Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Aug 1936)

Page scan 000265 from Motion Picture Herald

Record Details:

Title:
Motion Picture Herald
Date:
Jul-Aug 1936
Publisher:
[New York, N.Y. : Quigley Pub. Co.]
Volume:
Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Aug 1936)
Leaf #:
000265
Language:
English
Subjects:
motion pictures, Motion pictures -- Periodicals
Collection:
Hollywood Studio System
Format:
Periodicals
Contributor:
Library of Congress, MBRS, Moving Image Section
Sponsor:
Library of Congress, Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division
Coordinator:
Media History Digital Library
Description:
Founded in 1915 by a Chicago printing company as a regional trade paper for Midwest exhibitors. In 1916, editor Martin Quigley bought out the owners, and over the next 15 years, he grew EXHIBITORS HERALD into one of the most important national, weekly trade papers in the film business. Quigley acquired MOTOGRAPHY in 1917 and MOVING PICTURE WORLD in 1927. In 1930, he acquired MOTION PICTURE NEWS and the new 'consolidated' publication became MOTION PICTURE HERALD. From the pulpit of his editorial page, Quigley preached the need to improve the motion picture industry and improve the quality of the films. He skillfully served as a mediator in disputes -- between distributors and exhibitors, between the film industry and the Catholic Church (Quigley was one of the architects of the Production Code). Quigley claimed that EXHIBITORS HERALD represented the 'independent exhibitor' and sections like 'What the Picture Did for Me?' certainly provided a forum for theater owners. But plenty of exhibitors viewed Quigley as a servant to the studios and large theater chains. In response, publications such as SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW, INDEPENDENT EXHIBITORS FILM BULLETIN, HARRISON'S REPORTS, and BOX OFFICE were either formed or grew significantly in the years following Quigley's brief moment of consolidation in 1930. -- Eric Hoyt, 2014
Date Added:
May 30, 2024
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July 18, 1936 MOTION PICTURE HERALD 31 51 STORIES BOUGHT; STUDIOS ROUND OUT PROGRAMS Only Five Plays Purchased in Month, Half the Total of Each of Two Previous Months Story buying activity of the Hollywood producers shows a sharp letdown during the past few weeks, particularly during the month of June. Only 51 purchases were made to round out the production schedules of this year and to lay the groundwork for pictures promised early next year. The months of April and May saw some 327 manuscripts acquired by the various studios, the largest period of buying in some time, so it may be assumed that the drop in purchases was caused by complete, or nearly complete, programs already in prospect for the 1936-37 season. The stage of Broadway appears to be growing less and less important to Hollywood as a source of story supply, Hollywood having taken only five plays in June, as compared to the 10 in May and 12 in April, and none of the five is a current Manhattan success. The June purchases numbered 25 originals, 21 books, one cartoon strip and one radio script, as compared with 86 originals and 74 books the previous month. Ten plays also were purchased in May, as compared to the five of last month. Twentieth Century-Fox and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer participated more heavily in acquiring new properties for screen vehicles than any of the other companies, each making eight purchases. Paramount, following the heavy pace it set the last two months, is right up with the leaders with a total of seven new acquisitions. Columbia and Radio follow and then come Warner, United Artists, First National, Universal, Selznick-International, Imperial Distributing Corporation and I. E. Chadwick. Titles of the 51 original stories, magazine yarns, books and plays bought by Hollywood producers for their committments of this season or for release during 1936-37, together with all available filming credits, are as follows : Adventures of Tom Sawyer, novel by Mark Twain, purchased by David O. Selznick of Selznick-International. William H. Wright has been appointed production assistant. All Scarlet, original by Damon Runyon, purchased by Radio. Heather Angel will be featured with direction by William Sistrom. Cortland Fitzimmons is writing the screen play. Arm of the Law, original by Bert Glennon, cameraman under contract to Twentieth Century-Fox. Purchased by same company for production by Darryl F. Zanuck during the fall. Barely A Lady, original by Lawrence Saunders, purchased by Paramount. Beloved, novel by Gasoir Owski, purchased by MGM, to star Greta Garbo and Charles YEAR'S COMPARISON OF STORY PURCHASES Month O riginals Books Plays Totals May 23 19 9 51 June 24 19 7 50 July 41 12 10 63 August 21 7 4 32 September .... 34 53(a) 4 91 October 7 2 14 November 22 12(b) 5 39 December 22 12(c) 4 38 January, 1936. . 14 18(d) 5 37 February 35 38(e) 4 77 March 24 19(f) 2 45 107 48(g) 12 157 May 86 74(h) 10 170 June 25 2l(i) 5 51 TOTALS FOR 12 MONTHS 503 390(j) 91 964 (a) Including 4 published magazine stories. (b) Including I published magazine story. (c) Including 2 published magazine stories. (d) Including 4 published magazine stories. (e) Including 12 published magazine stories. (f) Including 6 published magazine stories. (g) Including 13 published magazine stories. (h) Including 19 published magazine stories. (i) Including 21 published magazine stories, (j) Including 63 published magazine stories. Boyer. Irving G. Thalberg will produce, with work scheduled to start late this summer. Border Patrolman, original by Dan Jarett and Ben Cohn, purchased by Columbia. By the Dawn's Early Light, by Stephen Roberts, purchased by Radio to star Fred Stone. Cavalier of Tennessee, by Meredith Nicholson, bought by Columbia. Case of the Caretaker's Cat, by Erie Stanley Gardner, acquired by First National. Ricardo Cortez will be starred as Perry Mason, detective. Davy Crockett, original based on the life of Davy Crockett, acquired by Sol Lesser for release through Twentieth CenturyFox. Richard Arlen to be starred under the direction of Howard Bretherton. Cartoon Strip Purchased Dick Tracy, cartoon strip, acquired by Republic Pictures for production as a 15-chapter serial. Dreaming Lips, starring Elisabeth Berg ner, to be produced in England under the direction of Paul Czinner for release by United Artists. Enchanted Voyage, novel by Robert Na thanson, acquired by Twentieth Century Fox. Fifteen Maiden Lane, original storv by Paul Burger, bought by Twentieth Century-Fox. Constance Bennett to lie starred. Flying Hostess, story by George Say re. acquired by Universal for direction In Ralph Murphy as an Edmund Grainger production. Doris Nolan, Broadway star 20th Century-Fox and MGM Lead with Eight Purchases Each; Cartoon Strip and Radio Script Bought of "The Night of January 16," to have the lead. Green Grow the Lilacs, play by Lynn Riggs, acquired by MGM from Radio to star Franchot Tone. Zane Grey Story King of the Royal Mounted, story by Zane Grey, acquired by Twentieth Century Fox. Robert Kent will be starred. Knight Without Armour, story based on the novel by James Hilton, acquired by Alexander Korda to star Marlene Dietrich. Lady of Song, original by Houston Branch and Gene Markey, acquired by MGM. Lives of a Texas Ranger, by Bernard McConville, for Republic Pictures under the direction of Joseph Kane. Love on the Run, magazine story by Alan Green and Julian Brodie, bought by MGM for production by Joseph Mankiewicz. Victor Fleming is to direct and Robert Montgomery and Jean Harlow are to be starred. Man With A Young Wife, original story by Oliver H. P. Garrett, acquired by Selznick-International with Edward Arnold in the starring role. Marie Walewska, novel by Gasior Owski, acquired by MGM. Men Behind, original by Warners. Murder on the Mississippi, original byArthur Fred Maclsaac, acquired by Universal. Off Color, Saturday Evening Post story, acquired by I. E. Chadwick for Buster Keaton. One Man's Family, NBC radio script by Carleton Morse, bought by Paramount. Over the Wall, original by Warden Lewis E. Lawes of Sing Sing Prison, acquired by First National to star Ross Alexander. Pigskin Parade, original by Mark Kelly, acquired by Twentieth Century-Fox. Mark Twain Novel Prince and the Pauper, novel by Mark Twain, bought by Warners to star the Mauch twins. Queen of the Jungle, original story by Max Marcin, bought by Paramount. Rivals, The, comedy by Richard Brinsley Sheridan, bought by Warners for Hup'h Herbert. Road to Nowhere, original, acquired by Columbia to star Jack Holt. 'Round the Town, musical by Lew Brown, Rian James and Paul Yawitz, acquired by Radio to star Joe Penner. Sally, Irene and Mary, Broadway musical hit of seasons back, acquired by Twentieth Century-Fox. Second Wife, based on the play "All the {Continued on following papc. column 1)