Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1941)

6 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, March 6, 194 Short Subject Reviews First Hearing On Arbitration Set in Capital (Continued from page 1) slightly more than six weeks will have been required to bring the case to hearing. Reports that the case would be settled before going to hearing were heard in Washington and Baltimore shortly after it had been filed. However, principals in the case subsequently made emphatic denials, asserting that a question was at stake on which a final decision was desired. Braden to Talk On Film Arbitration J. Noble Braden, executive secretary of the American Arbitration Association, will discuss the organization and functioning of the motion picture and other arbitration systems at two forums next week. On Monday he will address the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and the following day he will address the Harvard School of Business at the Harvard Club here. Estimate $500,000 4U' Net in Quarter (.Continued from page 1) Joseph H. Seidelman, vice-president and foreign manager, will conduct a convention of the company's Latin American sales representatives in Panama, April 2 to 6. C. C. Margon, Latin American supervisor, and Fortunat Baronat, foreign publicity manager, will accompany them. Peyton Gibson, secretary of the company, will be proposed for election to the Universal board of directors at the annual meeting of stockholders in Wilmington, March 15, to. fill the post left vacant by the resignation some time ago of William Freiday. Gibson was designated by the board recently to serve out Freiday's unexpired term. All present members of the board will be proposed for reelection. In addition, the stockholders will act on the new seven-year contracts for the company's seven "key" executives. They will also vote on a proposed amendment to the company's by-laws which would indemnify current and former directors and officers and their personal representatives against all costs and expenses resulting from legal actions to which they were made parties by reason of their positions, except upon findings of their having acted in bad faith. Consolidated Film 1940 Net $590,031 (Continued from page 1) past two months and reports that during 1940 Republic acquired film exchanges in New York, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Omaha and Des Moines. Consolidated's net sales and royalties for 1940 amounted to $7,235,337. The company reported cash on hand and in banks of $601,335 ; total current and working assets of $6,374,288, and total current liabilities of $1,150,652. "Splits, Spares and Strikes" (Columbia) The current feminine interest in bowling should make this a worth while subject as the right and wrong way of heaving the ball is made clear by Tillie Taylor, expert extraordinary. Miss Taylor performs gracefully and scores a strike invariably. A few trick shots are included. By way of contrast, a plump miss clumsily tries her hand at the game. Running time, 10 mins. "Take It Or Leave It, No. 3" (Columbia ) Bob Hawk conducts for the screen another quiz based on his radio program. Four coiiteVtants answer a varied lot of queries but only one."wifts the maximum $64. Finally a jackpot question is given to the contenders 'on the screen and the audience. Running time, 11 mins. / "Mad About Moonshine" (RKO) Edgar Kennedy, Vivian Oakland and Bill Franey go to the hill billy country to produce lots of laughs in this two-reel comedy. Kennedy is berated by his wife because he can't make any decisions when he learns that his father-in-law has inherited an estate. Franey knows the estate is worthless but finally accepts Kennedy's repeated offers to buy. When they get to the "estate" they find themselves in the midst of an old feud and with a charge of moonshining lodged against them. Running time, 19 mins. "From Singapore to Hong Kong" (Columbia) In undistinguished fashion the camera moves through the streets of Singapore and Hong Kong and the commentator calls attention to such points of interest as junks, rickshas and the oriental dress, all of which have been seen before. Running time, 10 mins. "Community Sing, No. 5" (Columbia) The audience is asked to sing in company with Lew White's organ, heard but not seen, and a group of vocalists. The songs played are "Beyond the Blue Horizon," "Walkin' My Baby Back Home," "You've Got Me This Way," "Beautiful Dreamer" and "So You're the One." There is nothing unusual about the short. Running time, 10 mins. "Fresh as a Freshman" (Columbia) Here David Durand, Paul Hurst, Wally Vernon, Rita Rio and others are assembled in a comedy affair in college. The comedy is unadulterated slapstick with the dean continually the victim of a fiving shoe or somethi ig equally effective in rendering him unconscious. Miss Rio's work is limited to one song and a small part in the story. Running time, 18 mins. "Forbidden Passage" (M-G-M) This "Crime Does Not Pay" short, in exploring the racket of smuggling aliens into the country, is exciting and tense and at times achieves a degree of stark realism that is almost unbearable. Upon finding bodies wrapped in sacks and chains in Florida waters, the immigration agents investigate and by clever devices eventually uncover the racket. Running time, 21 minutes. "Wild Boar Hunt" (Warners) Howard Hill, who is described as the "world's greatest archer," again demonstrates that the title is justified. Here he embarks on a boar hunt with his 'three dogs and 'during the search handles the bow with incredible speed arid accuracy. Most of the shots are repeated in slow motion. The/final sequences are mote exciting ak Hill is seen rescuing iwith a timely shot a farmer being attacked by a 'boar. It is all very thrilling and well done in color. Running time, 10 mins. "Picture People, No. 6" (RKO-Pathe) Here is a lively little short with big film names which should please. On view are Warren William with a vacuum cleaner to take up leaves from the lawn ; Jerry Colonna, Smiley Burnette and Preston Foster harmonizing in a ditty about a coyote ; Anita Louise in herhoneymoon cottage, and C. Aubrey Smith working in his garden. Charles Laughton and Elsa Lanchester wind up the reel with a radio rehearsal directed by Arch Oboler. First rate. Running time, 10 mins. ' "Sniffles Bells the Caf ( Warners) A group of mice decides that the only way to leafn when the cat is approaching is to tie a bell around his neck. The smallest, Sniffles by name, is elected to do the job. His finally successful effort, sometimes amusing, forms the main body of the cartoon. Running time, 7 mins. "Fight, Fish, Fight' ( W arners) A marlin expedition in the New Zealand Bay of Islands with Mr. and Mrs. Michael Lerner is photographed well in color and the result is truly exciting entertainment. From the time a sea monster, said to weigh 706 pounds, nibbles on Lerner's hook to the time he is reeled in the battle is thrilling. The surrounding country, filmed in color, adds to the effect. Running time, 10 mins. "Ice Capers" (Columbia) This an ice skating demonstration by Olympic Champion Irving Jaffee, who essays a dual role, champ and chump. It might prove instructive for the attentive winter sport enthusiast since Jaffee's maneuvering on the ice is masterful. As the chump character, Joe Flop, donning high hat and fur coat, he is seen falling repeatedly in a manner which some may consider amusing. Running time, 10 "mins. NBC Tries Oul Live Talent in Color Telecasl (Continued from page 1) Philco laboratory developments oiH synchronization and will make a sec 1 ond call at the Allen B. DuMont labo ratories here tomorrow. Neither NBC ' nor RCA plans to demonstrate^^) television for the FCC unless a ^ Jt fic request is made, it was said. Friday's telecast was the first liv talent program in color ever to b transmitted over the air here. How ever, CBS had previously tested coin television from films before its trans mitter was compelled to go off thi air for adjustments to a new fre quency. Agreement on 'Star' Publicity on Agair (Continued from page 1)> cently, and all major company adver tising directors were so informed b; the Advertising Advisory Council o M.P.P.D.A. Later, however, severa advertising directors who had beei discouraged from attempting to pre serve the agreement by the latest out break of "star" advertising on Broad way, agreed to give it "one mort trial." Largely influencing their de cision, it was said, was the decisioi of the Rivoli to become a party to flu "agreement." The Rivoli, which was directly responsible for one of the earlier aban donments of the agreement, has noi been a party to the "pact" up to now Some advertising managers yesterday expressed the hope that the Brandt Circuit's Broadway houses might also be brought into the agreement later. They are the only house; of standing on Broadway still not par . ties to it. Warner Ball Saturday / The 12th annual banquet and bal: of the Warner Club takes place Sat urday night in the grand ballroom ol the Hotel Waldorf-Astoria. Aboul 1.500 are expected. Music will be furnished by Jack Teagarden, Raymond Scott and their orchestras and by Ramon's Cuban Caballeros. "Take the Air" (Warners) A musical comedy of the "Broadway Brevities" series, this is ably performed by William T. Orr, Mary Brodel, Eddie Foy, Jr., Andrew Tombes and Frank Ferguson. The story concerns Foy's effort to bring new talent to his father's radio station. Orr becomes involved as a * hitch-hiker who, after accompanying Foy to the station, meets Miss Brodel. Almost immediately they go into a song. The short is gay and entertaining throughout. Running time, 20 mins. "The Haunted Mouse" (W arners) A clever variation of the overworked cat-pursuing-mouse theme, this "Looney Tune" has the cat in alt sorts of perplexities because thei mouse is really a ghost and appears! and disappears. Running time, 7 minsB