Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1939)

72 MOTION PICTURE HERALD April 15, 1939 Stockholder Seeks Pathe Film Records An application lor an order directing the officers and directors of Pathe Fihn Corporation to submit the books and records of the company for inspection by Anna Bashlow, holder of 200 shares of common stock, was made this week to Alfred Frankenthaler, New York supreme court justice. The petition asserts that immediate inspection is "imperative," since Pathe is presently transferring its assets under a plan' presented to stockholders on February 16, 1939, and approved l)y the stockholders. The petitioner claims unexplained expenses indicated in the 1936 and 1937 financial statements of the company, and charges impropriety in acquisition of stock of Grand National Films, Inc. The petitioner further charges the evasion of her demands by officers of the company. Plagiarism Suit Plea Application to examine Darryl F. Zanuck and Samuel G. Engel before trial has been made in New York supreme court by Stephen Tamas, plaintiff in a plagiarism suit against Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation. He claims his scenario, "Stowaway," was plagiarized in the film starring Shirley Temple. $9,000 Verdict Awarded A New York supreme court jury this week awarded a A'erdict of $9,000 to Harrison Forman, cameraman, against Time, Inc., after a week's trial before Justice Timothy A. Leary. Mr. Forman claimed that in 1937 he had been asked by Time to shoot newsreels of the war in China, and that he was to be paid for all film footage shipped to Time. Cosmopolitan Acquires Studio The entire facilities of National Studios, New York, have been acquired by the Cosmopolitan Studios, also of New York, Herman Rosenberg, Cosmopolitan president, announced this week. Among National executives who will join Cosmopolitan are Dave Brandies, for 22 years in charge of production ; I. Schnapp, head of the art department for the last 20 years; Claire Miller, color specialist, and Ken Walmsley and Fred Bram of the sales staff. Morley Reelected President J. Kenfield Morley has been reelected president and a director of the Advitagraph Corporation. Mr. Morley served for several years as sales promotion manager of the Bell and Howell Company, Chicago, and prior to this, was with Metro-GoldwynMayer. Stern in Bank Post Lawrence Stern, of Stern Wampler and Company, brokers, who have been prominent in the financial affairs of Balaban and Katz and other theatre circuits, has been named chairman of the executive committee of the American National Bank and Trust Company. Columbia Names Omaha Manager J. H. Jacobs, former salesman in Columbia's Minneapolis exchange, has been appointed branch manager of the company's Omaha office, to succeed I. M. Weiner, resigned. IN NEWSREELS MOVIETONE NEWS— No. 6(1, Vol. 21.— Senate committee opens its hearings on Neutrality Act 49 destroyers are reconditioned Two Navy planes crash Fashions Budge-Perry and Vines-Gledhill doubles match ends at 19 sets all Auto racing Man O' War now 22 Lew Lehr. MOVIETONE NEWS— No. 61, Vol. 21.— Franco's troops enter Madrid French ambassador to Spain presents credentials to Franco France and Rumania sign trade treaty Albania situation Easter parade in New York Egg-rolling at White House Sunrise service in Yosemite National Park Denmark royalty in America for visit Army Day parade Colored contralto sings in Washington British freighter sinks Lew Lehr. NEWS OF THE DAY— No. 258, Vol. 10.— Navy reconditions World War destroyers. .. .Christen Navy airplane carrier Two Navy planes crash Coast Guard plane on mercy flight Demonstrate new safety glass. ... Girls ride mules in Tennessee fete Savat regains popularity as French sport Midget auto racers. NEWS OF THE DAY— No. 259, Vol. 10.— Europe's war crisis Poland holds air raid drill Neutrality Law under fire Negro contralto sings at Lincoln Memorial in Washington Spring avalanches bury French villages British freighter wrecked on rocks ...Danish royalty visiting U. S English dinghy fleet braves choppy seas. .. .Football on bucking bronchos. PARAMOUNT NEWS— No. 71.— The fall of Madrid Controversy over Manhattan-Brooklyn link stirs New York Fire destroys block in Sandusky, Ohio Acrobatic lions perform World War destroyers reconditioned Airplane carrier launched Navy planes crash Skiers compete for Olympic berths Katherine Rawls starts training. PARAMOUNT NEWS— No. 72.— Easter parade in New York, and Atlantic City Outdoor services at Colorado Springs Sunrise services at Glendale, Cal British^ freighter sinks Fords inspect exhibit at New York Fair Denmark royalty on U. S. tour Refugees causing English problem Alyce Mc Henry wins health honor Seizure of Albania perils Europe's peace. ... Negro contralto sings at Lincoln Memorial in Washington. RKO PATHE NEWS— No. 75, Vol. 10.— Air fleet holds Army Day preview Finger-painting exhibition held in New York Buddhists honor founder of faith.... Dodge City sees world premiere of "Dodge City" Co-ed on UCLA polo team Dogs in spring field trials Junior midgets drive midget cars in coast meet. RKO PATHE NEWS— No. 76, Vol. 10.— Hitler takes Memel from Lithuania. .. .Mussolini exhorts followers on Fascist anniversary France. Britain weld democracies Axis shadow over Polish Corridor Neutrality hearings held Ford Building at New York Fair dedicated Danish royalty feted on west coast Santa Monica families work mine in cooperative venture. UNIVERSAL NEWSREEL— No. 760, Vol. 11.— Four die as Navy planes collide Neutrality Act under fire 49 destroyers reconditioned Decorated hairnets shown New safety glass tried Dodge City greets Hollywood stars "Typical" American boy chosen Choose "deseit" beauty queen Racing boat shatters records Youngsters in underwater feats Ski stars compete for Olympic berths. UNIVERSAL NEWSREEL— No. 761, Vol. II— Italians in Balkan coup Nation observes Army Day Colorful Easter rites held throughout nation 30 die in French avalanche Ship runs aground Fords visit exhibit at New York Fair Coast greets Danish royalty Alice McHenry named beauty queen Bronco riding a varsity sport. Two Mexican Units Formed Two new motion picture production companies have been formed in Mexico. Francisco C. Ibarra heads a unit in Tia Juana which has begun construction of a studio for production of Spanish language films. Other officers are Silverio Romero, secretary, and Gumersindo Ibarra, treasurer. In Mexico City Jose J. Reynoso, Jr., and J. R. Baires plan to produce five features this year, all in Spanish. Universal Promotes Three Three promotions in Universal branch offices were announced this week. G. C. Craddock, former manager of the Portland exchange, has been appointed manager of the Indianapolis exchange, succeeding Floyd Brown, resigned. R. O. Wilson, salesman in the Portland territory, has been named manager of the exchange. W. M. Richardson, formerly manager of the Charlotte branch, has been appointed branch manager at New Orleans. Sues to Stop DisneyStokowski Picture Mark S. Tutelman, an advertising man, has filed suit in common pleas court in Philadelphia to restrain Leopold Stokowski, Walt Disney, Wah Disney Productions, Ltd., Deems Taylor, the Philadelphia Orchestra Association and RKO Radio. The plaintiff claims he conceived the idea of a production synchronizing symphonic music of classical renown with animated cartoons from a prepared scenario and that he suggested the plan to Air. Stokowski. Mr. Tutelman further charges that Mr. Stokowski got Mr. Disney to use the method and he is trying to restrain the production of the use of the plan and method. Mr. Taylor, New York critic and composer, was retained by Mr. Disney as narrator. File $250,000 Suit on "Snow White" Song A song plagiarism suit for $250,000 damages has been filed in New York supreme court by Modest Altschuler against Walt Disney Enterprises, Inc., Walt Disney Productions, Ltd., RKO Radio Pictures, Inc., Irving Berlin, Inc. and Frank Churchill. The plaintiff, composer of "Russian Soldier's Song," claims plagiarism in "Whistle While You Work," written by Mr. Churchill, and used in "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." An injunction and accounting are also sought. Defendants deny the charges and claim that the plaintiff's song was uncopyrighted and part of the public domain. Disney Suit Settled The suit of Hamilton Enterprises, Inc., and Walt Disney Productions against a group of Kansas City drug, food and printing companies has been settled. It was based on charges of violation of copyright and trademark. Director from Germany Hits Nazis' "Manpower" "The actual physical manpower" behind the motion picture industry in Germany "is perhaps the most neglected and defective of all current European film output," according to Anthony Nelle, who arrived in New York this week from Berlin, en route to Hollywood with the hope of resuming activities in California. "The foreign scenarists and technicians lack the training required for even conventional film production," said Mr. Nelle, who added: "Even their most elaborate efforts can in no way be compared with Hollywood in quality of finished product." He said, however, that "the general array of mechanical equipment of German film companies compares with the finest in Hollywood." Mr. Nelle was one time production director for the Roxy and some Fox theatres in this country and for the past two years was production director of Ufa-Tobis theatres in Berlin and Babelsberg, all government controlled. He was formerly dancing partner of Pavlova. Phillips Joins Magazine Frank Phillips, formerly assistant to Frank Seltzer, Hal Roach advertising and publicity director, has been appointed western editor of the magazine Pic. i