Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1941)

Thursday, May 15, 1941 Motion Picture daily 5 Hollywood Review "Love Crazy" (M-G-M) Hollywood, May 14 MYRNA LOY and William Powell, whose cinematic marital adventures for M-G-M have made them one of the top box-office teams, get into the groove again with a new offering, "Love Crazy, which depends more upon slapstick than their former films for laughs but which is just as effective in provoking them It is a hilariously funny offering and so loud and long were the laughs at its Hollywood preview that much of the dialogue was lost. Supporting the stars are Gail Patrick, Jack Carson, Florence Bates, Sidney Blackmer, Sig Rumann, Vladimir Sokoloff, Donald MacBride, Sara Haden, Kathleen Lockhart, Fern Emmett, Joseph Crehan, George Meeker, Clarence Muse and Elisha Cook, Jr. Powell and Miss Loy, about to celebrate their fourth wedding anniversary, are interrupted by the mother of the woman. Powell, on an errand, becomes involved with an old sweetheart and after a quarrel, Miss Loy files for divorce. Powell, to delay the proceedings, pretends he is insane, and his wife has him committed to an asylum. He escapes to try to win her back and an elaborate chase sequence, part of which has Powell dressed as his elderly sister, follows through to the climax. Some of the dialogue and situations make the film adult entertainment. Jack Conway directed this Pandro S. Berman production with a light hand, milking every situation dry of comedy. Running time, 100 minutes. "A."* Vance King U. A. English First Quarter Gross Up 25% (Continued from page 1) ing schedule now in effect, he pointed out that night business will improve, since the blackV kits and night air raids will JTot occur until 10:30 to 11:00 P.M., London time, instead of the usual 8:30 to 9:00 P.M. Archibald is here from London for a month's combined business and vacation visit. Archibald said that United Artists' business during the first quarter of the year was materially aided by a number of releases which proved particularly strong in England during the period, especially "The Great Dictator" and "The Long Voyage Home." The Charles Chaplin picture was simultaneously released to all British theatres, with the result that it played every theatre in some cities at the same time. Rentals in Blitzed Areas Cut While film rentals have been reduced for theatres in bombed areas, from which an appreciable number of former patrons have been evacuated, they remain at normal in all other sections of Britain, Archibald reported. He said there has been no marked change in the film preferences of the British ; that they still will favor serious drama if it is well done, more than they will light comedy or musicals of mediocre quality. The test, as always, he said, is not the type of picture so much as it is the quality. He reported that British film production is about 50 per cent less today than it was prior to the war, and that this is reflected in the business being done there by American companies and their pictures, which now receive proportionately more playing time. The labor shortage, in all branches of the industry, is rapidly approaching the crucial stage, Archibald said, since even women and girls are being accepted more and more for military or semi-official assignments. He paid tribute to American company representatives in Great Britain, "who are remaining at their posts there although they are not obliged to and despite the fact that it is not always pleasant." Owners Reimbursed Archibald said that the British Government is paying the owners of bombed theatres two and one-half per cent interest on the assessed amount of damage to their properties and that they will be reimbursed the full amount after the war. He said there has been no material change in the estimated number of theatres destroyed or closed in Britain during recent months, that the total is still estimated at 450 to 500 out of commission. There are approximately 5,000 theatres in Britain. He foresees no change in quota regulations "unless the 'blitz' becomes much worse than it now is." Cut Reading House Tax Reading, Pa., May 14. — A reduction in tax assessment from $300,000 to $200,000 was allowed by the city authorities for the former Moose Temple, which includes the Park Theatre. The cut in taxes is retroactive. *"A" denotes adult classification. 'Hey Rube!' Variety Clubs Meet in A. C. (Continued from page 1) for the current year. National officers for the next year will be elected on Friday. A Night of Nights will be held in the evening, featuring a buffet supper and entertainment. Saturday, the closing day of the convention, will be the highlight of the conclave, opening with the golf tournament. A monster boardwalk parade is scheduled for noon on Saturday, followed by a circus in the Auditorium Building. A United Artists cocktail party will follow, with the final banquet closing the convention Saturday evening. The annual humanitarian award will be made at the banquet. Among the Hollywood players expected are Dorothy Lamour, Laraine Day, Frank Morgan, Fay Wray, Eddie Norris,, Wayne Morris, Walter Pidgeon, Robert Young, Gail Patrick and Carol Landis. Mayor Tobin of Boston will arrive tomorrow, following part of the Boston delegation, which arrived this evening. One hundred and fifty policemen from Philadelphia will assist the local police in handling traffic arrangements. Wilkinson Toastmaster New Haven, May 14. — Herman M. Levy, chairman of the seventh anniversary testimonial dinner in honor of Harry M. Shaw, Loew-Poli division manager, to be held Monday at Ceriani's, reports that George T. Wilkinson, Jr., will act as toastmaster for the event. Continues Vaudeville Philadelphia, May 14. — Frank O. Ackley, manager of the Carman, has announced that the vaudeville policy will be continued through the Summer, because of the expected demand for entertainment by defense workers. What Clubs Plan For Opening Day Atlantic City, May 14.— Opening day's program of the Variety Club Convention here tomorrow: 9 A.M.-12 M.— Registration, 11th Floor, Hotel Traymore. 10 A.M.— Meeting of Officers and Committees (Rose Room). 12 M.— Boat Rides and Fishing Parties. 1 P.M.— Luncheon for Officers (Mandarin Room). 2 P.M.-5 P.M. — ProducerExhibitor Forum. 5 P.M.-8 P.M. — Sightseeing, Private Dinner Parties, etc. 6 P.M.— Special Variety Club Dinner (European Room). 8 P.M.— Boxing Show at the Auditorium. Theatre Wins 'Some Run* from 20th-Fox (Continued from page 1) quently was eliminated after reportedly reaching an agreement with the exhibtor. The decision is the first to be given here. Second Complaint Filed in Charlotte Charlotte, May 14. — The second arbitration complaint of record here was filed today by Ellis Blumenthal, operator of the Lafayette Theatre, Winston-Salem. It asks "some run" of Warners, Paramount and RKO. Cincinnati HearingDelayed to May 28 Cincinnati, May 14. — The first arbitration hearings at the local board, involving both run and clearance complaints by Willis H. Vance against Loew's, Paramount, 20th Century-Fox and Warners, which was scheduled for today, was postponed to May 28 by Judge Stanley Matthews, arbitrator. Fitzgibbons Is Named Head of F. P. Canadian (Continued from page 1) tario, was named general manager of theatre operations under Fitzgibbons. Directors elected today were : N. S. Robertson of McMaster, Montgomery, Fleury & Co., Toronto ; Wendell Farris of Vancouver ; Angus MacCunn, Lawrence G. Gerring, Bolstad and Barrow, all executives of FPC here. Also elected to the board were Barney Balaban, Paramount president ; Stanton Griffis and Austin C. Keough of Paramount, and Fitzgibbons. Additional directors chosen from representative Canadian business men will be added to the board at a later meeting, it was said. Included in Nathanson's new circuit is Twentieth Century Theatres, an expanding organization now numbering about 25 theatres in Ontario, of which N. A. Taylor, former independent exhibitor leader, is the managing head. Fitzgibbons has been associated with FPC for the past 11 years as managing director or vice-president in charge of theatre operations. Nathanson, whose contract as FPC head had about six weeks to run, had been associated with the company for more than 20 years. During his negotiations with Paramount for continuing in the post he offered, at one time, to sell his FPC interest to Paramount and turn over his outside theatre interests to FPC, as well, but later withdrew the offer on the ground that Paul Nathanson, his son, who is head of the outside theatre operations, would not agree to the deal. Balaban, Griffis and Keough, who attended the meeting here, remained over for management conferences with Fitzgibbons. Col. Meet to Follow Executives' Session (Continued from page 1) will make arrangements for the meeting to be held for the entire sales force. Abe Montague, Columbia general sales manager, said that plans would be made in Chicago for the further extension of the company's decentralized sales policy, under which the sales force is given considerable leeway. Montague reminded that Columbia, which is not a party to the Federal consent decree, will follow the same distribution method next season that it always has. Plea Is Withdrawn On Cranston House Cranston, R. I., May 14. — Faced with opposition from adjoining property owners and representatives of nearby churches, at a hearing before the Zoning Board of Review, Albert H. Cinriano of Providence withdrew his application for a permit to build a film house here. He planned a neighborhood house seating 500 to 600.