Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1943)

Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, August 18, 1943 Review "Lassie Come Home" (M-G-M) PREDICATED to Major Eric Knight, author of the novel upon which this picture is based, "Lassie Come Home" is a glowing tribute to all concerned in its making and will meet with good word-of-mouth promotion that should result in excellent returns at the boxoffice. Technicolor definitely adds to its entertainment value. The story is told simply and with charm. Lassie, a black-white-gold collie, is the pet of Roddy McDowall, whose father, Donald Crisp, is a poor Yorkshireman on the dole. Because of the straitened circumstances in which the family finds itself, the dog is sold to wealthy Nigel Bruce, who wishes to groom her as a show-dog. Lassie escapes from the Bruce kennels three times to return to Roddy, the third time from Scotland, hundreds of miles from Yorkshire. Her travels from Scotland, through forests, swamps, lakes and in all kinds of weather, lends a poignant touch to the film. Lassie is saved from a death by hunger through the ministrations of Dame May Whitty and her husband. They sense, though, that the dog wishes to move on. Then Lassie meets up with Edmund Gwenn, a kindly travelling merchant of pots and pans. Lassie saves Glenn's life when he is set upon by two men bent on robbing him. But even Gwenn senses that the dog is intent on being somewhere else and parts with her. Finally, the dog, dishevelled, spent and injured, returns to her master and Bruce offers Donald Crisp a job as his kennel man, allowing Roddy to keep his dog. Scenes of the countryside during Lassie's travels are beautiful in color. Direction by Fred M. Wilcox displays deftness and patience, which keeps the picture moving smoothly. Samuel Marx produced with Hugo Butler doing the screenplay. "Lassie Come Home" will be compared by many with "My Friend Flicka" and will not suffer in this comparison. Running time, 90 mins. "G-"* Fred Stengel 7 New Leading Men Signed by W. B. In the six months since Jack L. Warner, executive producer, established the new Warner Bros, talent bureau in the East under Martin Jurow, the company has discovered and signed seven new leading men. All have already been put to work in pictures, with eventual stardom in prospect for the entire group. Newcomers to the screen include Warner Anderson and Tom Tully, both recruited from radio; Robert Shayne, William Prince, John Dall and Zachary Scott, from Broadway legitimate shows, and Bob Hutton, whose only experience was in summer stock. Prince played the lead in "Eve of St. Mark." Dally, who replaced him in that show, was signed by Warners shortly thereafter. An eighth newcomer, Bob Alda, was selected by Jesse L. Lasky for the George Gershwin role in "Rhapsody in Blue." A few feminine candidates also have been discovered. One of these, Marie Lund, stage actress, goes to the Coast this week. Another, Angela Green, from the musical "Early to Bed," and voted the prettiest showgirl in New York, leaves for the studio within the next 10 days. In establishing the new talent bureau here early this year, a policy was adopted whereby no new players would be sent to the Coast unless they could be put to work in pictures immediately or at least within a few months. Warners also have established a coaching school in the East to develop newcomers. Jurow's assistant in talent-hunting is Marjorie Morrow, former talent expert for the Columbia Broadcasting. Mexico Seeks Ways To Save Raw Stock Mexico City, Aug. 17. — Mexican producers are sending a representative to Hollywood to learn the film capital's method of saving raw stock, and conserve film during production. They are said to be using too much film, and measures are to be taken shortly to exercise wartime economy on film usage. Capra in England London, Aug. 17. — Col. Frank Capra and Capt. Anthony Veiller arrived here today to discuss U. S. Army film matters. *"G" denotes general classification. Industry Out to Sell Extra Bonds {Continued from page 1) will work toward the aim of selling "one bond to each employe in the industry." New York executive committee includes: Barney Balaban, O. Henry Briggs, Steve Broidy, Jules Brulatour, Jack Cohn, Stanton Griffis, Will H. Hays, Hermann G. Place, Edward C. Raftery, N. Peter Rathvon, Herman Robbins, Nicholas M. Schenck, Spyros Skouras, Herbert Yates and Adolph Zukor. Joseph H. Hazen is chairman of the New York division and Henry Ginsberg will be chairman of the Hollywood division for the campaign. Schaefer pointed out that newspapers, radio, retailers, advertising men and the film industry are working toward 100 per cent bond sales to their own personnel. Bond sales within the industry will be reported separately, not only in terms of dollar value, but also the number of bonds sold. Bond Drive Heads To Hollywood Today L. C. Griffith, general chairman of the industry campaign for the Third War Loan ; Francis S. Harmon, head of the War Activities Committee; Si Fabian, head of the WAC theatres division, and Ray Beall, publicity head of the industry bond drive, will leave for the Coast today in connection with arrangements for Hollywood participation in the drive. Gordon White, Southern representative for the industry Public Relations Committee, returned to New York from Dallas yesterday to aid with the industry bond campaign. Bond Drive Center At Rear of Roxy The Treasury Department has leased the property at the rear of the Roxy Theatre, together with the idle outdoor circus quarters thereon, as a publicity center and showplace for the Third War Loan drive. The entire area from 50th Street through to 51st Street, will be designated Victory Square during the drive. Plans for the operation of the premises will be discussed at a luncheon at the Hotel Astor today. W. Randolph Burgess, chairman of the War Finance Committee here, announced yesterday. Major L. E. Thompson, of RKO Theatres, is chairman of Victory Square. He said yesterday shows will be held twice daily, beginning Aug. 25. Admissions will be by purchase of stamps and bonds. Only Two Features Rejected Entirely (Continued from page 1) to crime, 1 ; immorality or tending to corrupt morals, 102 ; sacrilegious, 15. Affected were two comedies, nine dramas, three scenic pictures, 26 novelty and musical subjects and one miscellaneous. Scenes eliminated totaled 255 ; subtitles or dialogue eliminated totaled 93, reels examined totaled 4,453, while 429 of the 1,152 pictures were features. Fourth Award for Staley Rochester, N. Y., Aug. 17.— Fourth Air Medal award in the form of an Oak Leaf Cluster has been conferred upon Capt. Harry A. Staley, formerly of Eastman Kodak. Captain Staley previously won the Distinguished Flying Cross. 'Back the Attach Exhibitors and others in the industry participating in the Third War Loan Drive will apply the slogan "Back the Attack, Buy War Bonds!" as the keynote officially approved by the Treasury Department, in the forthcoming campaign to sell bonds to individuals rather than corporations. % Luce Gets Chase Stock in G.P.C. (Continued from page 1) quite possible that Luce had been talking about educational films with persons important in public life, as reported. Chase Bank has disposed of other of its interests in the industry. Last month, 20th Century-Fox stockholders approved their company's purchase oi Chase's remaining 58 per cent interest in National Theatres, for $13,000,000. Chase's sale of its entire interest in General Precision Equipment consisting of 63,300 shares of capita stock, came to light only yesterday ii the monthly report by the Securitie: and Exchange Commission of trad ings in stocks of film companies anc, others in the industry. Chase acquired its holdings in Gen eral Precision through substantia loans originally made to General The atres Equipment, which went into re ceivership in 1932. In 1936, whei General Precision was organized Chase was given capital stock in tha company to satisfy its loans. Luce Interests With the Luce interests getting substantial part of Chase's stock i General Precision, the rest is undeiv stood to have been taken by a downj.j town syndicate which sold the stoc | on the open market. Charles Still man, treasurer of Time, Inc., is representing the Luce interests on Genen> Precision's board. The Luce-Time buy into Genenis Precision indirectly brings particip; tion in television, General and Pan mount Pictures having bought a coi trolling interest in Scophony, Ltd British television company, last sprini The Luce interests also hold 8,0( shares of 20th Century-Fox commo acquired from a syndicate which hsj bought some 96,000 of Fox shares di posed of last Spring by Chase Ban i The Luce group made the Fox buy ; about the time it closed for distribi tion of its March of Time short sul jects series through 20th. Lt. Erb Dies in Crash Rochester, Aug. 17. — Secoi Lieut. J. W. Erb, formerly with Ea< man Kodak, was killed with ni: other Army airmen in a plane era near Boise, Idaho, yesterday. Sunday Movies Rejecte Springfield, Tenn., Aug. 17. — spite of strong pressure and many r titions, the latest presented by t USO, the local city commission 1" refused to act on Sunday films a voted to table the matter indefinite Theatre Personnel Lack Grows Worse Personnel situation in New York theatres reportedly is going from bad to worse. Theatre managers in the Metropolitan area, and elsewhere nearby, are in a dither with the growing realization that hiring of women has not solved the problem. Girls are staying on the job until they find better paying posts. Male ushers, ticket takers, doormen and others have been declared non-essential, so there will be little or no help from that angle.