Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1940)

6 Motion Picture Daily Monday, July 22, 1940 Hollywood Reviews "The Sea Hawk" ( Warners) HOLLYWOOD, July 21. — Long in preparation and production, and freely spoken of around the Warner Brothers plant as the company's most expensive production of the year, this 1940 version of "The Sea Hawk," originally produced in 1924 and down in the exhibition records as one of the top money attractions of that era, is Sixteenth Century sea melodrama on the grand scale enacted by a cast crowded with marquee names. Consensus of a highly expectant preview audience was that it is top box-office material. Oldsters will recall that the story of "The Sea Hawk" is a stirring account of the pirate-like activities of British seamen who, in 1585, preyed on Spanish sea trade without permission of their queen but in her interest, seeking thus to cripple Spain in the building of the Armada which ultimately attempted to subjugate the "tight little isle." As such it abounds in swashbuckling, fighting in mass and en solo, on land and sea, with always the broad ocean background and the tang of the salt wind. The 1940 edition is as much bigger and better than the 1924 edition as the art of the cinema has progressed in the 16 intervening years. Personnel offered the customers include Errol Flynn, Brenda Marshall, Claude Rains, Donald Crisp, Flora Robson, Alan Hale, Henry Daniell, Una O'Connor, James Stephenson, Gilbert Roland, William Lundigan, Julien Mitchell, Montagu Love, J. M. Kerrigan, David Bruce, Clyde Cook, Fritz Lieber, Francis McDonald, Pedro de Cordoba, Ian Keith, Jack LaRue, Victor Varconi and Robert Warwick, to name only the better known among the hundreds present. On the off-screen side the film represents the work of executive producer Hal B. Wallis with the pocketbook wide open, Henry Blanke as his associate producer, Michael Curtiz as director and Howard Koch and Seton I. Miller as authors of the screenplay. Notable also is the music score by Erich Wolfgang Korngold, and the camera accomplishments of Sol Polito are among the more memorable eye experiences of the season. Running time, 127 minutes. "G."* Roscoe Williams "Haunted House" (Monogram) Hollywood, July 21. — Monogram's "Haunted House," starring Jackie Moran and Marcia Mae Jones, is a story of a boy and a girl, anxious to become reporters, solving a murder mystery in a small town. Utilizing familiar devices for creation of suspense and tension, the film tells of their embarrassing mistakes in suspecting the wrong persons, their attempts at convincing their elders that they are on. the right track and of their adolescent companionship. Supporting the pair are Christian Rub, George Cleveland, Henry Hall, Mary Carr, Clarence Wilson, John St. Polis, Jessie Arnold and Henry Roquemore. Bob McGowan directed from a screenplay by Dorothy Reid, who adapted a story by Jack Leonard and Monty Collins. William Lackey produced. Running time, 66 minutes. "G."* Vance King. Loew's Policy High Quality, Says Schenck (.Continued from page 1) ness with less worthy entertainment." "M-G-M's position is strong," he said. "Our future productions look most encouraging. We are well abreast of our schedule. Naturally, we must face the future with some flexibility in order to adapt ourselves quickly to any sudden change. Some of our pictures now in production give promise of being the best we have ever made. After all, time and experience bring us ever closer to the public taste. "Our current season drawing to a close, from the point of view of the merit of the film, is the best we have ever had." 'Boom Town' a Test Referring to Metro's plans for test runs of "Boom Town" at advanced admissions next month, Schenck said the results of the experiment would determine for the future whether Metro could afford to continue to group outstanding stars in single productions. Starred in "Boom Town" are Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy, Oaudette Colbert and Hedy Lamarr. "The public will tell exhibitors whether it is willing to pay advanced admission prices," Schenck said. "While our sales executives have found out that various theatre managers and circuit heads believe a high admission price should be charged for 'Boom Town,' nevertheless we have decided to conduct a few test experiments in advance of the regular release in order to make certain that the course we recommend to those who have contracted for the picture is the wisest. "After all, an important question is at stake, which is, whether we can afford to repeat the process of grouping outstanding stars in one picture such as we have done in 'Boom Town.' The results in revenue alone will determine this," Schenck said. 'Boom Town' Openings Atlantic City, New Orleans, Harrisburg, Reading and Indianapolis have been set for "Boom Town" openings, August 9 and 10. Other dates are being set and will be announced later. The matinee prices are being increased approximately 25 per cent. The evening prices are being increased approximately 33 1/3 per cent. Equity Approves One Actors' Union (Continued from page 1) months. The council, asserting that it is "in favor" of the one big union plan and will continue to work for its realization, said that it found many of Reis's points "useful and acceptable." The council directed its committee on efficiency and economy to continue its study of the report and to bring in further recommendations. The regular meeting of the Equity council tomorrow will hear breach of contract charges brought against Miriam Hopkins by Bela Blau, producer. *"G" denotes general classification. Ross Federal Holds Summer Convention Danbury, Conn., July 21. — The annual summer convention of district managers of Ross Federal Research Corp. was held here this weekend to discuss company policy and plan operations for the 1940-41 motion picture release season. In attendance at the two-day session were : Harry A. Ross, president ; D. A. Ross, general manager ; C. B. and R. E. Ross, vice presidents ; F. X. Miske, controller ; W. J. Shine, director of research ; Walter Brown, Midwest manager ; Jack Kraker, Eastern manager ; Walter Anderson, Southern manager ; Ruel Williams, Western manager, and Harold Lund, Central manager. Albert Martin Buys Two Coast Houses Burbank, Cal., July 21— Albert F. Martin has purchased the Brea Theatre, Brea, Cal., and the La Habra Theatre, La Habra, from Robert E. Gumm, of Brea. He starts operating the houses today. Martin was formerly with Paramount, for whom he worked for many years in New York, Detroit and San Francisco, on the theatre operating end. For the past seven years he was treasurer of Paramount's subsidiaries in Detroit, leaving for California early last year. Form Travelcade Film Albany/ July 21.— Travelcade Film Corp. has been incorporated here by Robert D. Bloom, S. Harry Eilenberg and Audrey Mandel. Trade Peace Coming Soon SETOA Told Jacksonville, July 21. — Historic trade practice problems in exhibition are due to be solved soon, either by a consent decree in settlement of the Government's New York anti-togst suit or other Government action^ \s M. Richey, director of exhibitor r<—l'tions for RKO, told the annual convention of the Southeastern Theatre Owners Association here today. Richey asserted, however, that in his opinion, the trade practice changes will not be in effect for another year, at least, "even if a consent decree was to be signed tomorrow." Exhibition practices which he believes will be resolved by Government intervention include : arbitration, clearance, overbuying, right-to-buy, score charges and cancellations. For this reason, he said, the exhibitor convention being held here, for the first time in many years, need not devote its time to discussion of those topics. He urged, instead, that the exhibitors here consider their forthcoming product supply and help to insure its continuance from hard-pressed producer-distributors by cooperating with them in every way. Richey urged exhibitors to get their new season's product deals over with by September 1, as one cooperating effort, and then to concentrate on getting "every last cent" out of each picture, leaving the producer to go about his task of continuing quality picture making unhampered by internal strife on top of the inescapable problems stemming from lost foreign markets. Ed Kuykendall, M.P.T.O.A. president, and Edward A. Golden, Monogram general sales managers, will also address the convention, which will continue through Tuesday. M. C. Moore, president of S.E.T.O.A., is presiding. Ticket Brokers Sue On Fee Legislation Six Broadway ticket brokers filed suit in N. Y. Supreme court on Friday attacking the validity of the state legislation of last April placing a 75-cent surcharge limit on theatre ticket brokerage fees. The action, which charges that the legislation is unconstitutional, also questions the validity of rules giving effect to the statute which were promulgated by License Commissioner Paul Moss. Both measures were instigated by the League of New York Theatres and Actors Equity Association after they encountered difficulties in enforcing their own code. The action served notice that the plaintiffs would apply on July 29 for a temporary injunction restraining enforcement of the regulatory measures from Justice Sidney Bernstein. Set New Haven Outing Thompson ville, Conn., July 21. — Peter Perakos, operator of the Strand here and Palace, New Britain, and Sperry Perakos, new manager of the Strand, will be hosts to the bookers of the New Haven film district Friday for a day's outing on their cabin cruiser.