The New York State Exhibitor (1933)

58 Aug25'33 THE NEW YORK STATE EXHIBITOR Ad General Hal Horne is the fellow behind the advertising guns at U-A. He is director of advertising and publicity for the company. Writing, Director Staff Big Part of U-A Strength Twentieth Century Includes Im¬ portant Scenarist Group To carry out the work of 20th Century Pictures’ ambitious production schedule, the entire output to be released by United Artists, Darryl Francis Zanuck, vicepresident in charge of distribution, has assembled a staff which he does not hesi¬ tate to proclaim the greatest ever brought together at one studio. Several members have served directly with Zanuck for many years, the executive personnel I including Raymond Griffith, associate producer ; i| Howard Smith, scenario editor; William Dover, personnel manager, and William Goetz, second vice-president in charge of production. Joseph H. Moskowitz, for years the personal representative of Joseph M. Schenck’s interests in New York, was brought to Hollywood by Zanuck as general manager of 20th Century. The Moskowitz knowledge of sales problems and business administration will thus be directly applied to the production end — the first time production and distribution have been linked ' in this way. In addition to Raoul Walsh, borrowed from Fox for his box office value in “The Bowery” type of story, 20th Century also has its own staff of contract directors, experienced men, with a list of current successes to their credit. They are : GREGORY LA CAVA, whose most recent hit was “Gabriel Over the White House,” and for years one of the most consistent hit-makers. LOWELL SHERMAN, famous for his direction of “What Price Hollywood?”, “The Greeks Had a Word for it” and Mae West’s “She Done Him Wrong.” “Nana” Big on Goldwyn Schedule H is belief in fewer and better pictures finds ready testimony in the program Samuel Goldwyn has set for the coming year. For United Artists release, Goldwyn will again limit himself to one big Eddie Cantor musical comedy, which has been a year in preparation. A carefully built-up campaign will introduce Anna Sten to the screens of the world in two pictures, the first of which is a picturization of Emile Zola’s famous story of the rise and fall of a streetwalker, “Nana,” to be followed by an original from Francis Marion, based on Herbert Asbury’s study, “Barbary Coast.” Goldwyn’s final picture of the year will be an all-star feature special, with a sweeping background of modern American history in a story of the succeed¬ ing generations in an American family. Having in Ronald Cclman’s last picture, “The Masquerader,” a proven winner by the predictions of every important trade paper review, already on hand and ready as the first United Artists release of the new season, Goldwyn has had an extra opportunity of study and preparation for Anna Sten’s screen debut. A year and three months have been snent in getting Anna Sten ready for “Nana.” She has been taught a marvelous English, a flawless speech that becomes golden in the sonorous, vibrant tones of her voice. Goldwyn assigned his old associate, George Fitzmaurice, to the task of directing “Nana.” WALTER LANG, director of "The Warrior’s Hus¬ band" and "No More Orchids,” “The Big Fight” and others. SIDNEY T.ANFIELD, whose last three pictures for Fox were "Dance Team,” "Hat Check Girl” and “Society Girl.” Twentieth Century has one of the largest and most brilliant scenario staffs in Hollywood. The list includes : HOWARD ESTA BROOK, who comes to 20th Cen¬ tury after a list of brilliant writing efforts which in¬ clude the scripts of “Cimarron,” “The Bill of Divorce¬ ment.” which were produced by Radio and Samuel Goldwyn’s “The Masquerader.” ELMER HARRIS, recently under contract to MGM and Fox. He contributed to the scripts of “Hell Below.” “The Barbarian,” “Skyscraper Souls.” JAMES GLEASON, celebrated as both actor and writer. recently returned from England, where he ap¬ peared in a picture soon to be released in this country. G1 ason is the author of two stage hits — “Is Zat So?” and “The Shannons of Broadway.” ARTHUR RICHMAN, prominent New York stage playwright. LEONARD PRASKINS, who collaborated on the script of Mary Pickford’s newest him, “Secrets,” and served a term at MGM. where he aided in the writing of such successzs as “Min and Bill,” “The Champ,” “Emma.” “Flesh” and “The White Sister.” SAM MINTZ, especially noted for his stories of boy life, such as “Skippy,” “Sooky” and “Tom Sawyer,” which Paramount produced. District Chief Carroll S. Trowbridge is now district manager for U-A in charge of Buffalo, Washington, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia exchanges. JOHN HUSTON, for the past two years under contract to Universal, for which company he worked on the screen plays of “Murders in the Rue Morgue” and “Forgotten Boy.” GRAHAM BAKER and GENE TOWNE, who will continue to work as a team for 20th Century. Among their many collaborations are “The Billion Dollar Scandal,” “I Love That Man” and “The Beer Baron.” MAUDE T. HOWELL, w'ho has collaborated on the scripts of Gerrge Arliss pictures, including “Dis¬ raeli,” “The Millionaire” and “Voltaire.” NUNNALLY JOHNSON, noted humorist, author of numerous magazine stories, stage and screen plays. HENRY LEHRMAN, veteran screen writer and director. LAIRD DOYLE, brilliant young magazine writer, who wrote the adaptation from which MGM filmed “Hell Below.” COURTENAY TERRETT, author of the novel and screen play, “Only Saps Work.” MICHAEL SIMMONS, magazine writer. RALPH GRAVES, noted for his work on the scripts of “Hell Divers,” “Dirigible” and “Flight.” HAROLD LONG, for several years story secretary to Darryl Francis Zanuck and recently promoted to the scenario department. ROWLAND BROWN, author of “Doorway to Hell” and “Quick Millions,” who adapted his own story, “Blood Money” for 20th Century. WILLARD ROBERTSON, who is making the screen adaptation of his original story, “The Unnamed Woman,” to be released as “I Knew Her When.” 26 from Disney Sustained excellence of Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse and Silly Symphonies in techni-color is one of the wonders of motion picture development. For the first time in the history of motion pictures “shorts” are being re¬ viewed above the features on the same bill and for the first time, too, these shorts are being advertised in many instances above the full length produc¬ tions. Mickey Mouse and the Silly Symphonies in color have proven them¬ selves definite box office draws, bring¬ ing in customers by the thousand. Great as the popularity of Mickey Mouse has proved to be, equally great is the receDtion being given the Silly Symphonies in Technicolor. On several occasions during the past year news¬ papers and magazines have accorded these Silly Symphonies four star rating and the comment which has greeted them since their inception has been almost incredible. In response to public demand Walt Disney will produce thirteen Silly Sym¬ phonies in Technicolor this year and thirteen Mickey Mouse productions.