiddies, it is in every sense a must-see for the mature and intelligent film fan. MacMurray and Miss Carroll have seldom if ever performed so well and Akim Tamiroff, playing two widely separated bits, joins with Allan Jones, who gets in a couple of song numbers without stopping the story, Helen Broderick, Osa Massen, a stage recruit of potent personality, and Carolyn Lee, a four -year-old beginner who steals the picture repeatedly, round out a sparkling support. Dialogue furnished them by Virginia Van Upp, who based the screenplay on stories by Grace Sartwell Mason and Katharine Brush, is unfailingly bright, occasionally brazen, invariably fitted like a glove to situation and speaker and never for an instant unamusing. E. H. Griffith's direction is flawless and Jeff Lazarus' production leaves nothing whatever for persons interested in finely staged corned}' to desire. The story is at bottom a boy-meets-girl affair, but the treatment is unlike any the meeting has been given in ready memory. The boy is an American resident of Bali vacationing in New York and the girl is boss of a department stores, successful, independent and determined to stay that way. He sets out to convince her that she can't get along without a mate, she digs in to prove that she can, and each persists in defense of theory until the girl's doctor tells her, after an otherwise explainable illness, that she needs a husband and children. By this time the boy's on the verge of marrying another girl, so the girl decides to marry another man, but they get together ultimately. Meanwhile the male has displayed his interest in the female by more and blunter blandishments, oral and manual, than have been portrayed on the screen since Gable convinced Shearer in "A Free Soul." Running time, 95 minutes. 'A."* Roscoe Williams. Mexico City, Sept. 12. — The strengthening of the peso since the outbreak of the war in Europe has been of considerable benefit to American distributors here, because with the slump in the rate to about five pesos to the dollar from the rate of six to a dollar which had maintained over a period of the last two months, they are able to send money to the United States more advantageously. Dollars were strengthened somewhat today owing to the accumulation of large amounts of dollars thrown into this market by Germans who are jittery over the possibility of American banks placing an embargo on German funds, as well as heavy buying of raw material and the purchase of Mexican farms by Spanish refugees. Picture production has picked up here. Five productions are under way in local studios that have been idle for some time. Radio stations throughout Mexico have been warned to be strictly neutral with regard to war news and comments on the conflict, by the Ministry of Communications and Public Works, director of air affairs in this country. This same rule applies to politics. Censorship to help censorship has been established by Mexican picture producers and film laborites with institution of the national pictures classification council. All Mexicanmade films must be reviewed by this council — before they can be exhibited. The idea is to assure that only the best domestic films shall be screened. Manuel Rivas is president and Juan Rezet is secretary-manager of the council. Large-scale distribution of made-inMexico pictures has been started in Spain by Antonio Soria, a Mexican, who has opened offices in Madrid. He plans 32 productions. Republic at Highest Three Months' Peak Hollywood, Sept. 12. — Pushing ahead its production schedule despite a possible drop in foreign grosses, Republic today announced that with the start of three pictures Friday the studio will be at a three months' shooting peak. Two pictures are now shooting. Herbert J. Yates, guiding hand of Republic, is expected to arrive Monday for conferences on future activities of the studio. To be started Friday are "Zorro's Fighting Men," "Rovin' Tumbleweeds" and "Covered Trails." In work now are "Abraham Lincoln Eoggs" and "Jeepers Creepers." Delay Fox West Reply Hollywood, Sept. 12. — Alfred Wright, attorney for 20th CenturyFox, and several other defendants in the criminal contempt action brought by the government against Fox West Coast and major distributors here, said today that no answers would be filed until Sept. 25 or later. *"A" denotes adult classification. Hearing Postponed On Oklahoma Writ Oklahoma City, Sept. 12. — Continuance of the hearing of Oklahoma Theatres, Inc., on its application for an injunction against major distributors here has been granted by Federal District Judge A. P. Murray. The injunction seeks to compel distributors to sell film to the firm. The next hearing date is Oct. 2. Action was filed here last week by operators of the Odeon Theatre, Shawnee, which shows second and subsequent run pictures. It is alleged that there are many films in the distributors' vaults here upon which these rights have not been sold and which distributors refuse to sell to the plaintiff at any price. A. B. Momand, whose anti-trust suit against the producers, distributors and the Griffith Amusement Co. is pending in the same court here, is owner-operator of Oklahoma Theatres, Inc. Plan ITPA Outing Milwaukee, Sept. 12.— The I. T. P. A. of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan is holding an industry outing and banquet Sept. 18 at the Hotel Geneva at Lake Geneva. Import 2 French Films French Cinema Center, Inc., has acquired for distribution in the United States two French films, "Aux Jardins de Murcie" and "L'Or Dans la Montagne." Legion Approves 11 Of IS New Pictures National Legion of Decency for the current week has approved 11 of 13 new films reviewed, nine for general patronage and two for adults, while two have been classed as objectionable in part. The new films and their classification follow : Class A-l, Unobjectionable for General Patronage — "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes," "Babes in Arms," "Charlie Chan at Treasure Island," "Everything's on Ice," "Konga, the Wild Stallion," "The Man Who Dared," "Nurse Edith Cavell," "She Married a Cop," "Torchy Plays with Dynamite." Class A-2, Unobjectionable for Adults — "News Is Made at Night," "One Hour to Live." Class B, Objectionable in Part — "Midnight Menace," "Royal Divorce." Broadway Clinging To Strong Grosses Broadway first runs continued to show strong grosses over the past week. "The Star Maker" closed its second week at the Paramount yesterday with an estimated $41,000. It holds over for a third week. First five days of "The Rains Came" brought an estimated $55,000 to the Roxy. The 100,000 attendance mark was passed at 10 a.m. At the Globe, "Angels Wash Their Faces" drew an estimated $12,000 in its first week and it is continuing for a second. "Goodbye, Mr. Chips" fell off somewhat in its 17th week at the Astor with an estimated $9,000. 'Beau Geste' Leads in Hub With $21,000 Bostox, Sept. 12. — "Beau Geste" and "Quick Millions" took a smash $21,000 at the Metropolitan. "In Name Only" and "Frontier Marshal" drew $19,000 at the Keith Memojjal. Largest total gross was draw* *L "Lady of the Tropics" and "ribwe Glamour Girls" at Loew's Orpheum and_ State— $33,000 ; $18,600 and $14,500, respectively. Estimated takings for the week ending Sept. 11 : "Exile Express" (G N.) (4 days with vaudeville) "Bad Lands" (RKO) (4 days with vaude.) "The Kokomo Kid" (W. B.) (3 days) "Charlie Chan in Reno" (20th-Fox) (3 days) RKO KEITH BOSTON— (3,200) (20c-30c40c). Gross: $7,000. (Average, $7,000) "In Name Only" (RKO) "Frontier Marshal" (2©th-Fox) KEITH MEMORIAL — (2,907) (25c-35c-40c55c) 8 days. Gross: $19,000. (Average, $14,000) "The Star Maker" (Para.) "Death of a Champion" (Para.) PARAMOUNT — (1,797) (25c-35c-40c-55c) 7 days. Gross: $8,500. (Average. $7,000) "The Star Maker" (Para.) "Death of a Champion" (Para.) FENWAY — (1,382) (25c-35c-40c-55c) 7 days. Gross: $6,300. (Average, $4,500) "Beau Geste" (Para.) "Quick Millions" (ZOth-Fox) METROPOLITAN — (4,332) (25c-35c-40c55c) 7 days. Gross: $21,000. (Average, $14,500) "Lady of the Tropics" (M-G-M) "These Glamour Girls" (M-G-M) LOEW'S ORPHEUM— (2,900) (25c-35c40c-55c) 7 days. Gross: $18,600. (Average, $14,000) "Lady of the Tropics" (M-G-M) "These Glamour Girls" (M-G-M) LOEW'S STATE— (3,000) (25c-35c-40c55c) 7 days. Gross: $14,500. (Average. S11,000) "Angels Wash Their Faces" (W. B.) "The Magnificent Fraud" (Para.) SCOLLA Y— (2,500) (25c-35c-40c-50c) 7 days. Both 2nd run. Gross: $4,700. (Average, $4,000) 'Maker' Is $7,500 New Haven Winner New Haven, Sept. 12. — "The Star M aker" and "Unmarried" at the Paramount grossed $7,500 in 10 days. The Loew-Poli, with "The Women" and "They All Come Out" drew $10,000. Labor Day week end was good but not notable. Estimated takings for the week ending Sept. 8: "The Wizard of Oz" (M-G-M) "Blcndie Takes A Vacation" (Col.) COLLEGE— (1,499) (35c-50c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $2,800. (Average, $2,700) "The Women" (M-G-M) "They All Come Out" (M-G-M) LOEW-FOLI— (3,040) (35c-50c) 7 days. Gross: S10.000. (Average, $8,000) "The Star Maker" (Para.) 'Unmarried" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (2,348) (35c-50c) 10 days. Gross: $7,000. (Average, $4,000) "The Angels Wash Their Faces" (W. B.) "Everybody's Hobby" (W. B.) ROGER SHERMAN— (2.200) (35c-50c) 7 days. Gross: $5,500. (Average, $5,000) 'Cavell' in Loop Monday Chicago, Sept. 12. — The midwestern premiere of "Nurse Edith Cavell" will be held at the Palace on Monday. An elaborate premiere is planned with several dozen critics from surroundin^ cities invited to attend. Herbert Wilcox, producer, and Anna Neagle. star, will arrive here Saturday and stay for the premiere.