Variety (Mar 1935)

Wednesdajt March 13, 1935 P I CTM KES VAXiETY Warn Studios of KkkbiMi^^^^ Church Drive on Fan Mag 'StiDs HbUywpod,: March 12; ; Indications of a. threatened legion of Decency boycott of film fan mag- azines, which would put the Indus- try again in the middle of a cleaii-up flght, has J.v J.: McCarthy, of the Hays office endeayorlng to halt the bpotiegging of hptcha stills at the' ■tpillos. AU^^P"g^^ offldally the stud io pub- ^tlcity departments submit all stills to- -the local Hays office for..okays before releasing them, th^re neyer- theiess have been a numlier of, leaks recentljr which . have; placed; pro- : scribed photographs in the hands of thb mags, iBspeciaily tho se going for .'leg;-art.. :, .McCarthy's argrunierit to the. stu- -dlos>tff exert-a clOser'watch on stills ~ liy not iallowlhg iny phjtogn^-aph be taken thai could be declared of- fensive, is that unless siich care, is taken any church campaign,a ihe niaga .may have an effect on the present co-pp6ratlye feeling exist- ing betwessn the church and the film industry.";' ; , ^' ^ • ■ 'First indications that tiie Catholic Church-;l8.-cpncerned;. oyer the fan magaizines was -seen' in the recent tircular letter sent to all parish prie.stsrin the New York diocese by Mpnslgheur - Lavelle. : Monslgneur Lavelle, first assistant to Cardinal Hayes, pointed, out in ;thls letter, read in all cliurches in-'the dipcese; ;th(» ■ asserted harmful, effect, maga- 'ifine stills have oh children and di- rected the communicants to use all their influence in keeping such pub- "Ucatlons out of the hands of mem- l)ier.«i of their families. V Reported that in : some parishes In New York state, a boyPott of; the mags is already under way, follow- ing the receipt ofSMonslgneur laa-^ velle's letter. ■ Studiot': Own Burnup What miifs the studios ho little, as w,ell as the Hays Prowd, la when a fan mag dlgs^ up a phpto of a -starred or' featured femme in vari- ous- stages of undress. It's not so -casy^oran-actfe^s to-be- ^^^ on the screen If stilis are floating around reyealing. her In various stages pf Undress. • The .press departments bewail these pliofos" of their name players,' int can do-nothirtg-abput-lt-as-they; took them in the ~flrst Place. 71>^s the studios iadmlt that It's tlielr own ':fauit;, /■ .•: ■ .vfioweyer, the practice dates, back, t^ese s.a. 'stills' of current name ; girls having; b^en taken when tiiey first entered pictures as unknowns and the publicity end was striving to pla.nt them in magazines-andr Hew-spapeirs. It is this coming home to roost of the iindraped stills of unknowns, ,after they achleye importance, of which the Hays men warn and who .would like to; eliminate anything „4arIng. In all. Btilla_any_way„L .. FLORIDA PREVIEW George White Taking No Chances Oh 'Scahdails'; . Hollywpbd, March 12. : CJeorge Whltei determined to duck . critical audiences pn t he Goiast, .will hold initial preview of~lii8"""ratesf 'Scandals' for Fox at. Miami or Palm Beach. ; ■. , ' Producer pulls out for Florida this week,' as soon aa the picture is cut and ready -for scoring.; A finished' print will;follow hlmMater so he can . preview fpr his own benefit in Flor- ida, with likelihood officials in sales ■ department of Fox may be on hand :' from New^ Tork^^ t^^^^^ over the production. '.■.- He is due in New York around . March 20 to ready the stage pro- duction of 'Bank Nemo.! ; HARLOW DIVORCES HO. 8 Hollywood, March 12,,, ; Jean Harlpw was divorced;, in Lbs Ahgeles yesterday (Monday) from Hal Rossbn, cameraman, how in England. Tie was No, t. Film Daily's Annual The Film Daily's ITth aiinua;! Tear Book was issued last ■ week. '• 'i Current edition runs 1,090 pages, more th&h lost year, and is again as cbmprehensiye as {Anticipated. ^ Believe Washington Ditin- interested in Ahjr Sepa- ra^ Inyestigatum of the Motion Picture Industry €ofn€fed%^ Forfiiog , Hpllywppd, March 12. , Deal closed ; between: Paramount aiid the Victor Herbert ejstato glyeisi the studio the screen rights tp some 500 musical numbers wfitte h" by the composer and Includes all his oper- ettas and mu.slcal comedies with the exception of 'Babes in TPoyland,' owned by Hal Roach, and 'Naughty Marietta,? owned by Metro, Studio also has-the rights lb Sbv-,' eral stories; on the life of Herbert and will produce a picture around him which will Include a number of his compositions, Carl. Brisson, Bing Crosby, Gladys Swarthout, Mary Eliis and Helen Jepson will be in the cast. ■ Current WaU St. 6pihlo>n is that the . government will not sanction any separate film business inquiry, jttth.ecJtlMui_Yd»t«i3ig^^ pbsslbilltles are that studjo will Include 'iJileen' and 'The Only .Girl'' in this year's prograirii though the decisioh is not definite as yet. Un- derstood that.several producers have a yen to do 'Eileen,' Irish musical, which they consider particularly good picture_materlal,: Reception of Metro's 'Naughty Marietta' will posr sibly clinch the decision; Eddie. Dowling acted as inter- mediary in the .Par deal for the filming of Victor Herbert's life. Ei-nst Lubitsch wHi_ supervise, rej- lease late this "fall,. " : ;.-Plctur,e iS: to^ be written by'-pkra-. mpunt:, staff men in" collaboration, with Eddie Dowling and Ella Her- bert Bartlett, daughter of the com- poser. In addltlpn to. Herbert, pro- duction will, contain characters of other notable theatrical figures pf the composer's time. Comic Makes Goody Radio Signs Chasen Dave Chasen leaves for Holly- wood next week under contract to RKO Radio Pictures; Agreement call8_fp.rJteaturin^.ln pn^^^ flLmj^un- titled as yet,, due to start shooting April 16. ' -. Chasen : was formerly associated with Joie Cook. He, will ship a, flock of props and gadgets.: for possible lisp in the picture. . 'GondolierV Air Raid T^.--7——Hollywood,-March 12.- Four Mills brothers, Ted Flo RIto and his band, and Judy Canova's Hillbilly Quartet, have been added to talent assembly being placed in support of Dick Powell,' Joan. Blon- dell, Louise Fazenda and William Gargan for 'Broadway Gondolier' at Warners, ;'■.:'.'■.-. Lloyd Bacon is slated to get the fllmusica'l under \\'Ay middie of this week. Mae-WcslU-Title Dissatisfaction within Paramount over the.title of 'How Am I Doin'?' for Mae West's newest picture has resulted in another change. It will go on release under the title of 'Go- In' to Town.' \ Picturei at first was called 'Now I'm a Lady.' fllm industry may be delved into, ais -a"result of .the -proposed inquiry Into the affairs, of the American Telephone & Telegraph Co, and the latter's subsidiaries, such as Erpi.t It is believed, however, thaf forces have been at work trying to initiate a separate film industry investiga- tion, on several occasions. But it is also felt that noiie of the several attempts have received any White House support. On .the cohtVary,' downtown opinion is that the ad- ministration feels that the attempt towards forcing a Congressional in- vestigation of the film business is something In which it is not inter- ested at this time. On- the other hand, any A.T.,&T. Investigation is bound to ring in. several fllm angles.. . Such investl-, gation would bear plenty on Erpl's flnanclng of production besides its equipment royalty charges. • H-McAV Coward Pic Ahead of SaYo Film: Under a switch in plans, the: third Hecht ■ & MacArthur picture .■itarrlng Noel Coward and nhw in- finishing stages, will be released ahead of the second 'made by H. & M. fPr Par release. Instead of re- leasing 'Once in a Blue Moon,' fear "turing Jinimy~Sav6, onTilarch 22, It will- be held back until the hotter weather. Release date now is May 11. Meantime, the Coward picture comes out, date being March 29. Original title, 'Miracle in 49th Street' will be changed, the 49th street locale haying been switched to Greenwich Village. — H-M will make-a-second-Coward starrer in September on a new re- leasing deal with Par for. the 1935- 36 season. Meantime its fourth for .the current season, to start as soon as possible, will star Beatrice Lillle. LEGIT RAID Hollyvyeod Teats ■ Flock of :'E.m and Signs Several Stack of Broadway legit talent headed west last week for picture tries. William Harrigan and Herr "bert Rawlinson speeded out with Warner Bros, contracts, Phoebe Foster-has a-Metro paper and goes into the new Garbo picture. Andrew Tombes is aimed for the Fox lot, Nana Bryant gets a try at Colum- bia, which also has picked up Don- ald MacDonald, and Paul -Gullfoyle will do his stuff for a while on the RkdlQ lot. ..','■' AH seven .were set by Selma Alex- ander (Al Kingston) who also man- euvered, tests last week for Claudia Morgan and Constance McKay. Both girls are from legit and were posed in front of WB cameras. Watchdogs of the Public Pnnts, to Pony Up! .' Los Angeles, March 12. Film folk who owe the gov- ernment on income tax re- turns have no right to play the ponies. ■ That in effect is the ultimatum of revenooers who are keeping a clo.se Watch atr the—Santa - Anlta-^betting— : cages. Idea has spread and other creditbrs are hanging " around the payoff windows should backward clients cash in on a long shot. • .-■ ■ ■ Hollywood,. March 12. New arrangement %Yhich BIng Crosby is reported demanding from Paramount involves total salary of $2,500,000. His present .contract expires next December, ' Starting point of negotiations is said to be Crosby's " outline of 12 pictures covering a period of the next three, years. That's four a year , with the- $2,50.0,000 as his fujl Par income for '36-'i7-'38, Pr :at the rate of approximately $200,000 a picture. ■.. ... There is nothing official oh .Par's reaction. ; . With the new contract, Crosby is also reported mulling eliminating all phonograph recording' due to the fact so many of the small radio sta- tions over-plug his waxings. PARAMOUimPORTEI> POUS^ TENOR DUE SOON • . Berlin, March 12. Jail Klepura, Polish " tenor, - sails for Hollywood next month to make six pictures for Paramount. - His termer calls for him to do all six in three language versions, Eng- lish, French and German. Not clear here whether Paramount intends to do.direct shots in Hollywood or will dub the pictures. Paramount isn't sure yet just how to handle Klepura but if dubblng.the pictures.Klepura will enact hi is own roles In all the dubs, he being mainly a singer and using all three languages with ease. Wanger Pic Holds Raft From Foreign Vacash Hollywood, March 12. George Raft's plans for an Euro- pean trip, after finl.shlng;: 'Glass Key,':. interferes with Walter Wan- ger'is Intention to use the player in 'Every NJght. at Eight.'. _ ..'.-.l:..-- Llkely Raft will postpone his trip to accommodate Wanger as his out- side picture under the Paramount contract. METRO'S EMEBSON LOOS Hollywood, March 12. ■ John Emerson, signed as Metro producer : under Eddie. M a n h 1 x, draws as his first two pix 'Studio Girl'. and 'San Francisco,' His wife, Anita Loos,, h%n been given a writing contract .. Metro's Ehg^lish Juve - Metro Is Importing Gyle.s. • isham, young British player/ for a 'film try. Isham- .is- the son of Sir Vere Isham, -Btirt. He has been playing In 'Family Affairs,' London legit. Sails today (WedncHday) from-Lon- don and goes .direct to Hollywood. Principal concern of the Hays oN flee in setting up a public relations council on the Coast: headed by Lufton Wilkinson or someone elsv^ is to provide for better control ia the dissemination of information, publicity and gossip. At present too much comes out of Hollywood which '. looks alarming. under the Hayaf micrpscope. —^Wilklnsonrorithe-eoast-nb\\7-fol«— lowing the MPTOA convention in New Orleans where he addressed on Hays' public' relations contacting' and clean pictures, may not b4 placed In charge of the bureau to be set lip out there. Tom Pettejr, of-4her-^^Y-7-rHerald-Triburjer who Joined the Hay's forces Monday (11) will be-the cholce-if .Wilkinson la to remain in-his post at eastern head- quarters. , Pettey; is known to havo been .mentioned .for the California spot in that evehti . Wilkinson, -who has been travel.. Ing considerably of late,' would then remain top sergeant of the eastern •Hay's public Telatipn^ forces under J. J. McCarthy. Latter is on. the Coast supervising, the organization of the detup. ^ • v ':■ Plan' In Holly wood, is :t6. effect a closer curb on press ■ agents and others who are responsible for in- formation, which in the opinon of the MPPDA has the wrong kind of a reaction for industrj' reasons when it reaches the public through' print, over the air or in other ways. " A recent instance of press agentry the MPPDA frowns upon was tho story that a scene in a recent pic- ture, running only four minutes on . the screen, cost $35,000 to maitii Actually including cost of extras and .everything, the scene coist $1,500;— ■■ • SUTHERIAND'S 'JIM' AT U Hollywood, March 12. .K(Uiitv Sutherland 1h to diroct .'Diamond.',Tim' at Unlver.sal. ;, Al San tell, orlginaily sot to pilot, inoved' pyer fbr'.a jPar.amoimt -corn- mltrne'nf when the' 'Jim' pr.odiic- tlon. ss;hf»<luip confllotf^fl. RAINS' 'HUNCHBACK' Hollywood, March .12. With Henry Hull dropped by Uni- versal, Claude Rains gets the tltlo role in 'Hunchback of Notre Dame.' Trade Mark Reglslered "FOUNDED BY "Slltft! SItVBRMAN PnbUshed WmIO^ bj VARIETX. Ine .Sid. Silverman, President' • ; 164 Weat 46th Street, New TorWTitty- SUBSCRIPTION Annual.;.... .|a Porelgh.......It Single Cople*........ ,16 CenU Vol. 117 190 ^No.l3 INDEX ^'Bi\\n—;7r.:. r:r. r;\-:-rr^ r^ 62" Burlesque ............,.. 61 Chatter........ <....iv. .-,60-61 Exploitation . v.; .....,... 25 16 and 50 Years Ago...,. 50 Film Reviews ....... i... .. 15 Foreign .Film. News,..,.-. 18-19 ..Foreign. Show News. . ... .. 67 House Reviews,v...... 22 Inside—;Plcture3 ......... 6 Inside—Radio 34 Inside—Vaude. 61 Legitimate-...,... i.....;. 53-56 Tilrcrati."58; Music ,.,46-48 ' New Acts. :,.... 50 News from the-Dailie.e.;. 30 Nitft ^*'".'>''• . -•. - ;. . ;; ;40r-18 ■ OMtiiar.y . ......62 Outdoor. .\ .;.' . , . .:. ;;;.' 63 Pictures . • ........... 2-33 11 (Ho ..........34-45 -Rad-iii^-fMiatti&iS • .• • ■-• '• 45 nadlo--^Ncw ■Bnsln(>.«s'..... . . 44 . liailio'^BcimrL}*. ..^ 38 'Badlo—r.SliOwm.M.risiii)) ..... 36 talidng; 'Shorts;-.....,> ,. 15 ; Tlmpfi .Sc|iiare .. ..' 5Jt ' Utills 50 Vaudeville '. '.r.. .49-5.1 Women ...;......... v.... 81 ■J