Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1941)

4 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, August 21, 1941 Decision on Minn. 5-Block To Be Delayed (Continued from pane 1) which recently was enacted into law. The plaintiff companies will have a week in which to answer, thus eliminating the possibility of a decision in advance of the official start of the new season Sept. 1. Attorneys today recalled that at the time of the hearing, David Shearer, attorney for the contesting companies, asked for some sort of indication as to when a decision might be expected. Judge Hanft replied, "This is a very important case and I think we should take plenty of time." It was reported by authorities here that local attorneys for the majors had not been consulted as to whether sales should be permitted pending determination of the legality of the antiblock-of-five law. Critics' Quotes Morgan Testifies On Crescent Deals (Continued from page 1) with Tony Sudekum, Crescent president. He described as '-the most difficult deal I ever had with Crescent" the two years of negotiations leading to a five-year franchise on Paramount product for the Crescent circuit and the leasing of the Paramount Theatre in Nashville to Crescent for five years, beginning in 1937. For several years, he said, Crescent had not bought Paramount product. He said that Sudekum had a grievance against Paramount, which had built the Paramount in downtown Nashville. Film business "is a horse-trading business," said Morgan, and he pointed out that franchises were advantageous in that they assured distributors a steady outlet for films and saved much expense. Robert Shrader, Warner salesman out of Indianapolis, denied he ever told Arthur Mitchell, exhibitor in Russellville, Ky., that if Crescent opened a theatre there -he could not obtain sufficient product. He said Mitchell was an irregular customer of Warners. Defense counsel had called Ben Kalmenson, Western and Southern division sales manager for Warners, when Judge Elmer Davies suspended trial to hear other proceedings. Here in connection with Shrader's and Kalmenson's testimony are Robert W. Perkins, general counsel and a director of Warner Bros., and Stuart Aarons of Perkin's home office staff. Orders Trial of Suit Against British GN N. Y. Supreme Court Justice J. Sidney Bernstein yesterday denied an application of Grand National Pictures, Ltd., of England, to vacate an attachment of $14,805 levied by Joseph Auerbach, and ordered a trial of the suit. Auerbach is suing for $14,805, claiming that Grand National agreed with Grafton Films, Ltd., an English firm, to assume a debt of the latter to the plaintiff and to repay this loan. "THE LITTLE FOXES" (Goldwyn-RKO) Unquestionably . . . the most perfectly produced, the most skillfully played drama to come out of Hollywood in a great many months. . . . Has mood, and pace and tension. . . . Will leave you limp, but full of satisfaction. — Virginia Wright, Los Angc-les News. Will probably be entitled to Academy Awards right and left . . . one of those super-fine things that the movies give birth to once in a dozen years. — Edwin Schallert, Los Angeles Times. A daring innovation. ... A story that has so unpleasant a theme could have gone completely wrong, but Wyler's intensity and his subtlety make it one of the outstanding productions of the year. — Lowella 0. Parsons. Los Angeles Examiner. "LIFE BEGINS FOR ANDY HARDY" (M-G-M) The Hardy Family series, pictorial soap opera that it is, is still the best of any movie series, and this latest chapter shows signs of growing up. — Carl Combs, Hollywood Citizen-Nezvs. Audience loved it and cried for more at the "finis" title . . . wholesome and really human. . . . Patricia Dane appears to have everything that successful movie queens are made of. — Los' Angeles Examiner. Less precocious than many of its predecessors . . . the new film is consequently more enjoyable. — Philip K. Schcuer, Los Angeles Times. Splendid. . . . Easily the best of this wholesome and amazingly human series, this comes under the heading of a don't-miss-movie. — Los Angeles HeraldExpress. "KISS THE BOYS GOODBYE" (Paramount) A regulation screen musical, although a reasonably breezy and entertaining one. — Newsweek. One of the most delightful comedy-dramas of the season. — Louolla 0. Parsons, Los Angeles Examiner. Lacks the informal quality and spontaneity of Schertzinger's recent comedies . . . but it is pleasant foolery. You'll find it a different sort of musical, well planted with laughs. — Harrison Carroll, Los Angeles Herald & Express. A light and agreeable screen comedy with music. . . . Mary Martin carries the picture to a higher level of entertainment than it could have reached wdth out her. Will most certainly win Miss Martin a higher star-rating in the Hollywood book. — Norman Clark, Baltimore Neivs-Pos't. The film is amusing enough, but it's sailing under false colors in pretending to be an adaptation of Miss Boothe's caustic commentary on Southern womanhood and the mores of Hollywood. — Robert Johnson., Memphis PresrsScimitar. It's bright and lively entertainment ; we meant it when we said you'd like Mary Martin, and the rest of the cast is deft and likable. — Doris Arden, Chieago Daily Times. In making the transformation from stage to screen, Clare Boothe's comic success has gained immensely in its attractions. The picture replaces the rather tawdry stage comedy with a glittering and richly appointed film musical.— Robert B. Cochrane, Baltimore Evening Sun. A corking music comedy. . . . Forget that you ever saw the play on stage and have yourself a load of laughs. — Harry Martin, Memphis Commercial Appeal. Some nice tunes and a cute leading lady give it an injection of sparkle which is sorely needed in a story with a stale plot and a couple of radio actors. . . . Mary Martin does a brilliant job of holding together a show that has little to offer besides her good acting and pleasing countenance. — Pence James, Chicago Daily Nevus. "SERGEANT YORK" (Warners) One of the year's finest pictures. ... If we used the "star system" . . . we'd give "Sergeant York" 48 stars ! ... an artistic triumph. — Bomie Harrison, I \ 'ashington Times-Herald. Hits the screen at the precise moment when the American frame of mind is ripe to receive it. . . . Most Americans will be sympathetically keyed to the ruggedness, the documentary honesty and the natural drama of the story. — Helen Buchalter, Washington Daily News. More than a superior movie, for in the film's terse, human, honest mountain idiom there is a matchlessly eloquent statement of the American ideal ... an honest story . . . natural, unrestrained humor. It is a "must." An absolute "must." — Jay Carmody, Washington Star. "HOLD THAT GHOST" (Universal) A very low comedy with a very high percentage of rumbling, unabashed belly laughs. To students of the muscle-and-meringe school of comedy, and/or admirers of the comedy team, the new film will prove as funny as "Buck Privates." — Nenvszveek. Will bring the music of box-office coin to the exhibitors. . . . You will forget your weariness when you see this movie, for it's a honey of a comedy. — Louclla O. Parsons, Los Angeles Examiner. It keeps the audience roaring and there are probably more laughs per pennyweight for the audience in this film than in a dozen comedies cast in a more subtle mold.— "W . W.," Baltimore Sun. The luxurious backing given its prologue and epilogue cram in the money's worth, but what happens in the dilapidated sets of the haunted house makes it generous for the "fork-over" at the box-office. — William Hawkins, N. V. World-Telegram. Abbott and Costello's most wild-eyed and perhaps uproarious comedy, once it really gets going. — Edivin Schallert, Los Angeles' Timc-s. Abbott and Costello are batting 1,000 in the giggle league— three times up and three hits. — Norman Clark. Baltimore News-Post. Canada Setup Seen Affected By U. A. Move (Continued from pape 1) its theatre interests in Canada and the" United States as well. The U. A. program, it is re^'TV-d. has not yet been sold to either j^— FPC or Odeon. Nathanson is out of the city and i: expected tomorrow. Sam Glazer Canadian district manager for U. A. declared he talked with Nathansoi yesterday, but that Nathanson hac not mentioned any financing plan dur ing the conference. Glazer said hi knew nothing of any financial devel opment and referred to Nathanson' previous denial regarding the report Eight Hamilton Houses To FPC, Six to Odeon Hamilton, Ont, Aug. 20. — Reij alignment of theatres in this city sine the split between Famous Player Canadian and N. L. Nathanson givej Famous Players control of eigh houses and Odeon six, thus far. Deals by Odeon Odeon has acquired the Capitol aroj Palace, effective Sept. 1, and ha leased the Savoy from the Strou| Estate. Also associated with Odeor will be the three theatres of Lesli Gregory, the Windsor, Royal am York. George Stroud will be Odeon distric | manager for Hamilton. He manager the Palace and Savoy for years. In the new Famous Players setup1! the Tivoli will be transformed into | de luxe house and will divide firs] run product with the Century, a linl in 20th Century Theatres circuit Other Famous Players theatres herej will be the Strand and Granada, whili H. W. Braden, head of Unitec Amusement Corp., has joined force: with the circuit and will operate th< Kenmore, Regent, Kenilworth afiJ Avalon. Also associated with Famou: Players will be the Westdale, oper ated by Theatre Holding Corp. o the Allen group. Managerial Changes Ernest G. Warren, formerly of thd Palace, has been made manager of the Tivoli, succeeding C. T. Spencer-1 A. E. Brown, manager of the Capitol has been promoted to the Toronto, home office, while M. Swadron of thel Capitol, has been made Tivoli assistant manager. George Fairley, formerly Palace assistant, has been promoted to housed manager of the Capitol, Ottawa, under T. R. Tubman, recently namec Eastern Ontario district manager Daniel Krendel continues as district manager for Hamilton and Western; Ontario. Tax Payment Saves Minneapolis House Minneapolis, Aug. 20. — The Lyceum here was saved from destruction threatened by its owners when, the Hennepin County Board voted to accept $75,000 in settlement of $150,000 in back taxes extending to 1931.' Offer was made by the Northwestern; National Bank & Trust Co., which said that if relief weren't granted they would order the theatre razed.