Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1940)

6 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, May 29, 1940 At Republic Convention J. K. GRAINGER H. J. YATES M. J. SIEGEL, Republic Pictures Consolidated Film Republic Prod. President Industries Head President Feature Reviews "Torpedo Raider" {Monogram) Inspired by the memorable early phase of Europe's present conflict, "Torpedo Raider" is mainly a picture of a sea battle off the coast of South America. With mild suspense the story is built around the highlights of the film, these being two battles in which a British and a German boat sink. Use of library shots and special effects is apparent. Walter Forde directed the J. O. C. Orton screenplay for Gaumont British. The dialogue by Michael Hogan and Gerald Fairlie is effective. Central figure in the story is John Mills, convincing in his role of a young British seaman. Prior to the outbreak of war, officers and crew of a German and a British boat, both in a South American port, are friendly. Soon after, with the declaration of war, both boats engage in battle, the Germans emerging victorious. Surviving, Mills is taken prisoner, but knowing another British ship is in search of the German boat, he escapes, and detains the latter so that it falls into the hands of the second British boat. Mills is killed by German guns after his effort results in the British victory. Running time, 60 minutes. "G."* "Phantom Raiders" (M-G-M) Hollywood, May 28. — Second of the Nick Carter detective melodrama series for M-G-M, "Phantom Raiders" again presents suave Walter Pidgeon as Nick Carter, and Donald Meek, as his unwanted stooge. Set in the Panama Canal zone, the story (screenplay by William R. L.ipman and original by Jonathan Latimer), is an effervescent comedymelodrama in which Pidgeon solves the mystery of the disappearances of insured ships bound for England and the war zone. Supporting Pidgeon and Meek is a cast which includes Joseph Schildkraut, Florence Rice, Nat Pendleton, John Carroll, Steffi Duna. Jacques Tourneur directed with a light hand, letting the audience know almost immediately who the criminals are and sustaining suspense throughout by showing how they are captured. Frederick Stephani produced. The preview audience, composed for the most part of young folk, evinced great interest. Running time, 70 minutes. "G."* Vance King Republic Plans 58 For Next Season Plus Four Serials (Continued from page 1) "Roaring Forties," by Nat Ferber, are six Anniversary productions. The two Gene Autry specials are: "Melody Ranch" and "Down Mexico Way," a story by Jack Moffitt. The 16 Jubilee productions are : "The Impostor" ; "Barnyard Follies," rural musical ; "The Girl From Frisco," story by Medora Field ; "Black Beauty," the Ann Sewell classic ; "Doctors Don't Tell," Liberty Magazine story ; "Meet the Missus," a Higgins Family film ; "Friendly Neighbors," starring Weaver Brothers and Elviry ; "Moon Over Mulberry Street," from the stage play ; "Ten Nights in a Barroom," a modernized version by William W. Pratt ; "Bowery Boy" ; "Arkansas Judge," starring Weaver Brothers and Elviry ; "Petticoat Politics," a Higgins Family film ; "Notorious Lady" ; "Honeymoon Isle" ; "Old Gray Mare," starring Weaver Brothers and Elviry. "Old Mill Stream," "Ride Tenderfoot, Ride," "Valley of the Moon," "Song at Twilight," "Under Fiesta Stars," and "Old Faithful" are six Autry productions. Eight Roy Rogers Westerns The eight westerns in the Roy Rogers' group will be "Colorado," "Border Legion," "Young Bill Hickok," "Robin Hood of the Pecos," "Custer's Last Stand," "In Old Cheyenne," "Sheriff of Tombstone," and "Nevada City." Bob Livingston, Raymond Hatton and Duncan Renaldo, the Three Mesquiteers, will be seen in "Oklahoma Outlaws," "Arizona Skies," "Texas Trail Blazers," "Phantom Raiders," "Gaucho of Eldorado," "Raiders of the Alamo," "The Old Spanish Trail" and "Code of the Desert." The new Don Barry series of eight will include : "Tulsa Kid," "Frontier Vengeance," . "Two Gun Sheriff," "Texas Terror," "Wyoming Wildcat," "Desert Bandit," "Kansas Cyclone," and "Bad Man From Rio." The four serials are : "Superman," "Dick Tracy Strikes Again," each 15 episodes and "Jungle Girl" and "King of the Royal Mounted," 12 episodes each. FWC Office Moves The Fox West Coast Corp. has moved the Salt Lake booking office to the Paramount Exchange Building. *"G" denotes general classification. Bookers Talk Insurance Adoption of unemployment insurance for members of the Bookers Club of New York was discussed at a meeting of the organization Monday night at the Hotel Lincoln. Harold Kline presided. Sol Kravitz of Monogram was named corresponding secretary ;ii the meeting, succeeding Dora fried, resigned. They Miss Hettinger Mark Hellinger, columnist and screen writer, will be remembered at a party today at Toots Shor's Restaurant to be tendered by friends "who miss him." Those attending will join in a long distance phone message to Hellinger, who is on the Coast. Sponsoring committee includes Walter Winchell, Louis Sobol, Bill Corum, Frank Graham and Ted Husing. S.E.C. Seeks RKO Allowances Cut To $600,000 Top (Continued, from page 1) continually emphasized the financial condition of RKO and declared that an S.E.C. study of petitions, court records and financial statements had convinced him that RKO could not pay more than $600,000. The S.E.C. report was precede^Vr attorneys' appeals to Judge Bon<! ^ ■/. which the services rendered by of 28 petitioners were described to the court. Chief target of Gale's attacks was the application of Atlas for approximately $850,000 in expenditures. Gale contended that Atlas could not ask for reimbursements for payments made to Leo Spitz, W. J. Merrill and Rathvon & Co. in their advisory capacity during reorganization. He asserted that these payments were made solely to better the Atlas investment in RKO although he was careful to say that he did not criticize the propriety of the expenditures. The Atlas petition for 100,000 shares of common stock should stand, Gale stated. In requesting reductions on other applications, Gale declared that RKO should not be compelled to pay a substantial sum for services rendered in drafting the first plan of reorganization which had failed. Judge Bondy told attorneys that they would have an opportunity to answer the S.E.C. recommendations at the adjourned hearing. Trust Suit Counsel Set Opening Order (Continued from page 1) the closing address, as reported by Motion Picture Daily on Monday. John W. Davis, chief counsel for Loew's, has been allotted the Number 2 position ; Ralph H. Harris, chief counsel for 20th Century-Fox, is third on the list; Col. William J. Donovan, chief counsel for RKO, is fourth ; Louis D. Frohlich and Herman Finkelstein, counsel for Columbia, will appear fifth, and Edward C. Raftery, trial counsel for United Artists and Universal, will be sixth, followed by Proskauer. The Government will open the trial, with indications still pointing to the opening address being made by U. S. Attorney General Robert Jackson. He would be followed by Thurman W. Arnold, head of the anti-trust division of the Department of Justice, with Paul Williams, Arnold's first assistant in the industry suit, appearing third. The Government's counsel is expected to require the entire first day and perhaps part of the second for its opening. The defense expects to open on Tuesday, possibly continuing into the third day of trial. The Government will place its witnesses on the stand thereafter, going into the Philadelphia situation first. Yorke Files Suit Emerson Yorke, commercial film producer, has filed suit against the Loucks & Norling Studio for money allegedly due under a contract. Yorke wants compensation for work in the production of a third dimensional picture for the Chrysler Corp., which is being shown at the World's Fair. English "Gaslight" Success Forecast London, May 28. — International success was forecast for British National's "Gaslight," previewed here today by Anglo-American. The film is intensely dramatic, building through a tense psychological atmosphere to a forceful climax. It is flawlessly produced, its Victorian sets and atmosphere are authentic and Thorold Dickinson directed expertly. The portrayals are by Diana Wynyard and Anton Walbrook. Flanagan