Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1945)

Thursday, January 4, 1945 Motion picture daily 13 Review "This Man's Navy" (M-G-M) Hollywood, Jan. 4 TOLD here in terms of a tale better than most, and about people like the folks who live in your own block, is the story of the lighter-than-air craft which the U. S. Navy has been, and is, using without fanfare but withmuch success in the prosecution of this war. The telling gives Wallace Beery his best picture in years, and he makes the most of it. As skillfully produced by Samuel Marx, and expertly directed by William A. Wellman, from a script by Borden Chase, based on an idea by Comm. Herman E. Holland, the film is firstly about its people and secondly, but with immense effectiveness, about the lighter-than-air branch of the Navy. Beery plays a seasoned veteran of this end of the service, a beloved braggart but a stout fighting man. After boasting of a son he doesn't have, he makes a' deal with a crippled youth to pretend a father-and-son relationship. Navy doctors restore the youth to normal health and he joins the service, serving first in lighter-than-air and later as a bomber pilot, his experiences and Beery's supplying a story with appeal and interest for all. James Gleason as Beery's pal and rival, Tom Drake as the youth, and Jane Clayton as his sweetheart provide excellent support. Running time, 98 minutes. "G."* Release date not set. William R. Weaver Grainger Back, Sets Plans for Regional Meets This Month James R. Grainger, president of Republic Pictures, upon his return to New York yesterday following a month's sales trip, announced home office and field delegates who will attend the series of three regional sales meetings to be held during January, in New York, Chicago and at the company's North Hollywood Studios_ Herbert J. Yates, Sr., chairman of the board, will address all sessions. F. L. Walton, assistant general sales manager, will attend the meetings, the first session being scheduled for next Monday, Jan. 8-10, at the New York Athletic Club. The New England, Eastern, and Central divisions, headed by district sales managers Jack Davis, Maxwell Gillis, and Sam Seplowin, respectively, will be represented by branch managers Arthur Newman, Jack Bellman, Jerome Lewis, Joseph Engel, Jake Flax, Sam P.' Grjrrel, George H. Kirby, I. H. Pollard, E. H. Brauer, Sydney Lehman, A. Weiner, and Grover C. Schaefer. A. W. Perry, general manager of Empire Universal' Films, Ltd., Republic's Canadian distributors, and A. J. Laurie, Republic Canadian sales manager, will also attend the New York sessions. Home Office representatives will include Walter L. Titus, Jr., Albert Schiller. Si Borus, E. H. Seifert, Special representatives A. E. Fox, Fred W. Franke, Charles Reed Jones and Steve Edwards. Chicago llth-13th The Chicago meeting will be held Jan. 11-13 a.t the Blackstone Hotel, with Yates, Grainger and Walton accompanied by district sales managers Davis, Gillis and Seplowin, and Home Office representatives Titus, Schiller, Borus, and Seifert for conferences .with Central district sales manager Will Baker, Southern manager Merritt Davis, Western manager Francis Bateman, and branch managers Winfield Snelson, Harold Laird, J. H. Dilloh, L. V. Seicshnaydre, Lew H. Andrews, N. J. Colquhoun, Glen Alt, William Feld, J. G. Franckman, W. M. Grant, Harry Lefholtz, Nat E. Steinberg, and franchise holder Robert F. Withers, Kansas City. Special representatives J. V. Scully, G. D. Milfqrd and John A. Alexander will also attend the Chicago meeting. The Coast session will be held at the company's studio on Jan. 22-23, and will be attended by Yates, Grainger and Walton, Western district sales manager Francis Bateman, and managers and salesmen from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, Denver, and Salt Lake City. New Appeal Board Terms Are Coming (Continued from page 1) so terms of all three judges would expire simultaneously. Since Judge Goddard voiced approval of the arbitration system at the recent hearing on motion of the Justice Department for a hearing to revise the consent decree, he is expected to grant extension of the judges' terms. *"G" denotes general classification. Weather, Holidays Hurt in St. Louis St. Louis, Jan. 3.— Both temperature and box office receipts dropped at first-runs here this week. Snow and the coldest weather of the year, combined with the holiday to keep patrons at home. "Kismet" at Loew's was high with $13,000. Estimated receipts for the week ended Dec. 31 : "Lake Placid Serenade" (Rep.) "Dead Man's Eyes" (Univ.) FOX — (5.038) (40c-50c-60c) 7 days. Gross: $12,500. (Average: $18,700). "Bambi" (Walt Disney-RKO) "Dumbo" (Walt Disney-RKO) "Sa'udos Amigos" (Walt Disney-RKO) MTSSOURT—(3.514) (40c-50c-60c) 7 days. Gross: $8,500. (Average: $9,900). "«Ci*met' (M-G-M) "Tahiti Nights" (Col.) LOEW'S STATE — (3.162) (40c-50c-60cfi5c) 7 days. Gross: $13,000. (Average: $18,900'!. "The Very Thought of You" (WB) "The Singing Sheriff" (Univ.) AMBASSADOR— (3,1541 (40c-50c-60e1 7 dpvs. Gross: $11,000. (Average: $15,700). "Mpe* Me in St. Louis" (M-G-M) LOEW'S ORPHEUM— (1,900) (40c -50c60c-65c) 7 davs. 4th week. Gross: $7,500. (Average: $7.1001. "Laura" (ZOth-Fov) "Bowrv to Broadway" (Univ.) SHUP^RT— (1.90O1 (40c-50c-60c) 7 days. Gross; $5,800. (Average: $fi,1001. "Irish Eyes Are Smiling" (20th-Fox) "S»-iptHivr f<-.r the Boys" (2<lth-Fox) ST. LOUTS— (4.000) (40c-50c1 7 days. Gross: $4,500. (Average: $5,2001. 'Victory's9 $16,500 Victor in Indiana Inotanapolis, Jan. 3. ■ — Holidayweek crowds stimulated attendance here this week. Estimated box office receipts were above average in all houses. "Winged Victory" at the Indiana expects to gross $16,500. Estimated receipts for the week ending Jan. 2-6 : "The Donghgirls" (WB) CTRCLE — (2.800) (32c-55c) 7 days. Gross $12,000. (Average: $11.8001. "Wiiwed! Victorv" (2fltb-Fox) INDTANA — (3.200) (32c-55c) 7 days. Gross: $16,500. (Average *11.600). "Sini<r. Neighbors. Sinp" (Rep.) KEITH'S— (1,500) (65c1 4 days. Stage show. Gross: $5,000. (Average: $5.0001. "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" (M-G-M) LOEW'S— (2.800) (35c -55c) 7 days. Gross: $15,000. (Average: $11,5001. "And Now Tomorow" (Para.) LYRTC— (2.000) (32c-55c) 7 days, on a moveover from the Indiana. Gross : $5,500. (Average: $4,900). Relief from Edict On Projectionists ( Continued from page 1 ) the only ones in which the State Police act as inspectors of theatres and places of public assembly — has not been too bright for a long time. Many of the theatres are comparatively old, while some are converted halls. A few are upstairs propositions. Operation is often non-continuous, with projectionists working as a sideline. The operators are non-union and local regulation is scant. The first appeal from the State Police regulation was filed by a girl operator and the woman owner of the Northwood Theatre in North Creek. The young lady, who will be 18 soon, had some training. The Board of Standards and Appeals and the State Police learned that she was capable. With the approval of the police, the board issued a "variation." Two appeals for boys were also filed and granted. Testimony showed they were able to operate machines skillfully. 'Health and Safety' The State Police regulation for a 21-year-old minimum age is based on the section of the Labor Law requiring places of public assembly to be constructed, equipped and maintained in such fashion that the health and safety of employees and of patrons shall not be endangered. To make it constitutionally sure, the State Police plans to have a bill introduced at the coming session of the Legislature. The 21-year provision will be written into statute with a licensing setup. The understanding is that the measure will apply solely to towns and villages which have no building department to check on construction, alterations and equipment in public assemblies. The matter is said to have been discussed informally at meetings in New York of the committee engaged in revising and modernizing the standard state building code. The State Police, the operators' union and the circuits have representatives on this committee, which is working with the State Labor Department. Small town independents may oppose the legislation, according to opinion here in local motion picture circles. Hollywood By THALIA BELL Hollywood, Jan. 3 ABBOTT and Costello are to undertake a new type of comedy in "Close Shave," their next feature for M-G-M. It will mark the filmproduction debut of Martin Gosch, who produces the comedians' radio shows. . . . James Edward Grant has been signed to a producer-writer contract by Columbia. His first production assignment will be his own original, "A Mother for May." . . . PRC has purchased an original by Philip MacDonald and E. Ruth Howard, a psychological murder thriller titled "The Intruder." • Natalie Schafer, former Broadway actress, has been cast for an important role in Paramount' 's "Masquerade in Mexico." . . . Jeff Donnell will have the second feminine lead in Columbia's "Over 21." . . . Drew Pearson has been signed by RKO to appear in a prologue to "Betrayal from the East." George Tobias and Eve Arden have been added to the cast of the current Warner production, "Mildred Pierce." . . . Although she has yet to be seen on the screen, newcomer Audrey Young has been borrowed by RKO from Paramount for a top spot in "George White's Scandals of 1945." • Producer Fred Quimby has organised a new cartoon unit at M-G-M, to relieve what is described' as' the greatest production pressure in the studio's history. The new unit will consist of a director, four animators and assistants, as' well as story and gag writers, layout and background men. The move is occasioned by the extra footage requirements for "Anchors Aweigh," in which Gene Kelly will perform a dance routine with cartoon characters and background. "The Inside Story," by Scott Littleton, will be utilized by Columbia as the basis of the fifth in the "Whistler" series, which stars Richard Dix . . . Raymond Massey has had his Warner contract renewed . . . W. R. Frank has arranged for Jack Gorton and his dog, "Lucky," to make a personal appearance tour with his picture, "A Boy, a Girl and a Dog." Also in the troupe will be Jerry Hunter, eight-year-old actor who is under contract to Frank. • M-G-M has announced a new series of cartoons to star "Red Hot Riding Hood." Fred Quimby will be the producer. • Mary Mullen has been signed by M-G-M, and will make her screen debut in "The Harvey Girls" . . . Virginia Belmont, recently signed by RKO, has been cast in "Follow Your Heart," which stars Jack Haley . . . Producer Sol Lesser has decided to spend another $100,000 on additional sequences for "Tarzan and the Amazons" . . . Republic has purchased "It's a Natural," original by Frances Hyland and Barney Feins.