Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1945)

Thursday, March 8, 1945 Motion Picture Daily ii Reviews "Hollywood and Vine" (PRC) SINCE one of Hollywood's, and America's, favorite topics is Hollywood, ample assurance is present for a readymade audience to receive a story emanating from one of the more famous crossroads of the world, 'Hollywood and Vine.' It will probably score as well, within its limitations of budget and marquee power, both in Los Angeles and Oshkosh, for it is a frothy treatment of the dream capital of the world. Edith Watkins' and Charles Williams' screen play, from a Robert Wilmot, Watkins-Williams original, is conventional enough in its engaging tale of a boy, a girl and a dog, until the animal starts wagging the tale. The boy woos, pursues, is spurned. Then the plot goes off the deep end of farce ; the dog becomes a star, and is made the center of a lawsuit as to his legal owner, with the girl one of the principals. The inevitable reunion occurs, with all 'three' together again. James Ellison as the boy and Wanda McKay as the girl are more than adequate. It is to be wondered why Ellison has not achieved more eminence as leading man, for he has all the prerequisites. Franklyn Pangborn, Ralph Morgan, Leon Belasco, June Clyde and Emmett Lynn lend sterling support. Alexis Thurn-Taxis' direction is good ; Leon Fromkess produced. Running time, 58 minutes. General classification. Release date, April 25. C. R. "There Goes Kelly" (Monogram) A MODEST budgeter that achieves but a modicum of entertainment value has been turned out in "There Goes Kelly." Although it has its amusing moments, keyed to the tastes of more youthful audiences, mystery elements which are injected are done so ineptly that the murderer is found to be a minor character, which isn't exactly cricket. Screenplay, by Edmond Kelso, has to do with the antics of Jackie Moran and Sidney Miller, page boys in a radio studio, who try all sorts of dodges to get Wanda McKay, receptionist, an audition as a vocalist. When Jan Wiley, star vocalist, is murdered and suspicion eventually fastens on Miss McKay, Moran, leading a reluctant Miller, plunges head first into the mystical doings and comes up with the head of the radio station as chief suspect. But murder will out, and so does the real killer. Moran and Miller struggle manfully, and almost succeed in instilling more than a mild interest in the proceedings. Ralph Sanford, Dewey Robertson, Anthony Warde, Harry Depp, George Elredge, Edward Emerson and John Gilbreath are others in the cast. Phil Karlstein directed, William Strohbach was associate producer, and Tim Ryan wrote additional dialogue. Running time, 61 minutes, General classification. Released, Feb. 16. C. R. "Navajo Trails" (Monogram) Hollywood, March 7 JOHNNY MACK BROWN and Raymond Hatton, who ride the range under the names of 'Nevada' and 'Sandy,' are seen here in a vehicle well suited to their talents. It is a fast-moving, well-thought-out, plausible Western, and a credit to supervisor Charles J. Bigelow and director Howard Bretherton. According to Frank Young's screenplay, based on a story by Jess Bowers, a vacation long planned by the two U. S. marshals is interrupted by the murder of a Texas Ranger, The boys set out to track down the killer and, in the course of their journey, come upon a band of outlaws whose practice it is to steal horses from a neighboring Indian tribe and to kill anyone who interferes with their operations. The resourceful 'Nevada' assumes the identity of a notorious bandit and is accepted as such by the outlaws. Unfortunately for his plan to trap the rustlers red-handed, 'Sandy' is recognized as an officer of the law. Thereupon ensues a fast and bloody battle, in which Jennifer Holt distinguishes herself as an expert riflewoman, and the two marshals round up such rustlers as are left alive by the lady. Others in the cast include Riley Hill, Jim Hood, Jasper L. Palmer, Edmund Cobb, Bud Osborne, Earl Crawford and Charles King. Running time, 56 minutes. General classification. Thalia Bell Raw Stock Sought For Emergency Pool (.Continued from page 1) of "independent" under which he becomes eligible to draw from it, but it is believed it will run in the neighborhood of 10,000,000 feet or a little more. • _The proposal is known to have been I i'TTe subject of discussions between Is'tyPE officials and representatives of the industry, but the details have not , yet been worked out. > It is pointed out that while, in effect, the setting up of a pool on the basis of allocations continuing at. their present level means that the companies will be cut to the extent of their contributions, actually the film will flow back as it is drawn for use by independents, although it is admitted that it will not go back to the companies in the same proportion as they contributed. Brief Difficulties The difficulties which a pool would raise for the contributing companies is seen in Washington as extending over a matter of only a few months, and by the third quarter it is hoped that supply conditions will be considerably improved. This improvement will be due in part to possible downward trends in military and export requirements and in part to the coming into , operation of the plants in France and Holland. Another beneficial factor is the downward trend in British and Russian requirements. Both those countries came in with requests for considerable film for shipment this quarter, Russian requirements being in the neighborhood of 30,000,000 feet, but explained that they would need less in the second quarter. It is understood that Russian allocations for the coming quarter will be 15,000,000 feet or less and those for England will be negligible. OCR on Alert for New Cut in Prints (Continued from page 1) here on March 16, it was learned to< day. An OCR spokesman said that the representative will be an experienced theatre man thoroughly conversant with the needs of exhibitors and of subsequent run houses. It was explained that it is the responsibility of the OCR to protect the interests of exhibitors and that fears have been expressed that the formation of a raw-stock pool which has been discussed by WPB officials might invoke a further curtailment of the number of prints permitted for a feature. While there has not yet been sufficient experience under the 285-print limitation to demonstrate whether, as contended by some exhibitors, it will adversely affect subsequent-run houses, it is believed that any further cut in number undoubtedly would do so. Reports in New York indicated that proposals had been made to cut the limit to 250, but so far as could be ascertained no such suggestion has yet reached the WPB. It was indicated that if any further cuts are made by the WPB which will burden exhibitors, a meeting of the OCR Theatre Industry Advisory Committee will be called, Kraska Promoted Boston, March 7. — George Kraska, former manager of Loew's Orpheum, here, has been promoted to advertisingpublicity director of all of Loew's Boston theatres, succeeding Joe Longo, who will join Terry Turner on the road for RKO Radio. NLRB Hearing On Hollywood, March 7. — National Labor Relations Board hearings on the jurisdictional dispute between the Set Decorators Union and IATSE adjourned here today after the taking of preliminary testimony and will be resumed tomorrow. Form Chinese Prod. Hollywood, March 7. — Richard Loo and Keye Luke, actors, have formed Chinese Productions, Ltd., to make a Chinese version of RKO's "First Man into Tokyo" for distribution in China's 800 theatres when practicable. Loo, president, and Luke, treasurer, now working :in the picture, will employ an all-Chinese cast in their version. Powell in Albany Albany, March 7. — Dick Powell, star of "Murder, My Sweet," and Mike Mazurka, wrestler in the cast, will appear at all showings of the film in the Palace Theatre here Friday. Mexico Wants 5,000,000 Ft. (Continued from page 1) will' policy of this Government, and will be used in the making of six full length operas which will be filmed during the Summer with U. S. stars, in principal roles. In order to attract tourists, the' Mexican government is financing the National Opera of Mexico to the extent of over $1,000,000 for the longest opera season in Mexico's history,, from May to September. Stars of the Metropolitan Opera are being offered! large fees to appear, but many who are foreign born, and not U. S. citizens, are wary of leaving this country. As a further inducement, Mexico plans a series of six operatic features,, at an average cost of over $200,000: each, all in their original languages, to star Metropolitan personnel. Among the singers whom Mexico hopes to obtain are Lily Pons, Rise Stevens, Florence George (wife of? Everett Crosby), Salvatore Baccaloni, Joephine Tuminia and others who" have made films here. With the raw stock shortage, the whole project has been on the verge of collapsing. De Quesada Here i Ernesto de Quesada, president of the National Opera of Mexico, is in New York negotiating' with the singers. He has phoned Mexican government representatives to warn them of a possible falling through of the entire deal if some help is not forthcoming on raw stock. Edward Stettinius, Secretary of State, will be notified shortly of the Mexican request. The films would be financed partly by the Mexican government and1 partly by an American oil comgany, , presumably Standard Oil. It is also understood that negotiations are under way with National Broadcasting, here, to carry sponsored; broadcasts of the oneras and individual performances of the singers during the Summer. Morris Silkind will be in charge of all production. Clamp Film Embargo On Flood Territories (Continued from page 1) fighting the flood or making "sightseeing tours" of the waterbound areas. The Ohio, from its headwaters at Pittsburgh all the way to the Mississippi, rose today toward levels reached only twice before in history. The crest is expected to pass the 70foot mark, 18 feet above flood stage, and the 45-foot flood stage at Louisville is fast being approached. Thousands have been made homeless and at least seven lives lost along 1,000^ miles of Midwest lowknds. The Red1 Cross reported 5,000 to 6,000 families evacuated from their homes along both; sides of the river here. Little danger, however, was seen frt Pittsburgh, where the U. S. Weather Bureau predicted a high level of 33.5 feet, and tributary streams over Western Pennsylvania were ebbing slowly. Reports from Albany indicated that below freezing temperatures had apparently ended, at least temporarily,. Western New York flood threats.