Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1940)

Motion Picture Daily Monday, September 30, 1940 Sunday Show Ballots Sent Out by Equity Despite the fact that the membership meeting of Actors Equity took no action Friday on the Sunday show issue, ballots were sent out over the weekend in a national referendum to determine whether the union should permit members to play on Sundays at the regular rate of pay for an experimental period up to June 1, 1941. Originally, the Equity council had voted to send the referendum out only if the membership meeting approved it but the debate on Communism prevented any vote on Sunday shows and it was decided to send out the referendum anyway. All votes must be cast before Oct. 31. The meeting Friday greeted with cheers the announcement that the council had raised minimum salaries to $50 weekly, effective Dec. 1, but no action was necessary. The meeting approved with a few dissenting votes the council resolution "unalterably" opposing Communism, the Communist Party and the principles it advocates and the tactics it employs. An amendment to include the Nazi Bund and the Fascist Party also was approved. The resolution called upon the Dies Committee to make a complete investigation of alleged Communist dominance in the union. The membership meeting, however, adopted an amendment proposed by Winifred Lenihan, that no member of, or person sympathetic to, the three totalitarian parties be permitted to hold office or be in the employ of the union. Miss Lenihan, a member of tKe council, made the same motion on Thursday but it was defeated by the council. The effect of the adoption of the amendment by the membership meeting is uncertain as the meeting itself acts only in an advisory capacity. In view of the fact that the council had the same resolution under consideration and defeated it, there is considerable doubt whether it will now reverse itself. In the past the council has rejected many of the proposals of the membership meeting. A count at the door revealed that 799 members were in attendance. Bert Lytell, president, acted as chairman. Argentine Lifts Embargo on U.S. The Argentine embargo on all imports from the United States which was imposed Sept. 17 was lifted by the Buenos Aires government on Friday, a week earlier than originally scheduled. Film shipments to the Argentine were forwarded without interruption during the 10 days the embargo was in effect. Argentine authorities explained that the embargo was invoked to provide time for the nation's import credit control to check up on gold stocks and remittances to this country. Feature Reviews 400 Expected At Luncheon; To Quigley 'Melody and Moonlight" {Republic) Hollywood, Sept. 29. REPUBLIC'S "Melody and Moonlight" is one of the best musical comedies to come out of Hollywood. It is good, solid entertainment. It has comedy, suspense, romance, excellent music and about everything else that makes a theatre audience sit back and thoroughly enjoy itself. Johnny Downs and Jane Frazee, the latter making her film debut, supply the chief romantic interest, as well as several musical numbers. Mary Lee, recently seen in a number of Gene Autry musical westerns and who is being given a buildup, does several songs excellently, while Barbara Allen (Vera Vague to countless radio fans) and Jerry Colonna, also widely known on transcontinental programs, supply countless laughs. Others in the cast are Frank Jenks, Claire Carleton, Jonathan Hale, Marten Lamont and "The Kidoodlers," radio musical quartet. Miss Frazee, of the radio Frazee sisters, makes a highly impressive first appearance, being perfection in the singing, dancing and thespic departments. Bradford Ropes turned out a highly competent framework for the story and musical numbers, in writing the script from the original story by David Silverstein. Joseph Santley, who directed, kept the film, produced by Robert North, at a quick moving pace, never lagging from start to finish. Miss Frazee, as. the daughter of a wealthy man, wants to make her mark in show business without the aid of the family name, and her father objects. She wins, with a stranger, a prize in a dance contest at a "taxi dance hall," and runs away from home to escape parental wrath. She again meets her partner of the night before and conceals her identity. The youth, played by Downs, takes her to his and his sister's home, where they plan to become a dance team. Her father frustrates their plan of going on the air, but they get the dance hall to sponsor their program, and all turns out well. Running time, 71 minutes. "G."* Vance King » Black Diamonds ( Universal) The veterans Richard Arlen and Andy Devine are seen in an engaging story concerning coal mining. In featured roles are Kathryn Adams, Mary Treen and Paul Fix. The film should be found entertaining by average audiences. Arlen is a crack newspaper reporter assigned to cover the war in Europe but who, upon visiting his home town, finds conditions deplorable for the coal miners and decides to stay. Investigating, he discovers the mine owner is bribing a Government inspector so that the latter turns in good reports despite the conditions of the mine. Jailed for a misdeed of which he is not guilty, Arlen escapes and with Devine and others exposes the shady situation to other miners. The story was an original by Sam Robbins adapted by Robbins and Clarence Upson Young. Christy Cabanne directed. Ben Pivor was associate producer. Running time, 60 minutes. "G."* 'Ragtime Cowboy Joe" {Universal) Johnny Mack Brown, Fuzzy Knight and Nell O'Day combine in "Ragtime Cowboy Joe" to make a hard-hitting and tuneful Western film which should please where outdoor action films are popular. The music is of the bunkhouse and campfire variety and it adds a good deal of color to the background. Brown, an investigator for a cattlemen's association, is called in to solve a series of crimes involving cattle rustling and murder. The last ranch to survive foreclosure is owned by Miss O'Day whose father was murdered by the rustlers. Brown is falsely accused of murder but succeeds in escaping when a lynching party arrives at the jail house. After several gun battles, Brown succeeds in rounding up the bandits and solving the murder Walter Soderling, Marilyn Merrick, Dick Curtis and the Texas Rangers are in supporting roles. Ray Taylor directed and Sherman Lowe wrote the original screenplay. Running time, 58 minutes. "G."* Edward Grbif 'G" denotes general classification. {Continued from page 1) and 150 individual tickets have been sold. On the platform with Quigley, in addition to Bamberger, will be Howard Dietz, who will introduce the guest of honor, and the following trade paper publishers and editors : Eli Sugarman, Billboard; Ben Shlyen and Red Kann, Boxoffice; Jay Emanuel, Jay Emanuel Publications ; Jack Alicoate and Chester Bahn, Film Daily; Pete Harrison, Harrison's Reports; Lionel Toll, The Independent ; Colvin Brown, Quigley Publications vice-president ; Sam Shain, Motion Picture Daily ; Terry Ramsaye, Motion Picture Herald; Charles E. Lewis, Showmen's Trade Review and Abel Green, Variety. Companies Reserve Tables Table reservations have been received from the following organizations : three tables each for Warners, I.T.O.A., two tables each for M-G-M and RKO ; one table each for Columbia, March of Time, M.P.P.D.A., National Screen Service, Paramount, 20th Century-Fox, United Artists and Universal. Among the industry executives scheduled to attend are : From Paramount : Barney Balaban, Adolph Zukor, Austin Keough, Leon Netter, M. F. Gowthorpe, Neil Agnew, Charles Reagan, Oscar Morgan, J. J. Unger, Bob Gillham, Alec Moss, Al Wilkie. From M-G-M : Si Seadler, William Ferguson, Tom Gerety, William Danziger, Arthur Schmidt, Halsey Raines, Elliott Foreman, Ray Bell, Charles Cohen, Perry Charles, Hal Burrows, Gertrude Gelbin, Pat Reis, Mildred Lewis, Bryan Lee, Joseph Flynn, Paul Kaney, Volney Phifer, Edward Carrier. Schaefer Heads RKO Group From RKO : George J. Schaefer, Ned E. Depinet, Richard C. Patterson, A. W. Smith, Jr., Cresson Smith, R. E. Mochrie, William H. Clark, James A. Clark, S. Barret McCormick, Michael Havas, Harry Gitelson, M. H. Hoffay. From M.P.P.D.A. : Carl E. Milliken, Walter Trumbull, David Palfreyman, Arthur Dickinson, Arthur DeBra, Roy Norr, Sidney Schreiber, Lester Thompson, Joel Swenson, Kenneth Clark. From RKO Theatres : Malcolm Kingsberg, John J. O'Connor, Leon Goldberg, Max Fellerman, Fred Meyers, C. B. McDonald, H. R. Emde, Louis Goldberg, S. A. Schwartz, Harry Mandel. From March of Time : Albert E. Sindlinger, Donald Higgins, Mary Johnson, John R. Wood, Jr., Lothar Wolff, James Shute, James L. Wolcott, Samuel Bryant, Robert Richards, Thomas Orchard, Louis de Rochemont, Richard de Rochemont. From Warner Bros. Theatres : Joseph Bernhard, Clayton Bond, Ed Hinchey, Frank: Marshall, Nat Fellman, Harry Kaplowitz, Harold Rodner, Harry Goldberg, Lou Kaufman. From Warner Bros. Pictures : Mort Blumenstock, Paul Lazarus, Jr., Gilbert Golden, Sid Rechetnik, Larry Golob, Lee Blumberg.