Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1945)

Motion Picture Daily Monday, December 17, 1945 "Adventure" (Continued from page 1) taken out of it. This will be one of the unchallenged money pictures of the year. Gable, as a cynical merchant-marine sailor, literally explodes into the life of Miss Garson, a librarian, whom he thinks feels none of the excitement of life. Their paths cross by accident as he enters a library in order to humor Mitchell, -his friend, who has become convinced that, because he broke pledges solemnly taken when shipwrecked, that he would turn aside from his past ways and lead a purer life, he has lost his soul. Gable, scornful of all the learning represented by the books, seems to be the very antithesis of Miss Garson, and they battle verbally from pillar to post, neither understanding the other. Gable is attracted by the obvious charms of Miss Blondell and takes both girls to dinner. There, Miss: Garson, goaded by Gable, precipitates a brawl, thinking that she will be well rid of him. But Gable, unchastened, accompaniesthem out into the country the next day, plays up to Miss Blondell, while Miss Garson sulks, since there is more than a hint that she is finding him provocative by now. Exasperated by his flashes of personal philosophy, which are vague to her, she. tells him off. Gable explodes this time, rages at her in his disappointment. There it is, the setting for a great love that flames between the two. ""THEY marry, lead a veritable cocktail of a life for three days, and then \ he breaks the news that he will be off to sea again. Crushed, since she thinks that Gable will settle down now that he is married, Miss Garson decides to divorce him. He sails away, but comes back in time to be beside her when she gives birth. The baby is practically still-born, and Gable practically willsit into life, thereby acquiring roots in the land, the implication at the final fadeout being that they will remarry. Although story delineation may sound thin, the screenplay, by Frederick Hazlitt Brennan and Vincent Lawrence, from Anthony Veiller's and William H. Wright's adaptation, based on Claude Brion Davis' novel, is rich in incidents, characterizations and lines. There is poetry in some of them, a vague groping toward a philosophy of life, and, above all, healthy realism. Gable by turn, is brutal, colorful, the tender lover ; he participates in several slugfests — in a word, he is the old Gable. Miss Garson matches him stride for stride. Others are : Tom Tully, John Qualen, Richard Haydn, Lina Romay. Philip Merivale, Harry Davenport and Tito Renaldo. \7 ICTOR FLEMING is the lucky director who received the assignment to * put Gable through his paces and he piloted him as if he fully appreciated the task ; Sam Zimbalist produced. Running time, 125 minutes. General classification. Release date not set. Charles Ryweck NCCJ (Continued from page 1) Rubin, Loew's vice-president and general counsel, who is chairman of the amusement division. Nearly 1,000 persons attended the luncheon and heard the cause of racial and religious amity stated by Dr. Everett R. Clinchy of NCCJ ; Frank Sinatra, David O. Selznick, Rodgers and Eric A. Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Association of America. It was Johnston's first public appearance in New York before a preponderantly industry audience since his election to the presidency of the association. The annual citation of the NCCJ amusement division was presented to Sinatra by Rodgers at the luncheon for the young singer's contributions during the past year to the cause of American unity and religious understanding. Sinatra Acceptance In accepting the citation, Sinatra expressed pride in being a member of the entertainment industry, asserting that he believed it is more valuable to mankind than, perhaps, even the medical profession, since it brings happiness of mind to millions who, otherwise, would be without it. He urged that the industry apply itself to the production of more films designed to promote understanding and brotherhood among men, referring to the RKO subject, "The House I Live In," in which he appeared, as an example. "I would do such work daily," he said, "if I could. More people are reached through the screen than through any other medium." Selznick said he appeared as a representative of the Hollywood branch of the NCCJ and that his principal purpose in coming here at this time was to attend the luncheon. He said that Hollywood stood ready to make the kind of subjects that Sinatra proposed "providing you who own and operate the theatres of the country are willing to exhibit them." He said that he will make a subject for exhibition at the Hollywood Bowl for the Brotherwood Week program there. $4,000,000 Goal Dr. Clinchy described the aims of the NCCJ and said that its national goal this year is $4,000,000, of which only a small proportion is asked of the amusement division. "Give," he said, "not to the NCCJ, but for yourself and for your country." Johnson also urged that films advancing such work as that of the NCCJ be produced and exhibited. "Everyone of us," he said, "who has a role, however small, in the making of opinion has a duty to perform. That we must fight divisive ideas, that we must smash myths of privileged races and groups, goes without saying. The positive phase of the obligation, consciously and vigorously to promote the American vision of freedom and equality under the law, should always take the center of our thoughts." Among the contributions to NCCJ announced following the luncheon were: David O. Selznick, $5,000; Samuel Goldwyn, $2,500; William Goetz, $1,250. Contributions of $1,000 were made by the following : J. Robert Rubin, Herman Robbins, Edward Churchill, Emil Friedlander, Barney Balaban, Major Albert Warner, Jack Cohn, Jules E. Brulatour, John Gold SEC Sets Hearing On RKO Stock Bid Philadelphia, Dec. 16. — The Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday set Dec. 27 for a hearing on the application of Radio-Keith-Orpheum Corp. and B. F. Keith Corp., for exemption from provisions of the Investment Company Act in a proposed stock transfer. Radio-Keith-Orpheum would transfer to Keith its capital stock holdings in RKO Midwest Corp., RKO Rhode Island Corp., Union Hill Corp., RKO Service Corp., and Palace Theatre and Realty Corp. In return, RKO would receive additional Keith common stock. en, Nicholas M. Schenck, Will H. Hays, Eddie Cantor. $500 contribution, as follows : Nate Spingold, Al Goetz, A. J. Balaban, E. J. Mannix, Darryl F. Zanuck, Louis K. Sidney, Fabian Theatres Corp., Wilmer & Vincent Corp. Among those seated at the dais were : Jack Alicoate, Barney Balaban, Harry Brandt, Leo Brecher, Jules Brulatour, Rev. William M. Casey, who gave the invocation ; Jack Cohn, Ned E. Depinet, John Golden, Abel Green, Francis Harmon, Will Hays, Malcolm Kingsberg, Carl Milliken, Lucy Monroe, Charles O'Reilly, Martin Quigley, Herman Robbins, Samuel Rosen, James Sauter, George Schaefer, Nicholas Schenck, Ben Shlyen, Nate Spingold, Walter Vincent, Richard Walsh and David Weinstock. RKO Radio Ready For Depinet Drive RKO Radio will begin its "Ned Depinet Drive" on Dec. 21 ; it will continue for 20 weeks, ending May 9, and for which David Prince, Southeastern district manager, named this year's drive captain, is now on the first leg of a nationwide trip during which he will contact all RKO Radio exchanges on drive details. Prince has the cooperation of Harry Gittleson, assistant to Walter E. Branson, Western division sales manager, and of Frank Drumm, assistant to Nat Levy, Eastern division sales manager, who will accompany him on all visits to their respective territories. Under direction of Robert Mochrie, RKO Radio general sales manager, all phases of the drive have been coordinated, including increased advertising and exploitation effort completed by S. Barret McCormick, director of advertising-publicity. Color for Pine-Thomas Hollywood, Dec. 16. — The William Pine-William Thomas Paramount producing team will make one feature next year with Cinecolor, probably with Johnny Weismuller starred. They are now seeking an outdoor script. Howard Pine, son of William Pine, has received his Army discharge and has joined the Pine-Thomas unit. Before entering the Air Corps young Pine was an assistant director. Davis, Nathanson to Meet in Toronto Toronto, Dec. 16. — Increased Canadian Odeon Theatres activity following the lifting of the Dominion government ban on theatre construction was suggested in a weekend announcement that John Davis of London, personal representative of J. Arthur Rank, will visit Toronto in uary for a special conference. Paul Nathanson, president of the Canadian circuit and a partner witlj Rank, is scheduled to return for the meeting from California, where he has been recuperating from a nerve condition. It is also reported that Leonard Brockington of Ottawa, another direc-: tor of the Canadian Odeon company, has been in New York, and it is un« derstood he was dealing with developments stemming from the creation oi United World Pictures, Inc., oi which Rank is chairman of the board. Motion Picture Daily reported last Tuesday that Odeon will build 60 theatres during the next several years. Reorganization Claims to End A hearing is scheduled to be held in U. S. District Court, here, on Dec. 26 to make final disposition of all remaining claims arising out of the Paramount Publix Corp. and Paramount Broadway Corp. reorganization proceedings, which were terminated in 1935. The last few outstanding claims have been cleared and tax matters have been settled. In a notice served on stockholders debenture holders and other creditors of the two corporations, which are now known as Paramount Pictures, Inc. md Paramount Pictures Theatre? Corp.. all interested parties are incited to show cause why this final disposition should not be made. Five-Year Expiration At the hearing the management olans to apply to the proceedings the provisions of Sections 204 and 205 oi Chapter 10 of the U. S. Bankruptcy Act, to fix a time to expire five years after the entry of the final decree closing the estates of the debtor (Paramount) ; to discharge the debtor from all debts and liabilities existing prior to the opening of business on July 1 1935 ; to discharge the Broadway Corp. from all debts and liabilities arising out of or based upon "Ok Broadway Bonds" dated Jan. 1, 1936 to close the estates of the debtor anc the Broadway Corp., and to terminate proceedings, and to make such other "urther and different provisions "bj way of injunction or otherwise as the court may deem equitable, just anc proper in the premises." SPU to Dicker on Own Hollywood, Dec. 16. — The Screer Players Union will open negotiation: with the producers on Tuesday, undertaking alone to work out employmeiv terms which were to be sought jointlj with the Screen Extras Guild undei terms of a merger which was abaii] doned last Thursday.