Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1948)

6 Motion Picture Daily Monday, November 1, 1948 II HAPPY Reviews "Night Time in Nevada (Republic) ROY ROGERS again comes through with a palatable Western in Trucolor. In terms of story and treatment there is little that is new in this one, but what associate producer Edward White, director William Witney and scripter Sloan Nibley have turned out is a Rogers starrer that compares favorably with its more successful predecessors and, therefore, spells solid entertainment for Rogers' fans and Western devotees in general. The story opens with Grant Withers, the villain, blowing up his partner in a gold mine. He steals his friend's gold and also a trust fund left for Adele Mara. Some 16 years later the girl arrives at the scene to look for her trust fund and is stalled off by Withers and his partner, George Carleton. They steal Rogers' cattle from a train to pay Miss Mara, but Withers decides to keep the money. The cattle-theft is their undoing, for Rogers rejoins the state police and goes after them. While Roy tracks down all available evidence, Withers murders Carleton, making him sole heir to the money. Adele and her girlfriend, Marie Harmon, and Rogers are all reimbursed. The film ends dramatically with Rogers giving Withers a sound beating in the cab of a truck racing down a curving grade. During the proceedings the Sons of the Pioneers join Rogers in rendering a half dozen Western tunes. Running time, 67 minutes. General audience classification. 'Million Dollar Mystery" (Eagle-Lion) THERE is much to commend this Masque production of a thrilling adventure story which is both interesting and unusual, and well performed by Gene Raymond, Francis Lederer and Stephanie Paull. It was produced by Matty Kemp and directed by Raymond, from an original written by the latter two, with a screenplay by Charles S. Belden. It all starts with Raymond, a junior partner in a brokerage firm, stealing $1,000,000 of the company's securities to start another life in the Orient. On the plane to Honolulu he meets an attractive widow, Stephanie Paull, who is running away from Francis Lederer because he claims he saw her murder her husband. Lederer gives a good portrayal as a scheming blackmailer. In Honolulu, Raymond's briefcase, containing the $1,000,000, is stolen by Lederer who flies back to San Francisco. The widow and Raymond then return to the U. S. in an attempt to regain the case. Raymond recovers it and returns the money to the office safe. There is a happy reunion in Honolulu. Several songs, including "My Destiny," "Where Have You Been?" and "Heaven Is in Blue Hawaii," add to the entertairiment value of the picture. Running time, 73 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, not set. FP C Television (Continued from page 1) vision station begins to show a profit. He said the CBC would be allowed to use the station three hours a week for research and experimental purposes, adding the company would not bar advertisements of films distributed by companies other than Famous Players. Leonard Brockington, counsel for Odeon Theatres and J. Arthur Rank, urged the board of governors of CBC not to give any theatre exclusive rights to pick up or rebroadcast telecast programs. Six companies are seeking television station rights in Canada. WB Stock Deals (Continued from page 1) total to 13,800. Monogram Southern Exchanges, Inc., Arthur C. Bromberg, president, bought 1,300 shares of Monogram common over the fourmonth period from May through August, raising its total to 16,672 shares. Bromberg held 1,086 shares. Republic director Edwin van Pelt bought 1,000 shares of 50-cent par common, increasing his total to 2,600 shares. Robert Lehman bought 100 shares of 20th Century-Fox common to bring his holdings to 2,600 shares. William M. Girden bought 400 shares of Trans-Lux common, for a total of 2,400 shares. Loew's acquired another 84 shares of Loew's Boston Theatres $25 par common for a total of 123,263 shares. TOA Conciliation (Continued from page 1) tached exhibitor. The committee will screen all complaints against any distributor, and if a just cause of complaint is found to exist an attempt will be made at the local level to obtain appropriate relief. If relief is not obtained at the local level, the issue will be referred to the TOA national office here, and the latter will take up the matter with the distributor involved. TOA national officials, it is stated, "will be pleased to join with any other national association officials who wish to participate in the New York discussions." May Ask Voluntary Arbitration If a solution continues to elude the parties involved, voluntary arbitration will be recommended, all in the interest of avoiding litigation, TOA's heads explained, adding that that procedure will be open to all exhibitors whether they are TOA members or not; there will be no cost to any exhibitor. "In the interest of peace and harmony in the industry," Lockwood said, "TOA is willing to go forward with this plan with no charge for use of its manpower and facilities." The TOA executive committee, which was joined in the meeting by the finance committee, voted to expand the organization's public relations program and termed the program "a success thus far." TOA executive director Gael Sullivan was directed to make further study of various plans offered in connection with the public relations program, but it was the con sensus of opinion of the committee! that a permanent program should be I built around the local exhibitor ancl made available to all who are willingB to cooperate. Said Lockwood : "The executive I committee reaffirmed its oft-expressed I policy of trying to bring about unity! in the industry. It has authorized mis to state that we are ready and willing to meet at any and all times with any other associations and units in the industry to discuss plans or projects in, furtherance of this philosophy ^r£\ Board Meet in January^ ) The TOA president said the board of directors will meet in Washington in January to act on recommendations made at Friday's joint meeting of the executive and finance committees. David Wallerstein, Walter Reade, Jr., and M. A. Lightman, Jr., were added _ to Mitchell Wolf son's TOA television committee, with Wallerstein and Reade joining Wolf son as co chairmen, Lockwood announced, adding that Sullivan and Wolfson will hold a series of conferences over the next few weeks to study various proposals on video discussed at Friday's meeting. Ruffin, Zorn, Reade Will Study Complaints vs. NSS Theatre Owners of America president Arthur Lockwood announced following the TOA executive committee meeting here on Friday that William S. Ruffin, Sr., Edward Zorn, and Walter Reade, Jr., have been named to serve as a committee which will be prepared to act for all exhibitors, regardless of affiliation, who have any unsolved controversy or problems with National Screen Service. Complaints against NSS arose during the recent national convention of TOA in Chicago, and the oganization decided to make a study of such complaints. NSS, meanwhile, has indicated a desire to cooperate with TOA efforts in this connection. Dr. Gallup To Speak Dr. George Gallup, director of the Audience Research Institute, will speak at the ninth annual dinner of the Motion Picture Pioneers at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel here on Nov. 17, it is announced by Jack Cohn, Pioneers president. I JVbw. . . cf e luxe i all-sleeper service New York to Paris every Friday 4 P. M. EST Fly on world-proved TWA Constellations. Cocktails, champagne, vintage wines. Filet mignon dinner. Bed-size berths! Hot breakfast! Call TWA or your travel agent .