Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1940)

Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, January 30, 1940 New York Reviews Tillage Barn Dance (Republic) Featuring popular radio entertainers, this is a merry melange of slapstick comedy and harmonious melody comprising a show that probably will score best in the smaller situations. In many respects the film is reminiscent of the bygone days of the screen when action spoke louder than words. Audiences that don't take the plot too seriously will have a lot of fun hissing the villain. Best performances are turned in by George Barbier as the operator of the Lyndale ice cream emporium and Esther Dale, a skinflint with a heart of gold who just about runs everything in the town. Richard Cromwell, just out of college, arrives in Lyndale and becomes involved in the plot when he falls in love with the girl who holds the fate to the town's future. She decides to marry Cromwell's rival to protect the property of the town's merchants, when Barbier saves the day by muscling in on a national radio network with Lyndale's "Village Barn Dance" program. This and a Keystone-cop-like chase on a fire wagon are the comedy highlights. Radio entertainers are Lulubelle and Scotty, Barbara Jo Allen (Vera Vague), Don Wilson, The Kidoodlers, Texas Wanderers, Helen Troy and Frank Cook. Others in the cast are Doris Day, Robert Baldwin and Andrew Tombes. Armand Schaefer was associate producer and Frank McDonald director. Dorrell and Stuart McGowan wrote the story. Running time, 69 minutes. "G."* Alfred Finestone Chasing Trouble (Monogram) Graphology and match-making are mixed with a good spy story to make "Chasing Trouble" entertaining film fare. Frankie Darro heads the cast in the role of a messenger boy who is studying graphology during spare hours and arranging romances on the side. Frankie's troubles begin when he discovers that the second volume he studies contradicts the rules found in the first book. As a messenger boy for a florist, he runs into a spy ring headed by Alex Callam. The spy leader decides to use Frankie. Milburn Stone, as a reporter on the trail of a murder, tries to dissuade Frankie but is unsuccessful. When the second book on graphology arrives, Frankie discovers his mistake and exposes the ring. He also decides that Stone would make a better husband for Marjorie Reynolds than would Callam, to whom he has introduced her. Howard Bretherton, who directed, keeps the story moving throughout. Scott R. Dunlap produced. Running time, 64 minutes. "G."* Edward Greif Studios Now Have 27 New FilmsinWork 4 Sale of GN Assets At 28 Exchanges Ordered by Olney Sale of all remaining assets of Grand National Pictures located in 28 exchanges throughout the country was ordered yesterday by Referee Peter B. Olney, Jr. Under court directions a public auction will be held by the trustee within the next few days. Earle W. Hammons, former head of GN, clashed with Josenh Dannenberg, attorney for the trustee, over the valuation of Educational Pictures' assets assigned to GN in return for stock, during an examination of Hammons yesterday. A large number of films estimated at a nominal value on Educational's books were of real value when transferred to GN, Hammons claimed. Dannenberg, however, sought to prove that all assets assigned to GN totalled $55,389 in value at the time of GN's organization. Testimony of Hammons also covered financial deals between GN and Skibo Productions, Inc., and the payment by the former of $42,000 to the latter on a debt owed originally by Educational which GN had assumed. Hammons will continue to testify today. 'Brother9 at $5,500 New Haven Leader New Haven, Jan. 29. — "Brother Rat and a Baby" and "Mill on the Floss" grossed $5,500 at the Roger Sherman. "Charlie McCarthy, Detective" and "All Women Have Secrets" took $4,500 at the Paramount. Estimated takings for the week ending Jan. 27 : "Hunchback of Notre Dame" (RKO) COLLEGE— (1,499) (35c-50c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $2,500. (Average, $2,700) "Everything Happens at Night" (20th-Fox) "Remember" (M-G-M) LOEW-PO LI— (3,040) (35c -50c) 7 days. Gross: $8,000. (Average, $8,000) "Charlie McCarthy, Detective" (Univ.) "Ali Women Have Secrets" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (2,348) (35c-50c) 7 days. Gross: $4,500. (Average, $4,000) "Brother Rat and a Baby" (W. B.) "Mill on the Floss" (Stand.) ROGER SHERMAN— (2,200) (35c-50c) 7 days. Gross: $5,500. (Average, $5,000) 'Swanee' at $8,200 Leads in Montreal Montreal, Jan. 29. — "Swanee River" earned $8,200 at the Palace. "The Roaring Twenties" at the Capitol took $7,300. Estimated takings for the week ending Jan. 26: "The Roaring Twenties" (W. B.) CAPITOL— (2,547) (25c-40c-55c-65c) 7 days. Gross: $7,300. (Average, $8,000) "Balalaika" (M-G-M) LOEW'S— (2,800) (30c-40c-650c) 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $5,000. (Average, $8,000) "Raffles" (U. A.) "Escape to Paradise" (RKO) ORPHEUM— (919) (25c-35c-50c) 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $1,500. (Average, $5,000) "Swanee River" (20th-Fox) PALACE— (2,600) (25c-40c-55c-65c) 7 days. Gross: $8,200. (Average, $10,000) "The Amazing Mr. Williams" (Col.) "Blind Alley" (Col.) PRINCESS— (2,272) (25c-35c-50c-65c) 7 days. Gross: $4,200. (Average, $5,500) Goddard and McCrea Hollywood, Jan. 29. — Paulette Goddard was assigned today to co-star with Gary Cooper, Madeleine Carroll and Joel McCrea in Paramount-DeMille's "Northwest Mounted Police." *"G" denotes general classification. Harrison Is Named Harris Treasurer Pittsburgh, Jan. 29. — George S. Harrison will become treasurer of the Harris Amusement Co. May 1, following a three-month vacation in Florida. His appointment by John H. Harris, follows 37 years of service with the Harris company, begun in 1903 with the late Senator John P. Harris. Retiring as auditor, Harrison will be honored at a dinner of Harris executives and employes Feb. 1. George Eby, formerly of Main and Co., will succeed Harrison as auditor. Extend Tax Suit Time Columbus, Jan. 24. — Attorneys for the plaintiff in the suit of John V. Bostwick, a taxpayer, against the Ohio Tax Commission, challenging its authority to exempt film rentals from the sales tax, and seeking to enforce collection of the impost from the inception of the tax law, have been granted a 15-day extension for filing answers. Philadelphia House Assessments Drop Philadelphia, Jan. 29. — Real estate assessments for the 10 key houses in the central city zone operated by the Warners will be $194,702 less than 1939 figures, according to Frank J. Benham, president of the Board of Revision of -Texas. The houses, Aldine, Boyd, Earle, Fox, Karlton, Keith's, Mastbaum (dark), Palace, Stanton and Stanley, were assessed at $10,155,198 as compared to $10,349,900 for 1939. Largest factor in the cut was a IK per cent slash for depreciation. All but the Aldine, Boyd and Karlton were cut, the largest slash being $57,792 for the Fox, from $1,624,000 to $1,566,208; with the lowest of $600 for the Stanton, from $313,200 to $312,600. The board's evaluation for the other houses are: Aldine, $593,000; Boyd, $656,000; Earle, $2,639,000; Karlton, $1,003,000; Keith's, $583,500; Mastbaum, $1,342,090; Palace, $705,600; and Stanley, $753,600. Hollywood, Jan. 29. — Twenty-seven > pictures were before the cameras this week, as eight started and six(|f ji ! ished. Sixteen are being prepVcd, and 66 are being edited. The tally by studios : COLUMBIA — Finished: "Men Without Souls." In Work: "Too Many Husbands," "The Doctor Takes a Wife." GOLDWY N — Finished : "The Westerner." M-G-M— In Work: "40 Little Mothers," "Two Girls on Broadway," "Edison, the Man," "Hooray I'm Alive," an untitled Dr. Kildare. Started: "Waterloo Bridge." MONOGRAM— Finished: "Rhythm on the Rio Grande." Started: "Cheyenne Kid." PARAMOUNT— Finished: "Down Went McGinty," "The Woman from Hell." Started: "Destiny." PRINCIPAL— Started: "Our Town." RKO^In Work: "My Favorite Wife." Started: "Curtain Call." REPUBLIC— Started: "Pioneers of the West." 20TH CENTURY-FOX— In Work: "I Was an Adventuress," "Viva Cisco Kid," "Sailor's Lady," "Earthbound," "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." Started: "Lillian Russell." UNIVERSAL — Finished : "Black Friday." In Work: "It's a Date," "The House of Seven Gables," "Enemy Agent." Started: "Alias the Deacon." WARNERS— In Work: "We Shall Meet Again," "Saturday's Children," "Three Cheers for the Irish." Majors Win Delay In $2,595,000 Action Boston, Jan. 29. — Eight major companies, accused of violating anti-trust laws, and defendants in a suit for $2,595,000 by seven theatre corporations from Massachusetts to Florida, were granted an extension of time today. They now have until Feb. 10 to file an answer. The major companies include 20th Century-Fox ; Loew's, Inc. ; Vitagraph, Inc. ; Paramount Pictures Distributing Co. ; United Artists Corp. ; Universal Film Exchanges, Inc. ; RKO Radio Pictures, Inc. ; and Columbia Pictures, Inc. Plaintiffs in the suit are Loew's Drive-in-Theatre, Providence, R. I ; Lynn Open Air Theatre, Inc., Lynn, Mass. ; Winchester Theatre Co., Winchester, Mass. ; E. M. Loew's, Inc., operating Winchester Theatre under lease ; Miami Drive-in-Theatre, Dade County, Florida ; Gov. Ritchie Theatre, Inc., Glen Burnie, Md. ; and the Mt. Vernon Theatre Corp., Alexandria, Va. LanHeld Returning Sidney Lanfield, 20th Century-Fox director, leaves for the Coast tonight with Ralph Dietrich, cameraman, and others of a crew who have been shooting background scenes with Carmen Miranda for "The South American Way." The work was done at the Movietone studio on 54th St. Pavone to Universal New Haven, Jan. 29. — John Pavone, resigned from Warners here after almost 17 years in this territory, has been appointed Universal exchange salesman. Pavone had a short association with Universal as salesman in 1925, and has been on Film Row here almost 25 years.