Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1941)

Thursday. November 13. 1941 Motion Picture Daily 5 Timely, Exploitable Shorts Lead Demand Short Subject J^epartment Heads « Norman Morav WARNERS Fred Quimbv M-G-M Bernard Kreisler UNIVERSAL Harry Michalson RKO M. J. Weisfeldt COLUMBIA Short Subject Reviews Georgetown, Pride of Penang" ( Fitzpatrick Traveltalk) i M-G-M) The camera tours the harbor and streets of Georgetown, capital of Penang. Malayan island, with inter 1 1 sting and picturesque results. Excellent color contributes materially to the reel and the commentary is in | a pleasant, informative vein. The -ubject is equal to the high standard maintained bv the series. Running time, 9 mins. Release, Nov. 15, 1941. 'Mitt Me Tonight" (All-Star Comedies) i i (Columbia) Some musical numbers, comedy and fisticuffs make up this two-reeler set against a collegiate and nautical background. A free cruise is offered to students who attain honor grades but I one of them is tricked by having a rival steal the examination paper and substitute incorrect answers. Nevertheless, he manages to get on board as IJ a stowaway to engage his rival in a tight. Included in the cast are David Durand, Sidney Miller, Doodles Weaver, Lorraine Miller and George Offerman. Running time, 16 mins. ! Release, Nov. 11, 1941. "Come Back Miss Pipps" 'Our Gang Comedy) {M-G-M) An amusing subject which depicts the means by which the school children depose a despotic school board chairman and reinstate the teacher who was ousted for giving birthday | parties in the classroom. Excellent for children's matinees and satisfactory on any program. Running time, 11 mins. Release, Oct. 25, 1941. "Alaska Tour" (Columbia Tour) {Columbia) Andre de La Varre conducts a tour of some interesting points in Alaska. The salmon packing industry at Ketchikan ; Juneau, the capital ; the Lynn Canal ; Skagway and the Yukon are among the places visited. The shots of the glaciers and the Alaskan mountains are excellent. Running time, 10 mins. Release, Nov. 7. "Women in Photographg" ( ( ine scope) (Columbia ) The technique of four outstanding women photographers is described here. Margaret Bourke-White, Bernice Abbott, Ruth Nichols and Toni Frissell are shown at work in their studios. The meticulous precision of their work should interest audiences and the reel is made more attractive by showing not only the posing of the models but also the finished product. Running time, 10 mins. Release, Nov. 7. Interest of Exhibitors in Shorts Seen Increasing "Screen Snapshots, No. 3" (Columbia) Hollywood stars at play and a barbecue for exhibitors make this an entertaining reel. John Hubbard acts as guide to a young girl from Georgia. Among those seen are Leo Carrillo, Jean Parker, Rochelle Hudson, Johnny. Mack Brown, Maxine Jones, Gracie Fields, Jackie Cooper, the "Three Stooges," Edgar Bergen with Charlie McCarthy and a number of others. Running time, 10 mins. Release, Nov. 11. "Jungle Fishing" (Sport ReeV (Columbia) Big game fishing, the oft-photographed sport, is again material for a reel which should be enjoyed by fishing fans. This subject was photographed by Jack Etra in jungles off the coast of Cuba and Bill Stern has provided the commentary. Sting rays and tarpoon are caught, with two anglers testing the relative effectiveness of their respective lures. Running time. 11 mins. Release, Oct. 10. "The Crystal Gazer" (Phantasy Cartoon) (Columbia) A black-and-white cartoon, this reel has little to offer. A mystic offers to predict the future and invites the audience to submit questions. One lady offers a query, there is an involved flashback to Egypt and its mummies, but the mystic finally tells the lady not to mix whipped cream with potato salad. Running time, 10 min. Release, Oct. 10. (Continued from page 1) ports an increase in business of about 22 per cent. Edward Aaron, assistant to William F. Rodgers, general sales manager of M-G-M, also observes that showmen are becoming "shorts conscious." Harry Michalson, RKO short subjects head, declares that his company's business is the "best in years" and that exhibitor interest in RKO shorts is "definitely on the increase." Max Weisfeldt, Columbia short subjects chief, also avers that there is a "decided increase" in national sales on short subjects for his company. Warners' Ballet Shorts New this season on the Warner program, it is stated, will be two shorts featuring the Ballet Russe which will be released as part of the "Technicolor Special" series of six two-reelers in color. Of this series one, "The Tanks Are Coming," already is in release. Those forthcoming include "Soldiers in White," which concerns the army medical corps, and another military subject dealing with Winter warfare. The sixth probably will have a military theme also. Of the company's "Broadway Brevities" series of 12 two-reelers, three are in release. These are "Minstrel Days," "Perils of the Jungle" and "At the Stroke of 12." In the "Sports Parade" classification are 10 one-reel shorts, of which "Kings of the Turf" and "W ater Sports" are now available. M-G-M's 78 M-G-M has on schedule 78 shorts, it is said with seven more than last year. Included are six "Two Reel Specials" of which "Tell Tale Heart" is now ready ; 12 Fitzpatrick "Traveltalks," of which three are available, "Glimpses of Florida," "Inside Passage" and "Georgetown, Pride of Penang." Also, 10 "Miniatures," the first of which, "Changed Identity," has been released ; 16 cartoons in color ; 14 Pete Smith "Specialities," two of which are in release, "Army Champions" and "Fancy Answers" ; 10 "Our Gang" comedies, of which "Helping Hands" and "Come Back, Miss Pipps" are available ; and 10 "Passing Parade" subjects, one of which, "Strange Testament," is completed. Universal has 56 on the regular schedule with one special, a two-reeler, "Cavalcade of Aviation," available for Christmas, according to inquiry. The short will have its "premiere" in Dayton. Thirteen "Color Cartoons" are scheduled with three already released. Also on the books are 15 "Stranger Than Fiction," 15 "Variety Views," and 13 two-reel musicals. The RKO program numbers 86, including 13 issues of "March of Time," three of which have been distributed, it is indicated. Walt Disney is scheduled to provide 18 cartoons. The schedule also calls for 13 "Information Please" reels, two of which are in release; 13 "Sportscopes," two of which have been released; 13 "Picture People" shorts, two of which are in release ; and 16 two-reel comedies, of which seven are in release. Columbia Has 140 Columbia, it is asserted, has 140 shorts on its schedule. Of these, 30 are two-reel comedies and six are "International Forum" subjects. The comedies are divided into three separate classifications. These are "Glove Slingers," one of which, "Mitt Me Tonight," is in release ; eight "Three Stooges," of which three have been issued, "Ache in Every Stake," "Some More of Samoa" and "In the Sweet Pie and Pie" ; and 18 "All Stars," of which these are in release : "Love in Gloom," "Half Shot at Sunrise," "General Nuisance," "Blitz Kiss," "Lovable Trouble" and "She's Oil Mine." Columbia's single reels include 32 cartoons, eight "Cinescopes," 12 "Panoramics," six historical cartoons with Raymond Gram Swing, 12 "Word of Sports," 10 "Community Sings," eight "Tours," 10 "Screen Snapshots," and six "Quiz Reels." Club Helps Children Philadelphia, Nov. 12. — The local Variety Club and Sam S. Stiefel, operator _ of Fay's, played host to the city's infantile paralysis child victims from hospitals, schools and homes at a special show at the theatre. The club provided the buses to transport the children. Party for Carol Bruce Bud Abbott and Lou Costello will be hosts at a birthday party for Carol Bruce at the Hotel Astor tomorrow.