Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1944)

14 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, October 17, 1944 'Way' Still Way Up In Its 7th Week ' Toronto, Oct. 16. — "Going My Way" brought brightness to Shea's for a seventh week with a promised $11,300. Estimated receipts for the week ending Oct. 19: "Bride by Mistake" (RKO) EGLINTON— (1,086) (18c-30c-48c-60c) 6 days, 2nd week. Gross: $3,500. (Average: $4,000). "Jariie" (WB) IMPERIAL — (3,373) (18c-30c-42c-60c-90c) 6 days, 2nd week. Gross: $11,300. (Average: $12,800). "Dragon Seed" (M-G-M) LOEWS — (2,074) (18c-30c-42c-60c-78c) 6 days, 3rd week. Gross: $11,200. (Average: $11,200). "Going My Way" (Para.) SHEA'S— (2,480) (18c-30c-42c-60c-90c) 6 days, 7th week. Gross: $11,300. (Average: $12 800). "Bride by Mistake" (RKO) TIVOLI— (1,434) (18c-30c-48c) 6 days, 2nd week. Gross: $3,900. (Average: $4,400). "The Climax" (Univ.) UPTOWN— (2,761) (18c-30c-42c-60c-90c) 6 days, 2nd week. Gross: $10,300. (Average: Disney Says Films Aid Rehabilitation Walt Disney, opening the New York Herald-Tribune "Annual Forum on Current Problems," at the WaldorfAstoria Hotel here last night, stated that the screen cartoon has been so improved and refined that no technical problem is insurmountable, and added that it must be made available to the widest possible non-theatrical audiences. "I believe that the returned soldier, accustomed to instruction from the screen, will be enthusiastically receptive to pictures that will help incorporate him into the ways of peace," Disney declared. Reviews "The Man in Half moon Street {Paramount) Hollywood, Oct. 16 BETTER than its billing — and longer than its billing suggests, yet not "too long — "The Man In Halfmoon Street, poses something of a problem as to programming but none as> to entertainment. A considered, polished and intelligent treatment of the perpetual-youth theme so often abused in slipshod rnelodramatics, the film ranks with the best of its kind, lacking only name calibre to hold its own as top-spot merchandise. Under Ralph Murphy's expert direction, Nils Aster, Helen Walker, Rheinhold Schunzel, Paul Cavanagh, Edmond Breen, Morton Lowry and other competent players perform smoothly and with plausibility in 'a story about two doctors, endocrinologists, who have been conducting a perpetual-youth experiment for 60 years, one of them operating on the other at ten-year intervals to maintain him always as a man of 35 while the other ages normally. Since each of the operations has entailed sacrifice of a human life, there is a string of murders behind them, and Scotland Yard finally picks up the trail, but it is the operating doctor's refusal to continue with the experiment which leads to the other's abrupt transition from youthfulness to advanced age and sudden death. All this is adroitly and plausibly narrated in Charles Kenyon's excellent script based on a play by Barre Lyndon. Producer Walter MacEwen has a picture superior to its category. Running time, 90 minutes. "G."* Release date not set. William R. Weaver "Law of the Valley" {Monogram) Hollywood, Oct. 16 JOHNNY MACK BROWN and Raymond Hatton, called in to help an old friend, become involved in a murder. It is no trick at all, however, for the two cowboys to uncover the plot behind the killing and bring the guilty to justice. They do it with their usual ease and aplomb, inspired by the love of justice and a very charming young woman, Lynne Carver. Tom Quinn is the most menacing of the three villains in the case. Edmund Cobb and Charles King give him able, if illegal, support. The story and screenplay were by Joseph O'Donnell, who sticks to the accepted Western formula. Howard Bretherton's direction is satisfactory, and Marcel LePicard contributes some effective photography. The production was supervised by Charles J Bigelow. Running time, 52 minutes. "G."* Release date, Nov. 4. Thalia Bell *"G" denotes general classification. Youngest Booker Des Moines, Oct. 16. — Believed to to be the youngest exchange booker and office manager in the nation is Miss Zora Fini, 19, recently appointed to these posts at Monogram here. de Rochemont in London Richard de Rochemont, executive producer for March of Time, has arrived in London as war correspondent for MOT, the company reported here yesterday. D. Y. Bradshaw, associate producer, will substitute for de Rochemont here in his absence. MCM TRADE SHOW "NATIONAL VELVET" N. Y. N. J. Territories Only MGM SCREENING ROOM 630 9th AVENUE, N.Y.C. THURSDAY Oct. 19}™;. Golden 'Master Race' Premiere Tomorrow Executives and stars from RKO's studio and home office will leave Hollywood and New York today by plane -for Dallas to attend the world premiere of "The Master Race" tomorrow, in more than 100 cities in Texas and Oklahoma, with the Majestic, Dallas, as the focal point. Plans have been completed for a celebration in Dallas under sponsorship of the Texas Quality Network and local newspapers. Bob O'Donnell of Interstate Circuit heads the committee which set up the arrangements. In addition to Charles W. Koerner and other officials, the studio delegation will include cast members Nancy Gates, Eric Feldary, Jason Robards, Ghislaine Perreau, and Herbert Biberman, director. From the home office, RKO will be represented by Ned E. Depinet, Robert Mochrie, Nat Levy, and the producers of "The Master Race," Edward Golden and Robert Golden. Condon Joins 'This Week* Robert Condon, recently resigned from the War Activities Committee as assistant to Francis S. Harmon, coordinator, has joined the staff of This Week. Sunday magazine supplement as an .associate editor. Names Kathryn Fecke Kathryn Fecke has been named head of the motion picture, television, radio and amusement department of Position Securing Bureau. Mrs. Fecke was formerly a researcher with Young & Rubicam. Hollywood By THALIA BELL Hollywood, Oct. 16 RKO has acquired "Beat the Band," George Abbott stage production written by George Marion, Jr., for production as a major musical. . . . Paramount has borrowed Henry O'Neill from M-G-M for a principal role in "The Virginian," which is growing into quite a project with four co-stars : Joel McCrea, Brian Donlevy, Sonny Tufts and Barbara Britton. . . . Cora " Sue Collins will play the lead in ""Our Wandering Daughters," Columbia's contribution to juvenile delinquency pictures. • Vera Ralston will star, without skates, in "The Healer," a Republic undertaking to be produced and directed by Steve Sekely. . . . Roddy McDowall, one of the top ten "Starsof -Tomorrow" in the Motion Picture Herald-Fame poll, has been added to the roster of principals in 20th Century-Fox's "Molly, Bless Her," the story about the late Marie Dressier, which will co-star Monty Woolley and Grade Fields. . . . Production of "Jubal Troop," by Sam Wood, for Columbia, has been postponed until next Spring, according to studio announcement, which goes on to say that an arrangement is being worked oitt between the studio and the producer for offer of "The Land Is Bright" to another studio for purchase. Additionally, Wood is described as retaining full rights to "Tatiana" and "Turnip's Blood," both of which, like "Land Is Bright," had been announced previously as forthcoming Columbia productions. • Twentieth Century-Fox has purchased rights to Somerset Maugham's "The Razor's Edge." . . . Universal's writer-producer team, Michael Fessier and Ernest Pagano, will make one titled "Not for Children," scheduled to go into production when "That's the Spirit" is completed. . . . Ann Savage has been signed by Paramount producers William Pine and William Thomas for three pictures. Her first will be "You'll Be the Death of Me." • Elyse Knox has been signed to a three-year Monogram contract which calls for two pictures annually. Her first assignment under the new deal is "Sunbonnet Sue." . . . Columbia has purchased an original story, "Gilda," and assigned it to Sam Bischoff to produce. • Michael Curtiz, last year's Academy-awards director, has been named to direct Warner's "Mildred Pierce," Joan Crawford's first for the studio. • M-G-M today gave James A. Fitzpatrick a new contract calling for 12 "Traveltalks" in color annually. 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