Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1941)

II Monday, June 23, 1941 Motion Picture Daily 3 U. A. Expected to Announce 18 to 22 For New Season (Continued from page 1) owners in United Artists, along with Alexander Korda, Charles Chaplin and Mary Pickford, is expected to prevent a convention announcement of detailed production plans from 'Oise two producers. However, Selz==t still owes United Artists two pictures on his existing release contract with the company and will un■ doubtedly figure in the production announcement. Selznick has made plans to produce a number of shorter length subjects designed to be released as a composite program. Others in Lineup Also expected to contribute to the new schedule will be : Korda, two or three ; Chaplin, possibly one ; Maurice Silverstone-Mary Pickford, two or three ; Walter Wanger, two or three ; Loew-Lewin, two ; Edward Small, two ; Sol Lesser, two ; Hal Roach, two; Arnold Pressburger, one, and Richard Rowland. Kelly, Harry L. Gold and Haskell M. Masters will be in charge of the sessions, which will be concluded tomorrow. Report Settlement Talks in Wis. Case (Continued from page 1) by the local board to July 17. It had been scheduled for next Wednesday. Clearance Complaint Filed in Los Angeles Los Angeles, June 22. — The fourth industry arbitration complaint in this territory was filed here Friday on clearance by D. Lemucchi and James J. Vanducci, doing business as Vanducci & Lemucchi Theatre Co., Bakersfield, against the four consenting companies. They seek relief for the River Theatre, Oildale, and the Arvin Theatre, Arvin, asking clearance over the United West Coast Theatres group and nine other houses. N. Y. Board Concludes River Theatre Hearing Hearings of the River Theatre Corp. clearance complaint against the five consenting companies at the New York arbitration board were concluded on Friday. Francis A. Truslow, arbitrator, is scheduled to make an award in the near future. Allied Will Defend Attack on 5-Block (Continued from page 1) situation disclosed that exhibitors believe they will be able to obtain sufficient product until late in the year, by which time the subsequents will have exhausted present season pictures from the major companies. There was no immediate concern that anyone would be caught short before the season is well advanced. A three-member committee was appointed to study ways and means of stimulating box-office attendance. The Minnesota Amusement Co., dominant circuit in this area, will be asked to join in this. Feature Review "Blossoms in the Dust" (M-G-M) HERE is a biographical picture, the story of a woman who pioneered in Texas to give friendless orphans love and good homes, which emerges as a heart-warming", moving portrayal, rather heavy with sentiment but withal a fine production. Perhaps its greatest appeal will be to the feminine patrons, but there is much in it to recommend to all audiences. In the role of Edna Gladney, the woman who suffered tragedies of bereavement, and who fought with all her strength for the youngsters she loved, Greer Garson gives an outstanding performance. Technicolor has done much to enhance the effectiveness of the production. Produced by Irving Asher and directed by Mervyn LeRoy, the film is forthright and human at all times, with touches of rich humor and always with a tear close behind. Most able support is furnished chiefly by Walter Pidgeon, as her husband; Felix Bressart, her doctor friend who aids her in her fight for the orphans, and Marsha Hunt, as her adopted sister. Miss Garson, unable to withstand the impetuous demand of the Texan, Pidgeon, leaves her luxurious Wisconsin home for Texas, after Miss Hunt kills herself when the illegitimacy of her birth causes her wedding plans to collapse. Then, when her own son is killed, Miss Garson rebels until, fighting her grief, she takes upon herself the mothering of homeless children. They lose their fine home, later her husband dies, but she still fights on, with Bressart by her side, winning a final great victory when the fact of illegitimacy is stricken from state birth records by legislation she fought to have enacted. That is the bare outline of a picture replete with heart-stirring touches, ending when Miss Garson, in a final sacrifice for her chosen work, gives up the child she has come to love in order that he should have a real home. Women's groups may well be led to interest themselves in the film. Running time, 100 minutes. "G."* Charles S. Aaronson 'G" denotes general classification Hays Names 7 Committees For MPPDA (.Continued from page 1) Harry M. Warner and Maurice Silverstone. Finance : Kent, Warner and George Borthwick. Special budget : Schenck, Balaban and Joseph Hazen. Membership : Cohn, Blumberg and Schaefer. Foreign relations : David Bernstein, Hazen and W. C. Michel. Law : Austin Keough, Richard Dwight, Charles Schwartz, Charles Prutzman, J. Robert Rubin, Walter L. Brown, R. W. Perkins, Dennis F. O'Brien, Lawrence B. Morris and Gordon Youngman. Title : Albert Howson, Hannah Kass,. Grace Rosenfield, William Orr, Irene Scott, Sadie Laitas, George Muchnic, James Mulvey, William N. Weiss, E. P. Kilroe, Benjamin Pepper, Adolph Schimel, Hal Home, Harry Kosiner and Katherine Brown. Hays is expected here today from Sullivan, Ind., and will leave for the Coast shortly. Tyler in 'Mesquiteers' Hollywood, June 22. — Republic has signed Tom Tyler to replace Bob Livingston in the "Three Mesquiteers" series of westerns. Actor Wins Suit on Failure to Get Test (Continued from page 1) in March, 1939, signed Noles to a contract under which he was to receive a test, and under which Noles granted exclusive option on his services from the date of the agreement until four weeks after completion of the test. Plaintiff claimed that he did not seek other employment, although he had an opportunity to do so, for a period of 10 weeks from the date of the agreement. The court stated : "It may be argued that the defendant after it made the screen test could refuse to employ plaintiff on the ground that he did not measure to the requirements for employment. In my opinion that cannot be urged as prejudicial to plaintiff's recovering damages for the period aforesaid, when the defendant held the plaintiff helpless and subservient to the defendant's desire to secure a star by depriving that star of shining in another orbit." Cecil A. Citron, attorney for plaintiff, pointed out that there was no previous decision in point on this question. New PRC Financing Additional financing has been made available to Producers Releasing Corp. for the new season's production by Consolidated Film Industries, through a deal negotiated by O. Henry Briggs, PRC president, and Herbert J. Yates, Consolidated president, it was announced. The amount of the financing was not indicated. EDDIE FGY, JR. . JOSEPH SANTtET — Dl„ JUDY C A NOVA ^ FRANCIS LEDERER RAYMOND WALBURN • "SLIM" SUMMERVILLE ASTRID ALLWYN • ALMA KRUGER • HUGH O'CONNELL • "CHIC" CHANDLER