Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1939)

14 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, September 13, 1939 Feature Reviews "The Housekeeper's Daughter" (U. A. -Hal Roach) Hollywood, Sept. 12. — It takes "The Houskeeper's Daughter" a slow reel or so to get warmed up. Thereafter the offering is a whirligig of nonsensical farce comedy. Under Hal Roach's direction the amusing production is a merging of correlated episodes, blackouts and gags. Even a distant relative of pie-throwing is rung in. Much of what happens comes under the meaning of what is technically denned as "low comedy." Basically it is a comedy-drama newspaperman gangster yarn from which stem several such stories. One concerns the bizarre adventures of Cub John Hubbard. Another has to do with Joan Bennett. Adolphe Menjou and William Gargan are the riotous life of the next. Gangster Marc Lawrence, who never knows whether or not he is being kidded, is the focal point of the fourth. Psychopathic case George E. Stone moves menacingly through it all. Not quite knowing what he is doing Novitiate Reporter Hubbard turns in a sensational gangster-killing story which makes him a front page celebrity. The circumstance is embarrassing to Veteran Newsmen Menjou and Gargan, but they make the best of it. It's most bothersome to Gangster Lawrence, the killer, who, not sure whether or not Hubbard knows what he is writing about, nevertheless embarks upon a course of intimidation. Everything turns out happily, if ridiculously, when Menjou transfers his fireworks shooting celebration to the gangster-besieged parlor, where Poisoner Stone has terrorized everyone. The housekeeper's daughter, Miss Bennett, a reformed moll, gives the real low down on the killing. Donald Henderson Clarke's novel is the basis of the Rian James and Gordon Douglas screenplay. Running time, 70 minutes. "G."* G. McC. "The Angels Wash Their Faces" ( Warners) The "Dead End Kids" are, of course, the "hero" of this melodramatic and lively film yarn of civic corruption and the successful efforts of the kids to correct the error and at the same time save a pal from a long and unjust prison sentence. The youngsters combine with rare cohesion, offering a high measure of entertainment by reason of their undeniable acting ability and the smoothness with which they work together. Ann Sheridan, as the sister of the youngster in trouble, and Ronald Reagan, as a young aide to the district attorney, provide the subordinate romantic interest. Bonita Granville makes a pleasant adjunct to the kids, as the young sister of one of them, and Eduardo Ciannelli and Bernard Nedell are eminently satisfactory villains. At times leaning dangerously near to the incongruous, as when the kids take over City Hall in Boys' Week, at times delightfully amusing, the film is melodramatically exciting, and withal good entertainment. Young Frankie Thomas is released from reform school, joins the kids in their club, and incurs the enmity of Nedell because of Miss Sheridan's refusal to see him. Under Ciannelli's direction, Nedell engages in the practice of arson for a profit, and tries to pin one of his jobs on Thomas, since it caused the death of one of the kids. But when one of them wins the post of mayor for Boys' Week, the youngsters take things into their own hands,, and with the assistance of Reagan, clean up the gang and cause the release of their pal. Ray Enright directed. Running time, 82 minutes. "G."* Charles S. Aaronson Foreign Film Stocks in U.S. Are Plentiful American distributors of European films have varying supplies of product on hand which in some cases is sufficient to last them for six months to a year, a check-up yesterday revealed. Effects of the current production curtailment in England and France is not expected to be felt by these importers and distributors for at least another three months, they said. Budd Rogers of Alliance Films, distributor for Associated British Pictures, reported 12 features and a complete list of short subjects and novelty reels on hand here, sufficient for a year's supply, he said. Mack Littman, importer of British and French product, reported sufficient film on hand for several months. What the situation will be after that is indefinite now and dependent entirely upon developments abroad within the next few months, he said. Similar reports were received from other New York importers. Rogers pointed out that Alliance already has "Dead Men Tell No Tales," "Black Limelight," and "Housemaster" in release and that these will be followed by "North Sea Patrol" in October. "Just Like a Woman" is set for November release and following that will come "Spies of the Air," "One Night in Paris," "The Hidden Menace," "The Terror," "Little Miss Molly," "Black Eyes," and "Mystery of Room 13." 'Maker' at $6,000 Cleveland's Best Cleveland, Sept. 12. — "The Star Maker," moved to Loew's Stillman, made the best showing here with $6,000. "Lady of the Tropics" at Loew's State and "In Name Only" at Warner's Hippodrome drew $12,000 each. Estimated takings for the week ending Sept. 7: "When Tomorrow Comes" (Univ.) ALLEN — (3.000) (30c-35c-42c) 7 days. Gross: $4,500. (Average, $4,000) "In Name Only" (RKO) WARNER'S HIPPODROME — (3.800) (30c-35c-42c) 7 days. Gross: $12,000. (Average, $11,000) "The Angels Wash Their Faces" (W.B.) RKO PALACE— (3,100) (30c-35c-42c) 7 days. Gross: $8,000. (Average, $8,000) "Lady of the Tropics" (M-G-M) LOEW'S STATE— (3,500) (30c-35c-42c) 7 days. Gross: $12,000. (Average, $11,000) "The Star Maker" (Para.) LOEW'S STILLMAN — (1,900) (30c-35c42c) 7 days. 2nd week. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $4,000) *"G" denotes general classification. Resuming Stage Shows Cincinnati, Sept. 12. — The RKO Shubert, currently playing straight films, will resume its combination stage show and picture policy Sept. 15, with Jan Garber and his band as the stage headliner. Henry Sommers now is in charge of the house. Plans Cartoon Series Hollywood, Sept. 12. — Lawrence Fox of General Films has purchased the world rights to "Ba Bar, the Elephant," book by Jean de Brunhoss, as the basis for a series of cartoons to be made in the east. Court Sees "Ecstasy" Albany, Sept. 12. — Five judges of the Appellate Division of the N. Y. Supreme Court yesterday viewed the revised version of "Ecstasy," on appeal by Eureka Productions, Inc., from the censor's original ban on the film. Decision was reserved. The court upheld the ban once before, in September, 1937. W.E. Sets Dividend Board of directors of Western Electric Co. yesterday declared a dividend of 75 cents per share on the common stock, payable Sept. 30 to stockholders of record on Sept. 22. Newsreel Parade The war continues to be an important newsreel factor, but strict censorship is in evidence. MOVIETONE NEWS, No. 1— Canada en | ters war. American troops at Panama. Gas mask practice on coast. Airplane maneuvers. Ickes condemns war profiteering. Beauty contest at Atlantic City. Lew Lehr. All-Star football game. Army, Dartmouth and Notre Dame footbaH*^\ms in training. , NEWS OF THE DAY, No. 3o!Ppre ' paredness on Maginot and Siegfried lines. Canada joins conflict. U. S. defends neutrality, reenforcements to Panama. Ickes warns war profiteers. Flood in Chinese city. Miss America chosen. Notre Dame prepares for football season. PARAMOUNT NEWS, No. 4— War conditions in England and France. Athenia survivors interviewed. Football Giants defeat AllStars. Notre Dame, Army and Tennessee elevens practice. RKO PATHE NEWS, No. 16— Polish Red Cross units in training. War map of Europe. Ships of belligerent nations in neutral ports. Ickes discusses profiteering. Bicycle race in Chicago. All-Star football game. UNIVERSAL NEWSREEL No. 805— Canada declares war on Germany. Poles defend Warsaw. Tanks aid French army. Manhattan arrives from Europe. U. S. to enforce embargo. Panama defenses reenforced. Select Miss America of 1939. Notre Dame and Army football teams in training. A. A. U. race. Army planes in mass flight. Republic in Deals With Two Circuits Republic has closed a deal for its 1939-40 product with the Golden State-T. & D. Theatres Circuit, covering 70 theatres in San Francisco, Oakland and northern California. Republic was represented by J. R. Grainger, president; G. C. Parsons, western district sales manager, and Sid Weisbaum, San Francisco branch manager. A. A. McNeil and M. Naify represented the two circuits in this deal. A deal also has been closed with the Blumenfeld circuit in northern California. Republic has closed with the Min ! nesota Theatre in Minneapolis as its first run outlet there for the new season. The theatre, closed for two years, recently reopened under management of Gordon Green with a combination film and vaudeville policy. Theatre Attendants' Minimum Set in B.C. Victoria, B. C, Sept. 12.— -Extensive minimum wage regulations in the Province of British Columbia now embrace women attendants in all theatres. A new minimum wage order has been made effective, providing a minimum of $14.25 per week for 40 to 48 hours, with 35 cents per hour for less than 40 hours per week. In cases where an employe works two hours or less in any one day, the minimum payment shall be 75 cents. Where uniforms are worn, they must be provided by the employer, and must be laundered by the employer. Newspaper Guild Fined Chicago, Sept. 12. — The CIO Newspaper Guild, which has been picketing theatres and other business places which advertised in local Hearst papers where members have been on strike, was fined $500 by Judge John Lupe for "secondary picketing." Too Many Passes Mexico City, Sept. 12.— The only film house in Coatepec, Vera Cruz State, coffee center that is in a bad way now because of the depression of the bean, is in peril of passing out because, the exhibitor complains, he has to issue too many passes. The worst of it is, avers the exhibitor, that most of these passes are for laborites who pass themselves off as "inspectors." The exhibitor has appealed to the municipal authorities for help.