Variety (Aug 1934)

Tuesday, Augunt 7, 1934 PICTSIlEi Uruption of the lj<toffUea of Decency gives new force to tlit» old argu- ment In favor of clasHined theatres, flrnt advanced Rome 20 years ago. 01ugjr«)sUoii WM flouted then, but It ha». recurred, regulairly whenev«r th<» i»rot*(it ilgaiiMt ih9 pictur*iiV effect upon th« bhfid mind ^ts i«itn brought VP, but estllbltors Btill soom to feel that they need to draw from all •geii ftnd tjrpes of mentality while producers do not relii^h the idea of irtAklng flpecial productionB for children, having found .in!^^!^ ^eiN»' i«i..fiiiiaIl profit .illjronif rentalo.- '/ v/ '.^rV-'-vv^'-^' • tn no other phaHe of entertainment doea a ttiniilar condition exist. ](«.-pictures the jMme screen disptt^M IndUcriminately productions drawn '.i^pii/aH'itf::types .jwU^icwi:'i'egai^;lbr'i«tl^^ . :„; in the early silent dAyct this was well enough. The one-reel pictures sold chiefly the Idea of pictured motion. Thin, unimaginative and en- tirely innocuous pl<>t8 wQre told in pantoroiine wHh suci^ aid as could ^ be rend«n4 .by »ttb (omtf , the «rtt4<> baiM6 dralni^: . The sex angle ^as glossed bVfV. , ; before the arrlvskl pt the talking ; picture there had been efforts ittadie to appeal to the distinctively child ;audience. The old Kalem company made two or three productions of, AMrr taifi* with the idea of an eventual weekjy release, AU of the old- v-^i^Miieir^ Moji><6 chan<ies witH: iilm litiended: strYeUy for Jiivettile Appeal; KxfitbU liirptti* 'i^Ve Bflthll^ .w4i;li',tlie«e; '.' ex per i mcnt s ■'and the. ide^ ■ ■dwlnd^^ ■ ; V VVhcvn the ..^f^l|j4*»g ■plfctur^ :it creute<d a,n entirely , new condition. iMAi^^^ ftiade ft' ^flntte aYid Unmist'ikahie exposition of the pidt, ftnd with 1 tfialdg came the introdurtion of the-bawdy and frequently indefensible , jokefli. . .^J^x situations became emphasized and definite. Sex, the basis or mosf^rama since;the,C^l^^k M made palpably evident. For < .tb(^: first' tinne the^ i6 be sonie truth to the contention thftt the plX^ture had ah infliionce not whol upon the child mlhd. 15ut v. thl.s hns1»oen too mtith iitrcsRed in the recent debates. Any fair-minded niagistrale dealing with juvenile delinquency can depo.se that mo.st chil- {.^dl-ffn ahdyet' tHe of 12 have a deftnlW itnderstahding of sex matters ^'i|jir|ilcK wa»i not gathered from the screen; Long before pictures th^ ^'ifiiiMfie, condfttonit ex^^ and were variously; blamed :<wi the reller; rinks, -.'.'.iliiie 'n»v^vjb^^ll»4mg whatever ha i)|>ehed' to':.He.- t^''fa^!^vth«' in(»n#nt. s it iMay frankly ti© adiiiitted that the screen cannot be eovilllned purely \ t6 :hiuJt whic^ jMircnt.s believe to be .suitable for child consumptlOW. It >'Violate.s Our standards of decency to admit children to the showings of plays o.slensibly adult and it is within-th® cour.se of reason to realize ^ th^t the screen is growing adult; that it 4san .no longer be. Umited in its themes to thai -^M cvme uttder thie hea<l "of "ijultable fftmllr trade*. * llorice there arises a need for a new development in the picture theatre ■ Vhicli shall recognize the new development and .segregate picture drama into two classifications; theatres for those who want sophisticated adult Stories and other, ,theatrcs wher^. Juveniles; could be solicitetl or ^ those ^ whb want weflrt4n!<^rk^^,' etc. frt- tlMilsmaller towns a single :\}im06i;'[sn&y appeal to both cla.<<.Mo.s of pnlronaure on different niRhts,: giving the.Sat- . ui'day niatinee and pertm-ps T'liday night to the. ehildl^n* ^BxamJ^ ^iwouid i>o one hoiiso playing 'Of ii(iaw[in:!Bpn4age%%Mf;^a • "O'lUit-n or Joe Brown type of film. It iiiiKbt re<iuire i revision of pnlduclion sohedule.s. to pHiy{3e, the Iw • ^ olaHsifications with proper material. It would not reaut^' a greater rih^*«*«*'irfetu^^^^ even 1^88, an*, tt'ter a Short period of read- justment, the profits i^iould be as: tarse it not gre^^^ It 'trouid then be possible to appeal to those Who do not now patronise'the piet^ /theatres because producers must perforce fall between the two diVlSli>n» r\.of appeal and' produce a .product which pleases neither class. i , UuMlly this condilinn tiuist prcnMll If tho picture is to wndure. not now, when et>irditi(»nn are Ho-riiMx?.., . . ___„___ ,- B.O. Tit . V iffivsitly improved conditions |n ■^/tbi^tre. ^-ppwatiewif:;, fefleet^v -ki: : 1^ revealing that for the IweoHs ended last June 7 busincJis i*^ appriWtl*n^te»y^ '4^%[iifr ihifi circuit compared with the re- sull.s for the same 40 weeks in 1932 and 1!».5:]. ending Juno 8, 193.1. J''or the greater portion of this period, ^ wb<^h 0ii«^^^^^^ has shot '■■ Aniericah induiiti^^ :;'til<*t(ii-eM, hfis been ufidcK NWA. . Net for I.ot'sv's, Inc., for the tlircc- ■ qu.irlojs up to last June 7 was up to |Jii7r,fl!i060, eqfulvalc'nt to $3.4.5 a share on the conimon sti».ck rtftei: \ pr<>i'erred, dividend' i^irlir'emeht* «4i. bsidi.iri<^. This <-oJnp'iros w i U i » net (,r ??,.T,1G,037 for the corr<'.viM.nd- •••»; 10 weeks ended .June H, HOil. .«Hintv,a|ent,to |lj,li.^ oh the cominon. : riod v,'i>r. f!»,(i9.''i.R09, .is Comp.'ired 1o • $«,f..H.Ol;J for the .0 vveeks tip In la.sl .hiMf liefirerialion itml l ixf.s hAti be^m greater fpr .the 40 weeks ; «l«*<i ^iitii^ f: this yfrWr .l hah tor tl^ ;*^%S> i»> <;S*io»ij| perloii by $:.26,480. ^rlffuiV^vii Were i3.*!Sft,2f,2 f(»r the 40 Wf,- ).., I I I )( . (.iinlfd for .'uid * •! J fur tin- HiMue pcrHtd up. to i^vf iiMtini ni tail. Campaign to m .ke local school beards responsible for types of film entertainment shown in <very com- munity was planned last week by National CCffigirM/B of Parents and ■'tieikehptn In' heidr developments in .screen cle,'in-ui) cru.'sade. Three-year plan, proposed by Mrs. Itobbliriii Qilfflan, militant; enemy of M^k hpfOking, calls for Work bj); all locat P-T-A groups td Vogulatfe na- ture of films shown children and to reali.ze, 'th,e poUuitial good to be Anninincing 1*-T-A will cfif)i)cr;ite with institutions of education and t^jverntneht departments to secure better type ftlms.' Mrs* Gllma.n said orgjattl^atloh wlil, !^ COhfl^rate'Virlth the indu.stry efttier; by^^^^ or listing pix. '■■y Program .Tins to .-.ycure .'suitable' i>icVures if' r itirstruc^^^ and ontt^rthittmifint; ilme'tt^p iilm llfirariW for school a,nfl Community' ti.'^e; special e<luf,'it ion.'il .siiovvin;;.s- for rTinuri-ril Tiid" i~tru triicMt~ oT" tiiidf l»racti« (' cont rol legihl.itiop, .SMCh h.s regujatWtiv 0 blOrk UpdUiHsf . BREENS FOE MO Uulver C'itj?; .Aug, ,:(•. Ai>pi>iritcd Censor ■ Cohtaet^ W MV'fr'o, M luncc Itr-vnes re.iHs nil scripts before Jof IJree.h If? ..h.'i'»'l<*<i thAm'-by studio'.' ;*■'''■ V.^- Itf'Vli,'.- .t1 ,<> .vill i. -p In toll III s. iib ISK'cn on slorKJS M'.'^ plans to j Industry Counting on Im- portant N«w Films to Give 1934-35 Fagk SUrt— . . • ■ .'t 'l» 2'.. ■ -f ).i ' - ' _ AUU witii' .Ilia: iiiiiatrjr, w.aiin«#;iiNv^o new season to start, distributors a e laying out releasing schedules for a concerted pusb on product starting a|Niiitt^^i^ flin' year gets under way. Holding- back certain produ<qtiona which in formal^'''ireMsfi^y^ihikii^ .6itt' earlier 'to''eHiiUi{mti^ th» idea seems to be to bombard the market as far as ,[possible with big pictures-:t]Ms.'fwiifVA'^^ Where pictures are' i'e4dy, none of thr. distrlbs are holding back for better winter conditions, as somc- thnes HappiBiuai JBliWiyiliilnc expected box office power is being rushed out starting Aug. 15 in hop^s that September and October will act as an li^prMS|ya first lap on the hew season mnI jjranerailjr lend impetus to business. Another thought in shoyins out FOX TO MAKE , Pox':if41ms.;k'iiiNr;tf^ mitted td miakii^ Its own ptetures ;here': and':, la- 'iiiewvaBt^^. ^l^lMK^U&g, to cloise a eoliitraci for Its > TPn studio. On the payroll will be T. Hayes Hunter, Anthony Kimmlaa and Al- bert l^ri(er» 7«g 4ti*ctOTi^ three pt tteMb: c^Muitatf on to\^irh :'o«t;'if 'Vtctures '.par^-'l^.: In Bo^col^^ T^ Kent to Coast Soon Sidhey il- Kent Plan.s to K;ive by the eiid-biC tli^^ i^r a Coast via^t to tbe Fax littidto. date •deilhitely Bet. .it's a periodical trip to contact pnMluctiim executive*' RUE Hoiiywetad; Aug« f. When Kufus LeMalre returns here from London. i>robably in Septem- ber, he will assume the post of cast- ... , ■ , ihg director at Metro. Deal was set! »f ^hese theatres persi.st in play with 1^; B. Mayer prior to lieMalre's "'1T''^.C^htcagoy;. Aug! P-:'^ '' Itev.Msint; it.s bulletin of previous week when It isiiued no list of banned .pictures, the Chlcaigrb Legii^i. of:, ipN^si^is!^ i ottt- a-; bulletin which contains only con- demned flickers. ^Bulletin makes no mention; Oh the ban list are a ttuinber o( repeats. Complete bulletin lists 'AfCah's of a Cicntlem^n,' 'Finishiiig Schbdi.^^ •■'•©taimo^ :^'Wasy «eir.'' Man,' 'Scandals,' 'Good Dame,' 'Laughing Hoy.' 'Little Man, What NowV 'Lazy River,' 'ManhattaiK Melodram.a/ . '^ana,' '.Merry WiVM of Henov^ 'iW Hiihiah I3<jlndage;' '.Sadie McKee,* 'Smarty.' 'Sisters Un- der the Skin,' 'Uppcrwurld,' 'Cath- erine the Creat.' 'Henry Tozlrflsi*jg^;. the condemned batch.^ .' Boycott Threat ' : , Legion .Biecency last we^ifl' started a canvass of all nabe thea^- tres threatehlng an orgahlsed fmy-- departure abroad last month. Both Mayer and LeMaire are now over there, the latter currently being per- sonal manager for George Arllss. LeMaire replaces Ben Plaapa In thie eaiitlng spot at a*-0, ^xpieeta- tlon being that I'iazza -will merely move over and undertake other du- ties af this studio. It marks Le- Malre's fourth studio connection since he fiirst came out here as an agent. Ho was on production at Columbia, became casting head for W.arners and then was designated an associate producer at Fox. , .plahs:are 'ft^ji;ia4re.t«t:^i(l''i'n im^edtattaiy' ':.#la.' - ^t^riK ''A^jom ^^^^ j (hnti Hfi Culver City, Aug. 6. Harry IJeaumont leaves Metro as a director Thur.sday (9) when his contract ends. Ife was to. have iiftadied tha '^allfko |lurdei; Ctise. iSt*^picttn^ has been postponed. lleaumont^ has been a^ Metro a ,||,-yiis|ry>a!*id#r" -iiraisaiit. jji^i.*; Pk^r 1^^^^ from U. S. Hollywood, Aug- Metro is practically set to break intd::'BirittslS';'fMro4«^^ CoMpany has made up its mind to turn out a few films there. Jfust how soon or who will be In cMrarire of production is not certain yet, but David O. .Selznick will go over in the fall to make three or four pictures, split- ting his time lM^«e«!n productlph^^^ L<»ndon «nd H6lly.«irodd. Finjil dctalU of 'tb« plan are in .■ii>eyan( e While Louis IJ.—Mayer is al>rou«l looking around. Mayer on his ieturn to the U. S. witi OUtltiie fin.'ii d(>taM8 <lf the projecfc , ; ' Moahtlnle co'mpnhy iias set Its I.idM—in the swiiH dopm ttrn iit li ixi luinlitiK for ni'itcri.iI ind «'xp<-< i.-i to line tip a half dor"n iio.s.s|b|o wte- narios tn start with. 'I'hat indicates that .Metro exi>ects to plan tbe lire thing carefully from this side, .-iendint; over script, st.ars, producer md tcflinii i;jn.s fc,r m.'ikiiig of llif piciuff."., L<ocal British talent will be •'u«^.';^li(jhi^WI*^''ft>#':^ti^: litf^ntinfy ■ Also i6>i4ecld'''f "yet l.s wh«/'re Motro vill |>r'o'tU('r> in Loud.in .-.iric c t,\<i. (tio .sp:-tc«' Is. reported g^>tiiMg more '.iHWI/yitlW^ 6.-. Alexah|f6r i "P'aiitageii, tWether with Mills, .*^lircfve & (' *., I.s named in a supplcmcnl.'iry comj»I.'iint filed in Superior Court by Marion Churchill d.em^nditt,:. i^ccoVery of,» n assert***! • ionh t»f |i .W.doo oh notes excniifd in June. 1930. I'l.iiiitiff sues )i.s tru.sicc of the f stat*- of tUf l.'ilo Kliz.ibetli Cliurchill ."^[i.ilding, from Wh.ose |»ropci'lle8 .M. :;C. ^■t?fV'*l>;hi''^''- ■ i*?!**;^'.on. f ojr'i lie r: tr-iis teip*«v ■.fl.^'<'i|ii r if-d^itpt jjiayc' ing pictures on the ban list. Legion states it's okay for'theatres to play pictures in the A and B clas«iflca«; (ions but not ih the banned C pio* tures. X(^glon is repetrj^iiurned otver tha big bttslhesa around town on three banned flickers, 'Man- hattan Melot^rama,' 'Sadie McKeo* and 'Of Human IJondagc.' Latter picture broke all attendance reeorda the first rveek at the Loop Paiaca, held over .a f.fond week to smash trade and tlu n shifted Immediately' to the H.&K. Loop Carrick for ad- ditional first-running. , CHINESE OKAY W)i>/n Ml list Lublt.sch vre^t||rn.-< to I'iiatiiount aft</r f learlhtf awiiy it .\5(tro on '.Merry Widow:' bo v\ill direct, one trf two pi«>ductlofl*i 'Alf tlie::;l<lh«'s'■tr'>rs<?!*v SvithVfv»t^«fi|§;+'; sdji Ht.'tri'efl; hr '('.•irnivjil ' Dlr>*ri^ir h^,s fi1re;rflv (.I' l V'd b . irn.'^ -ind will fl " d'• i mmi lirst:, 10 . gi^j when he ^^ci»;, i.:!.:.k ■ Hollywo(jd. Aug 5. ■ Mtttco's 'Painted- -Veii' ba», p as se d — and becohne the first filhii with an ' orlehtnl background to get an okay ' from the far east republic. After lamping the script of 'Oil for the Lamps of Chin4' (^ajut admonished Warneri» agaiikst per- mitting the following IhdIscretiorisJ civil w.ar, ■ivf>nH'n'.s bound feet, weiring of queues, concubine.i, opium smoking, superstitions and the improper, use Vhinaman:; or Special rep from the government is en route to watch over the mak- ing of 'Cood Karth' at Metro. I'.nra- mqunt's 'LImchouse Nights' is aUio^ No fiuAMo Bladdi£ liuff ilo. Aug. 6. Thf IJiiitilo Lfj^'ion of Decency l liis w <•.•!; IK (I it.- list oCapProVedl ;. curretvjl llim«> with the .anrioiin*: •' fnVnt flfiaife: the Mst" should forih a iemporury pr.i' lir ;il means for sujp- > porters to k'<-p tiicir pl<>dge. v^^. ' ■ Acfonip^iTiying thf lis' wa.s an an,- ■;. nouncement tl»at 't}ie. Buffalo^ Coi«***' r the time being publlsli n bl.Kklist The Issuing 6f su' h list will d 'p 'nd upon 'patlon'tl L'-j^jou ((f U'-t-rucy (h'vHophu nts |tnd .'il.so on : tli,e : t>'P<», of .entertalntiKvMt . f»!rnirshe<l Ifr .^• V lor^ll'.thA«t^t^S^'*:•■■.■ '^Z'•^''X-'v'- , I!..; I xi. Aug 6. pU- if.- ^;i\* || 'rui'.iivl.jy tn . i >, t. I.> » li'n-.-: o'ltfit/v»Hed: ,bo.v<'f>.t,t;^t;l«'ji;'rrr(-iiefJ.''h^