Variety (Jan 1935)

12 VARIETY PICTURES Tuesday, January 1, 1935 THE NEWSREELS By Boy Ghartier Last New Tear the . newsreel makers were hopeful that In 1934 they would receive^ the benefits of a New Deal for themselves by getting a break, on news concurrent with newspapers and radio through i)nrcTfel'"C?r-TfiJeratrbTr-or-Waghington- and other sources which could help provide this for the film news gatherers. It never developed to that extent but during the past year the various reels have received what Is conceded to be greater Gov- ernmental co-operatloji than here- tofore. The present administration, from President Roosevelt down, has as a resuit received more newsreel foot- age than In previous years. The President himself has been in the news camera eye often. He has welcomed It rathed than shied from It. Other New Deal figures, heads of Important committees In Wash- ington, key Governmental execu- tives, Senators and Congressmen, lawmakei's throughout the country and others have ~ also been found less reluctant to speak for public consumption through the medium of the screen. . In the country's fight against crime, U. S. agencies and Individuals have been quick to realize the value of the newsreel in getting its mes- sage'across and .the five maker^ of this kind of film entertainment have been anything but reluctant In giving represehtiatloh to this type of material. The dramatic extermination of Public Enemy Dilllnger in coverage by-the various reels was one of the- most outstanding contributions of the year. None of the reels handled this In a maudlin manner, avoiding the very thing the Government doesn't want by permitting the work to reflect any sentimentality or herolzing. ' "The Dilllnger material, ^mong a few other clips during the year, marked the strong trend of newsreels in 1934 to .be daring in what was photographed for the film- going public. The bullet-ridden body of the gangster was not edited out. Some strike riot ^material also was .not denied the public. News HighlTghts Equally as dramatic on release wer^ the shots of the recent assas- sination of Yugoslavia's king in which some of the reels showed the bullet-ridden body of the. ruler to- gether with the sabre attack made upon his assassin. More recently one of the reel manufacturers (Pathe) brought forth an exclusive around a lynch- ing in Florida. Pathe photographed the victim, the girl's father and mother and the tree from which the attacker was strung up. Reel r.lso snatched a picture of the body after being cut down but its editors be- lieved it too gruesome to be flashed across a screen. Not deleted, how —ever,—wer-e-scenes_flhQwlng_^Kfigroes anil New York nearly a week ahead of Par's competitors. During the past year numerous changes occurred editorially and in the makeup of newsreels. The de- mand for olf-ecreen narrative, for economic among other reasons, grew^o -the point .where .recently both Fox and Hearst swung over to name commentators to strengthen their reels. Fox put on Lowell Thomas, 'while Hearst brought in Edwin C. Hill, each In an efCort to give Universal greatei' competition than it had had over the years with Graham McNamee, its widely known spieler. Coincident with these changes, Fox swung over to a new construc- tion of its reel, departmentalizing it in line with the makeup'of a news- paper and with other announcers besides Thomas assigned to do off- screen naratlve. Ed Thorgersen was put on for sports and Louise Vance for fashions, while another announcer. Lew Lehr, -was engaged for novelty material, some of which may lend itself to humor treatment. Makeup of the" new Hearst reel, finally divorced entirely from Fox. was also changed with the Hearst dress leaning to headlines and a brevity in titles. Within the past few months the Hearst reel has ehowJti marked Improvement, On Fox's divorcement from Hearst and coincident with its debut in new" dress, it was returned to the Em- bassy, N. Y., which now selects its program from all five newsreels is- sues, while the opposition Trans- Luy on Broadway plays all but Hearst. Both these Broadway news- reel ftmpor-lumsr^Ui-als o has a n Studio Placements East Side and a Brooklyn housi have also swi^ng ovec a little more to novelty and always Include shorts, travelog or other novelty filler for a show which now usually averages ah hour as against around 40 or 45 minutes before. With spot news still far from be- ing in abundance for the. newsreel vendors, there has been a recent marked tendency toward, editorializ- ing and nbvelty. Pathe, pioneer In this respect, has been emulated by competitors, notably in connection with political or international top- ics which lend themselves to ex- planatory newsreel production, com- ment, maps, diagrams and the like. Par's No Comment Paramount News recently stated it would not go In for commentary or 'produced' clips, but on opening of Congress for this winter's session would lean heavily toward events of national importance by covering Washington in a manner that would Include something out of there in every release. Par threatened a change in dress but recently is said to have decided against this and would go in for nothing but .'page one news.' Neither Par nor Pathe thus far have shown any interest in a 'name' commentator for such ma- terial as they shoot silently.. The s pielers the y use get no billing, being chased out of town and run nlng for their lives. This was typi cal of the news-gathering backbone of the newsreel companies during . ?34. Always In the past, either political drawbacks or an editorial reluctance to chance' the gruesome kept them from issuing this type of material. Together with the Yugoslav as sasslnatloii, the revived news in terest in the LIndberg'h kidnapping through apprehension of Hauptmann became outstanding in newsreel im- portance. For the first time the New York police lineup was photo- graphed when Hauptmann was -AcH^EflfLJflow.n..tViprfl under the hi lights for questioning, In the mad scramble to score ecoop on showing of the shooting of King Alexander, a tragedy was narrowly averted for two Fox Movietone editors. With Its prints on the same boat as those of com petltors, Fox chartered a special planie and flew out to sea in an at tempt to pick up the film so that It could be planed back to New York and placed . on newsreel Bcreene 24 hours . In advance. The Fox plan; nose-dived into the ■water and one of Its crew drowned One of the longest scoop steals In history was also engineered by par in connection with the England- to-Australia air race. Company effected a hookup with a couple of fliers competing lA the derby .and had them fly the film back to Lon- don on the return trip, with result [• v,^ ■ - "t:::"-)!'-': :n both London Today there is not a single film theatre known in the industry which does not Include newsreels on Its shows. They have become a stand ard staple which no theatre oper ator dares do without. A short subject offshoot of the newsreels is scheduled to make its debut this month when Time maga zlne gets out its flrst issue of what WiU biB sold as 'The March of Time; a two-reel short which will be to regular newsreels what Time is to the daily newspaper. Promise is that the 'March of Time' product will differ from reg ular newsreels in several major re- spects, offering a new kind of dramatized reporting. Newsreel men are awaiting the first release of this new quasi newsreel material, wondering whether It Is going to offer opposi tlon . or not. First Division will market the 'March of Time' shorts Hollywood, Dec. 31. Ben Stoloft directing 'Hold 'Em Yale,' Par. Patricia Ellis, Caesare Romero, William Frawley, Warren Hymer, Andy Devlne, George Stone, Buster Crabbe, George Barbler, 'Hold 'Em Yale,' Par. Ralph Murphy directing 'McFad- den's Flats,'Par. Walter G. Kelly, Andy Clyde, Jane Darwell, George Barbier, 'McFad- den's Flats,' Par. Jack McGowan/'Sid Silvers, script- ing "Broadway Melody of 1936,' Metro. Alfred Green directing 'The Goose and the Gander,' WB. Kay Francis, George Brent, Gene- vieve Tobln, John Eldredge, Claire Dodd, 'The Goose and the Gander,' WB. Arthur Byron, 'Shadow of Doubt,' 'Casino Murder Case,' Metro. Ivan Simpson, 'Shadow of Doubt,' Metro. Lew Ayres, 'Man-eating Tiger,' Fox. Agnes Anderson, 'Wedding Night,' UA. Earl Dancer, directing dances in 'Four Stars to Love,' Radio. E. H. Calvert, I(umba,^ Par. Walter Kingsford, 'Naughty Ma- rietta,' Metro. Norman McLeod, dirjectlng 'Big Broadcast of 1936,' Par. . . Jack Holt, 'Jim Burke's Boy,' Col. Mike Simmons, screen play, 'Jim Burke's Boy,' Col. Laird Doyle, screen play, 'Thin Air,' WB. Andrea Johnson, Loma . Lowe, Leone Lane, Marlon .Strickland, Eve Kimberley, Eleanor Johnson,' Gail Goodson, Juana Sutton, Edward Pawley, 'Dante's Inferno,' Fox. Mary Forbes. Hoberta,' Radio. Richard Quinn, 'Boy of Flanders,' Radio. William Faversham, Le.onard Mudl, 'Becky Sharp.' Radio. Francls-Pordi-^Now-r-m-a—Ladyj^ Par. Lew Seller. 'The Ten Dollfir Raise,' Fox. Henry Johnson, Paul Schofleld, William. Conselman, scripting 'The Ten Dollar Raise,' Fox. Robert Yost, Philip Klein, adapt- ing "Work of Art,' Pox. Joe Cunningham, writing gags for Wiest Point of the Air,' Metro. , George Seitz; directing 'Shadow of Death,' Metro. Ricardo Cortez, Virginia Bruce, Betty Furness. Constance Collier. Shadow of Death,' Metro. Gertrude Orr, screen play, 'Along Came a Woman,' Mascot. Sada Cowan, scripting 'Chocolate,' Par. Humphrey Pearson, screen play^ Morning, Noon and Night,' Piar. Gil Pratt, Boris Petroff, wirting comedy lines for "Now I'm a Lady,' Par. Edward Earle, Leon Ames, Paul Fix, Reginald Barlow, Noel Francis, 'Mutiny Ahead,' Majestic. Leon Errol. 'Glnsurance,' short. Radio. Jack Pennock, Pearl Eaton, Jules Cowles, Joe Twerp, J. P. McGowan, Bert Roach, Irving Bacon, 'Caprice Espagnol,' Par. Ferd Ryher, adapting 'Stranded,' WB. Rolf Sedan. 'AH the King's Horses,' Par. Sada Cowan, scripting 'Chocolate,' Par. John Eldredge. 'Goose and Gan- der,* WB. Margaret-^ RohBrts__BdapJ;atlonj. 'End of the World,' Par. Edward Everett Horton, .'Callente,' WB. Gil Pratt, gags, *N6w I'm a Lady,' Par. Lionel Standard (Nick Parkyaka kas), 'Four Stars for Love,' Radio. Humphrey Pearson, screen play, 'Morning, Noon and Night,' Par. Arthur Phillips, adaptation, 'Jun gle,' Par. George Waggner, screen play, Cowboy Millionaire,* Sbl" Lessor, Gladys Lehman, collaborating on script, 'In Old KTcntucky.' with Sam Hellman, Fox. . Lester Cohen and S. J. Perelman collablng on 'Nymph E^ant,' Fox. Eric Blore, Keye Luke, 'Casino Murder Case,' Metro. ALJ31lfiftn,_J3SaYfilMQg-SaLe3ladi Paramount trustees and their attorneys are surrounding the proposed suits against directors and ofllclals of Par, as well as the banking house of Kuhn, Loeb & Co. for recovery of excessive salaries, stock bonuses, proflts from stock participation and the like with great secrecy. The only official action taken by the Par trusteSij through the courts las been elimination of Maurice Newton as a prospective defendant' in the proposed recovery suits. He Is president of Hallgarten & Co., Par underwlters for many years, and Is among the seven directors oh thei skeleton board of a reorganized Paramount, Newton was also a member of the old board. His name was listed through error, accord- ing to Hallgarten & Co. Adolph Zukor remains a prospective defendant, leaving the Par president as the only member of the new directorate facing this action by the trustees. Producer at a major Coast lot, unable to get a director to do his picture when they lamped the budget and heard his plans for a cheap cast, did a vamp with a cutter. Painting the rosy prospect of what it means to be a director, producer had the lad quit cutting for megglng. When previewed the picture got a 100% bad rating, Now the lad who was a cutter is a director with nothing to direct, for no matter how much he had on the ball It would have been Impossible for him to turn out a good picture under the circumstances. The direction was the only good thing in the. picture. Those not knowing what the lad was up against, however, feer he should have stuck to cutting. Roxy theatre, N. Y., has Issued booklet passes with coupons good for one trip a week. Former admission of a card, good for promiscuous admission, was found to have been abused, not by show and newspaper people, but by the usual politico free list which every theatre is subject to. In view of Hbivard S. Cullman/ receiver, being from political circles, the Roxy's roster of courtesy season passes probably exceeds any Broad- way flrst run. Clocking on some of the admissions showed the same pass being used twice in an afternoon. Joe O'Neill at Warners Hollywood, Dec. 31. Joseph Jefferson O'Neill, former New York World reporter. Joins the Warner studio • publicity staff Wednesday (2) as a eature writer, At one time O'Neill was publicity director for the Hays organization, and later with the Fox and Colum bia studio press department here, More recently he has been In local newspaper and political publicity work. O'Neill acted as press agent for Alexander Pantages during the theatre man's morals trial a few Several anti-trust suits brought under the Sherman and Clayton re- straint of trade laws are occupying the serious attention of the Par trustees and Par officials. " - The anti-trust actions of E. M. Loew circuit In New England and the Momahd chain in Oklahoma threaten problems to.be wrestled with. Par trustees offered Loew $60,000 in settlement of his pending suit but it was rejected. The Momand circuit (southwest) suing other distrib- utors and the M.P.P.D.A. as well as Par, filed a claim for (4,900,000. chiefs, effective Jan. 2, Is 31 names shorter than the previous list. Most of those stricken off were transient correspondents and those, chiefly foreign correspondents, who cannot now be located. New year's list calls for credential cards for 210. Of this number 125 are domestic writers, permanently in Hollywood for newspapers, syndicates, mags and trade papers; 47 free lance writers and 30 representatives of the foreign press. WB. Joe Sauers. 'Car 99,' Par; 'Reckr less,' Metro. Seymour Robinson, screen play, 'Oil,' WB. Marian Marsh. Wallace Ford, 'Devil's Cargo,' Col Sid Silvers, treatment on "Broad way Melody,' MG. William Irving, Gus Reed. 'One More Spring/ Fox. Claire DuBrey. Barbara Baron dess. "Life Begins At 40,' Fox. Donald Meek, Henry Stephenson, Jean Hersholt, Elizabeth Allen, *Vamplres of Prague.' MG, Paul Schofleld and Henry John son, screen play. Ten Dollar Raise, Fox^ ^>hlllp Klein and Robert Yost, 'Work of Art,' Fox. Mack Gray. Al Hill, Howard Wil son, 'Car No. 19,* Par. George Barbier,' 'Crusades,' Par. Olive Golden, haughty Marietta,' MG. Bert Roach, Samuel Hlnes, Ed w.nrfl ^"n;^'1y, r.lclmrcl Tuc;;-.>:-, IJer Inside Stuff-Pictures New studio pres s credenti al list. I ss ued by the major s tudio pub licity Studio paid a writer for an original story which he had conceived as a vehicle for a blonde star on that particular major lot; but, neiedlng a story In a hurry for one of its male stars, company assigned it to him. Woman star doesn't know it happened, so the scribbler Is doing another for her, but Is in a quandary, trying to decide if it would not be surer to reach her if he made the star part masculine, figuring on another somer- sault In the scenario dept. One of the most unusual advance buildups for a screen subject is currently being executed In Time mag on behalf of the forth- coming March of Time newsr^l series. Time readers have been gen-' erous in their correspondence to the editors suggesting local exhlbs by name of theatre and manager who should book the March of Time reels. First Division distribs and Is assiduously following up all suggestions for local bookings. Major studio imported a name playwright to turn out a screen play at $3,000 weekly. Meanwhile a screen writer was put on the yarn to'help the playwright get wise to picture angles. Pair could not get along together, so the picture writer was Instructed to work alone. His script was accepted and will be us^d. Iniport has put in 10 weeks at the studio, it still on the payroll and has delivered nothing. P.a. for one of the Broadway cinemas called up a dally reviewer and asked what would be liked as a Yuletlde gift. At the same time the p.a. wrote a letter to the editor of the paper applying for the tevlewer's joU No report as yet whether cither the gift or the job or both were received. Wi th the. I ndependent The at re Owner s of America playing d own their auspices and featuring' 'Movie Ball' for Jan. 12 at the Hotel Astor, "the AMPAS and other midwinter sponsors of film balls are peeved. Claim that this will take the edge off their shindigs. Literary Digest Is making a play for amusement-goers by spotlight ads In the New York amusement sections, ballyhoolng Its 'guide' to the best plays, books and films. Some of the ads list the 'Digest's' idea jof the 10 best plays on Broadway. Not emphasized in Reliance-UA's 'Count of Monte Crlsto' Is that Wil- liam j'arnum, who did the first of the several silent-screen versions of this Dumas classic, plays a minor bit In the talker remake. Adolph Zukor's support of George J. Schaefer, Par general manager in charge of distribution, is Indicated by orders from the Par prez to dedi- cate the sales drive and contest starting Jan. 1 to Schaefer. nard Slegal. 'Shadow of Doubt,' MG. P. P. Dunne, Jr., and Philip Dunne, adaptation, 'The Proud Princess,' Fox. Clarence Geldert, 'Caprice Es- pagnol,' Par. Michael Ciirtlz, directing, 'Case of the Curious Bride,' WB. . Irene Franklin, Frank Conroy, Florence Rice, Oscar Apfel, Geneva Mitchell, Conrad Nagel, Robert Al- len, Raymond Walburn, 'Mistaken Identity,' Col. Joseph Engel, supervising, 'Ten Dollar Raise' and 'Work of Art,' Fox. Victor Varcohl, "Roberta,' Radio. Fox Clears Banks Yarn Hollywood, Dec. 81. Fox has purchased all rights from Metro and Radio for Polan Banks' original story, 'Brief Rapture.' Story, originally owned by Metro, was sold to Radio, made under the t::.j of 'A,0'e of Cor.Tc-.it.' fflGMEmCElMCir FOR KINDERGARTEN Hollywood,' Dec. 31. Bolstering Its kindergarten, Metro has signed Sam Kayser, vocal In- structor, to a long-term contract. He will coach the young stockers of the studio In voice, while Oliver Hinsdale tutors them in histrionics. New deal Is effective this week. Ruskin Rushin' Here Hollywof J, Dec. 31. Harry Kuskin advanced his trip t New York by two weeks, left here by train Thursday. Ruskin will be in New York for three weeks, will look at two plays for Paramount before roturnlng to hi."! pri'h'onir'; irth.