Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1946)

2 motion Picture daily Wednesday, November 27, 1946 Goldwyn Insider's Outlook By RED KANN Using his own inimitable manner of expression, it must be recognized that when the subject of Hollywood is under discussion, by anyone, anywhere, Samuel Goldwyn should be included in. This observation is prompted by repercussions to the recent Goldwyn statement in which he opined that Hollywood has become fat, lazy and sterile of the kind of ideas that make the motion pictures go. These repercussions, of course, received some cynical stimulus from the fact that at the moment of the release of the statement Goldwyn was not indifferent to press mention in view of the proximate date of the opening of a new and important Goldwyn production. But Goldwyn, the complex character that he is, is not properly subject to various of the stereotyped observations that have been offered in connection with his recent statement. Goldwyn is of, for and by Hollywood and a grievous mistake would be made if anyone assumed that he was setting himself apart from Hollywood or that he did not wish for Hollywood and the American motion picture every possible advance and success. It is an entirely safe bet that when the British press sees him upon his ar rival in London next month he will be found to be a crusader for the American motion picture. While it is the writer's opinion that a statement such as the recent Goldwyn utterance is calculated with respect to the sensitive public relations status of the motion picture industry to do more harm than good it. is also the opinion that Goldwyn, the perfectionist, now and always will be found on the side of arguing, in his own characteristic manner, for better and finer motion pictures. His many individual contributions in this direction leave no doubt that he sets his sights at a high level and will not be content with anything that falls short. ^ ^ ^ Goldwyn is an institution of the business of motion pictures. His stake is deep and important and apparently for this reason he feels he is entitled to exercise the patriarchal prerogative of administering a spanking — a spanking even though it hurts the spanker more than the spanked. But Goldwyn of Hollywood, whatever he may be saying about Hollywood at the moment, is an entertainment genius who has made and is making an indelible impress on motion pictures which have created happy hours for untold millions of people all over the world. ' — Martin Quigley Crystal Names Sastre Antonio Sastre, a veteran of 27 years in the industry, has been appointed vice-president and general manager of Circuito Teatral Paramount, S.A., in Cuba, by Clement S. Crystal, theatre department head for Paramount International, here. Hollywood, Nov. 26 HOLLYWOOD partnerships don't seem to be 'doing so well these days. There is the Chaplin -Pickford-Seiznick -UA situation, which was aired in two parts in this space last week. There is also the Goldwyn-Selznick blood-count to take into reckoning over the Astor Theatre squabble in New York. Goldwyn must have won since "The Best Years of Our Lives" is now polishing off its first week there. But by no means has Selznick given up arms, nor has he receded a single iota from his position. His position is that it's the fiaal victory that carries off the spoils. Exactly what shape this will assume is the subject of speculation. And the speculation lends countenance to talk of a legal action for hypothecated damages allegedly saddled on "Duel in the Sun." This appears to override the cold fact that Selznick could not have opened after "Caesar and Cleopatra!' because not a single print is ready and is not likely to be for some weeks, or as long as labor troubles haunt Technicolor's output. Between UA, Goldwyn, Technicolor, roadshow plans for "Duel" and possibly early birth of his own distributing company, Selznick undoubtedly is one of Hollywood's busiest men. ■ ■ Joe Schenck has been in Mexico City for some weeks. Charlie Skouras is there now. In the balance hangs the outcome of a long-pending deal for the Jenkins circuit, operating about half a hundred theatres, of which 21 are in Mexico City proper. First objective: Control. Handicap: The presidential decree limiting foreign interests to 49 per cent of any Mexican corporation. Second objective: Management control. Outcome : In high doubt. The Jenkins group seems to be looking the other way now. It happened : A big-scale production conference was called to discuss the rough draft of what was 'designed as an AAAA attraction. Said the presiding producer : "They're calling one of the characters a mountebank. We'll have to change it. The public won't get it." Chorus of protests : "That's silly. Of course, the public will." Producer : "You guys are wrong and I can prove it." Getting his general manager on the telephone, he asked: "What's a mountebank?" Answer: "A what? Never heard of him." Producer: "See?" ■ ■ On the outskirts of Santa Barbara is a mountain road carving its way through San Marcus Pass. "Look," remarked a visitor. "One of our boys made it." "Look," deprecated a New York ex-patriate now long resident in California. "It's San Marcus. Not Sam." ■ ■ They tell a good-natured story about Mike Curtiz whose quaint English is accepted as part of the Hollywood scene. Like the footprints in the lobby at Grauman's Chinese theatre. "Has Mike's new production company improved his language ?" "Improved it? His English is more confused than ever." ■ ■ The night "The Razor's Edge" unfurled for critics at the Academy Award Theatre, eyebrows shot up almost visibly when the dialogue had Elsa Lanchester remark to Tyrone Power, "And I thought you came here to attack me." ■ ■ He produces, and he's very good at it. But when he wants to create conflict between his two major characters, he puts it this way : "Let's antagonize the scene." ■ I She's blonde and, of course, she's young. She also has a contract at Paramount where the usual hopes ride high. Incredible as it may seem, her name is Blossom Plumb. Capra Premiere Dec. 21 "It's a Wonderful Life," Frank Capra's first production since returning to Hollywood from the war, which marks as well the return to the screen of James Stewart, co-starred with Donna Reed, will have its world premiere at New York's Globe Theatre on Dec. 21. This is the first of the pictures to be made by Liberty Films. Vincent Lawrence, 56 Hollywood, Nov. 26. — Funeral services for Vincent S. Lawrence, screen writer for the past 10 years, will be held in Los Angeles on Friday. The 56-year-old writer, who went to Hollywood by way of playwrighting, died Monday in Corpus Christi, Texas. He leaves his widow, two sons and a daughter. Personal Mention PAUL N. LAZARUS, Jr., United Artists advertising-publicity director, will fly to Hollywood on Friday; he will remain in the West for two weeks. • Harold Mirisch, RKO film buyerbroker, Monogram executives Edward Morey, Morey Goldstein and Nate. Furst, and Victoria Theatre mana; ing director Maurice Maurer, haV^, left New York for a week's stay at Mirisch's Miami home. Arthur Mayer, owner of New York's Rialto Theatre, is in Europe on an Army inspection tour for Basil O'Connor of the American Red Cross, visiting Germany, Austria and Italy. • Samuel Goldwyn's trip to Europe has been set to start on the Queen Elizabeth on Dec. 14; he will visit his son and will sail for New York on the ship's return voyage. • John R. Clark, Jr., assistant to Dr. Herbert T. Kalmus, Technicolor president, will leave New York for his Hollywood home today. • Dorothy Malone, Warner player, will arrive in New York today from England and the Continent. • Menifee Johnston, Hal Roach casting director, has arrived back "in Hollywood, from New York. • Robert Sisk, M-G-M producer, is here, at the Astor Hotel, for a week, from Hollywood. • Hal Wallis and Joseph Hazen are due back in New York next Wednesday from Florida. • Irving Maas, MPEA vice-president, is due back in New York from Europe in mid-December. • Henry Ginsberg, Paramount production vice-president, has delayed his return to the Coast until Friday. William Brandt will relate old exhibition anecdotes on New York station WNBC, tonight. • Irving Berlin returned yesterday to New York from Boston and Atlanta. • Edward Golden will leave Hollywood for New York on Saturday. Walker Memorial Mass A memorial mass for former Mayor James J. Walker, who died on Nov. 18, has been arranged by the local stagehands union, Theatrical Protective Union, Local 1, to mark Broadway's renewed tribute to him. The mass will be celebrated at St. Patrick's Cathedral on Saturday at 12:15 P. M. by the Rev. Thomas F. Marr, who is a son of a late member of the union and the grandson of a former president. Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays. Avenue, Rockefeller Center. New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. "Cable address: Qutgpubco, Quigley Jr Vice-President; Theo. J. Sullivan, Treasurer; Leo J. Brady. Secretary; James r. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley. Editor-in-Chief and Pi Sundays and holidays, by Ouigley Publishing Company, Inc.. 1270 Sixth ... New York." Martin Quigley. President;' Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo. J. Sullivan, Treasurer; ■,,,•„• t> w , VJ.w. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Eecke. 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