Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1941)

[ Friday, March 14, 1941 Motion Picture Daily British in Plea on Reserve Listings London, March 13. — The industry today made an urgent plea to the Ministry of Labor to retain the status quo on the reserved occupations listing, with respect to film technicians, declaring that the changes now proposed to be effective April 1, will mean the virtual extinction of the in j*£<e case for the industry in its attempt to prevent a dangerous shortage >of technical labor was presented to the Government this morning by the producers and this afternoon by exhibitors and labor. Meanwhile, the general council of the Cinematograph Exhibitors Association reported that the Kinematograph Renters Society (distributors) is unwilling to institute a sliding scale of rentals for the relief of exhibitors in bombed areas, but will ask individual distributors to treat separate cases fining bombed areas. The report of with consideration. The K.R.S. disputes the possibility of arbitrarily dethe C.E.A. council confirms the recent forecast of Motion Picture Daily on the situation. Ask Court Approval For Fox Accounting Kenneth P. Steinreich and Leopold Porrino as trustees of Fox Theatres Corp. filed notice of application yesterday in N. Y. Supreme Court for approval of an accounting of Fox Theatres for the year ending Dec. 31, 1940. The report reveals $87,187 available last Dec. 31 for distribution to certificate holders and for payment of taxes and allowances to trustees and attorneys. The application, which will be heard by Justice Edward B. McLaughlin on March 31, asks in addition for approval of a plan of operation for 1941 and for authorization to sell certain land located in the Bronx held by the trustees. Fees and allowances are sought for services rendered in 1940. A sum of $80,000, the report states, is being held as a reserve for the possible distribution to William Fox on his claim, estimated at $8,000,000. Fox's claim is subject to litigation, and the trustees have interposed a crossclaim against him. Carolina MPTO in Membership Drive Charlotte, N. C, March 13. — The Theatre Owners of North and South Carolina plan a membership drive, centering chiefly in South Carolina. Charles Arrington, president, and Mrs. Pauline Griffith, secretary, have completed a tour of North Carolina, during which they signed a number of theatres to membership. Hardy Tax Affirmed Washington, March 13. — The Board of Tax Appeals today affirmed deficiency taxes of $75,755 against Oliver Hardy for the years 1934 to 1937, inclusive, holding a property settlement between the actor and his wife in 1933 was in full force even though they had become reconciled. Feature Reviews "That Uncertain Feeling" (Lubitsch-Lcsscr-United Artists) D EGINNING with little more in the way of a story idea than a young wife in the throes of boredom, Ernst Lubitsch ends by delivering a sophisticated comedy drama of married life which sparkles frequently, sometimes merely glimmers, but always is rich in production values. Since Lubitsch has chosen to diagnose the young wife's boredom as due almost exclusively to an insufficiency of provision for her physical appetite, the resulting production, also, is suited almost exclusively to mature audiences. This, perhaps, would be less the case if the producerdirector had been as subtle in all sequences as he is in the final one when he causes the young husband to open the door of his wife's bedroom and place the photograph of the erstwhile amorous intruder on the floor outside, signalizing that all is well again within. But such is not the case. The Lubitsch "touch," on occasion, here becomes a sock in the jaw, as in the blunt insinuations of the doctor's consultation with the young wife, which leave no doubt that he and Lubitsch are in diagnostic agreement. Merle Oberon, as the young wife, is well prepared for an extramarital adventure by that consulation. In fact, as though he were a prescription supplied on order, she encounters the means for that adventure in the doctor's waiting room in the person of Burgess Meredith, as a pianist of the "arty" genre. From there on, her boredom as the wife of Melvyn Douglas, a successful insurance man too engrossed in his work, progresses to the divorce stage, then retraces its steps to the reconciliation when she comes to realize that an artist, as well as an insurance salesman, can be too wrapped up in his occupation to make of a woman's life an endless courtship. Miss Oberon's performance is almost flawless. Her transition from the dissatisfied woman bent upon divorce to the reawakened wife again in love with her husband is one of expertness and appeal. Douglas has difficulty overcoming his unsympathetic original characterization of the indifferent husband, but once launched upon his campaign to re-win his wife, he is again on solid ground, and ends both the picture and the role as its master. Meredith is an amusing, irresponsible artist-adventurer, not too likable, as the script directs, but believable. In the lesser roles, Harry Davenport as the family lawyer ; Alan Mowbray as the doctor ; Sig Rumann as an insurance client, and Olive Blakeney as a friend, stand out. The story runs from the risque to the warmly comic. Full use should be made of the cast and producer's names in selling the picture as sophisticated entertainment for adults. The title's own implications are not likely to be misread. Running time, 85 minutes. "A."* Sherwin A. Kane *"A" denotes adult classification. (A Man Betrayed' {Republic) Hollywood, March 13 /")NE of the better of the consistently improved pictures of Republic, "A Man Betrayed" is a powerful story of graft and corruption in high places of a city's government. The tale deals with the endeavors of a small town attorney, played by John Wayne, in determining the real cause of the death of a friend, with the subsequent exposure of the crooked elections and politics and the eventual overthrow of the town's "boss." Supporting Wayne are Frances Dee and Edward Ellis, in featured roles ; Wallace Ford, Ward Bond, Harold Huber, Alexander Granach, Barnett Parker, Ed Stanley, Tim Ryan, Harry Hayden, Russell Hicks, Pierre Watkin and Ferris Taylor. At first called "Gangs of Kansas City" and later "Citadel of Crime," the film is amenable to exploitation and advertising campaigns, keynotes of which play up the exposures of graft. The film, directed by John H. Auer, while not edited as carefully in its preview version as it might have been, merits special attention, being able to hold its own with others of much higher budgets. Armand Schaefer was the associate producer. Running time, 80 minutes. "G."* Vance King *"G" denotes general classification. TNEC Issues Its Report on Screen Washington, March 13. — The Temporary National Economic Committee today formally issued its monograph on motion pictures, prepared by Daniel Bertrand, W. Duane Evans and E. L. Blanchard. Motion Picture Daily published a full report on the monograph in the issue of March 7. The report was released without comment by the TNEC, other than a foreword that its publication "in no way signifies nor implies assent to, or approval of, any of the facts, opinion or recommendations." The same disclaimer has been made in all of the 29 industrial monographs submitted. Jay Paley Witness In Schenck Trial Joseph M. Schenck conferred with almost all 20th Century-Fox Film officers on a number of trips in his yacht, Caroline, Jay Paley testified yesterday in the Government suit against Schenck and Joseph H. Moskowitz in Federal court here. Paley said Schenck used the yacht for a goodwill tour, and that important film executives such as Samuel Goldwyn, Darryl F. Zanuck, William Goetz and Louis B. Alayer visited him on the yacht during the trip. Important exhibitors also visited Schenck aboard the yacht, Paley said. This testimony was corroborated by Louis Wertheimer. Harry C. Wilson, another witness, declared that Schenck had held many business conferences aboard the yacht with producers and film executives. The witness, who had been Schenck's yacht broker, stated that Schenck purchased his first yacht, The Invader, for $96,000 and later sold it for $35,000. Ruth Nolader, Schenck's former secretary, will be the first witness called today. Cincinnati's Games Feb. Gross $206,505 Cincinnati, March 13. — There was a total attendance of 279,358 at 259 city-licensed chance game parties here in February, at which gross was $206,505.68, prizes, $49,803.80, leaving net of $156,701.88 to sponsoring organizations, it was disclosed in a report of Police Chief Eugene T. Weatherly to City Manager C. O. Sherrill, who issues the playing permits. Average net cost per player was 55.1 cents. The January figures were 249 parties with attendance of 301,942 ; gross, $216,161.80; prizes, $52,474:74, and net, $163,687.06. January net cost per player was 54.2 cents. K.C. Club Party April 11 Kansas City, March 13. — Leon Allen, chairman of the entertainment committee of the local Variety Club, has announced that "Days of '49," annual Variety event open to the public, will be held in the clubrooms April 11 and 12.