Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1950)

Friday, March 31, 1950 Motion Picture Daily 7 Reviews "Wabash Avenue" (20th Century-Fox) IT is a nostalgic, music-filled Chicago of the last stretch of the last century that is recreated in "Wabash Avenue," a comedy-drama in Technicolor, starring Betty Grable, Victor Mature and Phil Harris. It offers a sprightly grab-bag of songs, dances and production numbers. Right off, these are assets that make merchandising easy and commercial prospects bright. An outstanding highlight of the film is the winning performance of James Barton, as a carefree, liquor-loving floater. The standard story, patterned by Harry Tugend and Charles Lederer, presents Harris as the proprietor of a cafe where Miss Grable is the stellar attraction. One day Mature, an old friend of Harris', comes along and demands a half interest in the cafe. To back up his demand, Mature reminds Harris of a crooked card game in which the latter participated, but it avails Mature naught. What is more, he incurs the wrath of Miss Grable by criticising her costume. From here on in Mature keeps tilting with Harris and Miss Grable with Mature. Humorously complicating matters is the fact that Mature is really in love with Miss Grable, and so is Harris. Throughout the proceedings, Harris and Mature are in constant rivalry, with one playing tricks on the other. Among the "practical jokes" which Mature plays on Harris is one where he incites a group of women reformers to wreck the saloon, and another where he tricks him into believing he had accidentally killed Barton. Of course Harris retorts in kind. As the story moves to its predictable ending, Miss Grable decides that Mature is the man of her heart. All of which leaves that lovable rogue Harris to mutter : "I'll never be able to understand what she sees in a mug like him when she could have a mug like me." A lot of lilting tunes have been provided for Miss Gable's entertaining talents by Mack Gordon and Josef Myrow. Henry Koster directed and William Perlberg produced. Running time, 92 minutes. General audience classification. For April release. Mandel Herbstman "Cargo to Capetown" ( Columbia) A CHANCE to witness the latest efforts of Academy Award winner Broderick Crawford is the best peg on which to hang a merchandising angle for Columbia's "Cargo to Capetown." The film is a formula-made adventure story about men and the seas. Crawford gives a two-fisted performance, with John Ireland and Ellen Drew sharing the spotlight with him. Ireland, as a beached skipper in the Dutch East Indies, is given an opportunity to pilot an oil tanker to Capetown, provided he can get a crew together. The difficulty attached to this chore lies in the fact that the tanker is cursed by past fears, and by superstitions and mishaps. Through cajolery and kidnapping, Ireland manages to gather a crew, although, with Crawford, his chief engineer, Ireland has to resort to the persuasive influences of alcohol. Once the ship is underway, it is discovered that Miss Drew, Crawford's fiancee is also on board and is downright angry with Ireland. As the story continues, there are squabbles among the crew, and growing differences between Crawford and Ireland. Finally the ship sails right into the teeth of a hurricane. In the midst of the storm, Crawford learns that Ireland was quite friendly with his fiancee in the past, all of which creates some more complications. The conflicts ebb and flow, and as the storm blows over in the finale, Miss Drew marries Crawford. Then by some peculiar logic she realizes that she is in love with Ireland, whereupon the way is paved for an annulment and eventual marriage to him. Lionel Houser who produced, also did the screenplay ; Earl McEvoy directed. Running time, 80 minutes. Adult audience classification. For April release. M. H. Howard Presides at Affiliated Theatres 'Showmanship' Meet Boston, March 30. — Arthur K. Howard, president of Affiliated Theatres ' New England, held a meeting of < Vs and managers of theatres serviced by that company at the Hotel Statler here to formulate plans for its "Showmanship" campaign. Speakers included Joseph Mansfield, Northeastern publicity manager of Eagle-Lion, speaking in behalf of the committee of Boston publicity men, who spoke about "The Right Way to Publicize Motion Pictures." William Canning, general manager of Yamins Theatres, spoke on "Theatre Public Relations." Seth Field, vice-president of Affiliated Theatres, spoke on "Long Forgotten Ideas in the Promotion of Motion Pictures." Howard was moderator at the meeting. Warner Stay (Continued from page 1) granted the stay petition of Loew's. Additionally, the Department of Justice is not expected to oppose the new applications. When and if actual appeals of the decree are taken, the 60-day period of the stay would be automatically extended to 90 days. Warners and 20thFox both have intentions of seeking a settlement with the government, with only Loew's, for the time being, having announced definite plans to appeal. This same course will be taken by 20th-Fox and Warners, presumably, if their efforts to reach a satisfactory agreement with the government fail. RKO Seeks Time (Continued from page 1) RKO originally was called upon to reorganize last Nov. 8, but the Justice Department consented to an additional six months, to May 8, at that time. The company's feeling reportedly is that it should be entitled to the same consideration given Loew's, Warners and 20th Century-Fox by the U. S. Statutory Court in its divorcement order. The three were given a period of three years. If an extension of the divorcement deadline is granted, it presumably would apply also to the time in which Howard Hughes has to dispose of his interest in RKO theatres. The deadline for that is May 8 also, as of now. No Justice Department action on the RKO application is expected for several weeks. LIBERAL REWARD for recovery of six (6) reels of motion picture sound track negative entitled "Shall We Dance". Packed in 6 square tins. NO QUESTIONS ASKED. Contact Browning, Wells & Co., BEekman 3-4321. Savings Bond Drive (Continued from page 1) which will begin on May 15 and end on July 4. Pinanski, Boston circuit head and president of the Theatre Owners of America, has returned from Washington, where he conferred with Secretary of the Treasury John W. Snyder on the film industry's role in the drive. He reports that the Secretary is not only pleased with the industry's prompt acceptance of his invitation to join with all industry in this important governmental effort, but that he looks to filmdom to provide its best showmanship in bringing the objectives of the bond sales before Americans. Accompanying Pinanski was Arthur Schmidt, Columbia's publicity-advertising chief, who will serve in a similar capacity for the "Independence D rive," which will have as its theme "the preservation of our freedoms." The industry's plans are to be outlined to the trade press at a luncheon in New York in the near future. Skiatron vs. RCA (Continued from page 1) the only one easily adapted for color, implied that RCA is holding out the lure of NBC programs to sell RCA equipment. It said it had not yet been able to market its projector, but that it would be available shortly. It asked the Federal Communications Commission to take the projector into account in its proceedings setting up standards and allocating channels for theatre television. Frederic House in Video Frederic House, Inc., recent winner of an Academy Award for the documentary film, "First Steps," is settingup a TV film department to include animation and other services. Arthur West, formerly in charge of sales and advertising at Television Cartoons, has been named to head the new department. Appoint 1 3 SMPTE Aides Chairmen of 13 committees for the 67th semi-annual convention of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, to be held April 2428, at the Drake Hotel, Chicago, have been set by William C. Kunzmann, SMPTE convention vice-president. George W. Colburn heads the local arrangements committee, while the hotel reservations and transportation committee has as its chairman Harold A. Witt. N. L. Simmons is chairman of the papers committee ; vice-chairmen of this committee are R. T. Van Niman, Chicago ; L. D. Grignon, Hollywood ; E. S. Seeley, New York ; J. E. Aiken, Washington, and H. S. Walker, Montreal. Other committee chairmen include : Registration and information, E. R. Geib ; ladies' reception, Mrs. George W. Colburn ; membership, Lee Jones ; luncheon and banquet, Carrington H. Stone ; publicity, Harold Desfor, assisted by Leonard W. Bidwell and R. T. Van Niman ; public address equipment, Robert P. Burns ; 35mm. projection program, I. F. Jacobsen ; 16mm. projection program, H. H. Wilson. Arnall-RFC (Continued from page 1) have actually applied for loans. However, Arnall's statement today was the first indication that SIMPP companies are also seeking government aid for film production. Arnall, who arrived here late today from New York, said he hoped to talk to RFC officials tomorrow about the loan applications from his members. He said the RFC loans have nothing to do with the financing plans under way in New York. Arnall declared he could not. reveal details of this new plan at present and did not think he would be able to until next month. To See Officials The SIMPP president said he alsohopes to meet with Justice and State Department officials tomorrow and Saturday, when he will leave for his home at Atlanta. He expects to return to Washington on April 10, when he will attend a meeting of the National Commission for UNESCO, of which he is a member. Arnall said he was originally slated to meet Eric Johnston, Motion Picture Association of America president, here this week-end to discuss the foreign film situation, but that Johnston had been detained on the Coast because of the death of a grandson. RECORDS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR YOUR THEATRE "MOVIES ARE BETTER THAN EVER" 1 — The Manager Speaks 2 — The Voice of Your Theatre Records Are Available at $1.75 Postage prepaid. Write or wire CINESPOT RECORD CO. 1472 Broadway New York 18