Variety (Feb 1936)

2 VARIETY PI (C T a R E $ Wednesday, February 5> 1936 ■ ' ■ I I . ■ • ' I ^ — > ■ of War Pictures Augurs A New Cycle as Cannons Roar In 8 ■ »■ Hollywood, Peb. Though the boom of. canrion has long% belbn j^lent In plcturos, cur- rently there's a revival of war pic- tures being Initiated by 20th Gen- tury-Fox. Of the next 10 pictures to be t*e- leased by 20th, six have war themes. Pictures are 'Professional Soldier,' (already out on release), 'A Message to Garcia,' 'Prisoner of Shark Is-- land;' 'Under Two Flags' and- 'Wooden Crosses.' 'Littlest Bebel,' current Shiirley "Temple picture,' has the Civil War &s its hiaclcground. Only other studios to feature th.e battlefield In forthcoming pictures are Metro and i'aramount, each with one war piicture. Former has .'Forty DeiyH of Musa Dagh,' while latter- has 'Tejcas Rangers,' based , bj* the Mexican campaign. Paramount re- cently released 'So lied Rose,' which also has ji Civil War theihe. Datryi Zanuck • claims that his present yen for war plctiirifes Is dic- tated by, the fact that war is/th6 greatest hetivy on the screen, gives . the. grpatest .scope fo* ylHainy.. Also that with the gan^stfet; idea taboo, it's the' scre^n*^'greatest. (Shance for action. Until this pne-studio cycle trench operas, the mete mention bi!. war. picturciB was tantaniount to a ats^fe'Sai-'rp''" any of the major studios,. In tbie past ifeW months 2Pth^ Pox hs^k had 'more- armies than Central Ameriica.. For 'Professional Soldier' tiie armies "w^re of mythical kirig- <d6ma; for 'Littlest Rebel' and 'Shark Island' the arml«s of the Confeder- acy and XJnion at6 represented; for 'Garcia,' Spain, Untied States and "CJaba are repMseftted; currently the French soldter^s of 'Under ^ Two Plags' and 'Wppden Orosses' are get- ting^ mixed up With, the Germans of the latter. . Despite the feeling; of the studios that war will not' be . accepted as - screen entertaintttent, seven of tbe biggest grosser^ in,; motion picture history were war Pictures—'Bisth of a Nation,' 'Four Horsemen,* 'Big Parade.' 'Heil's Angels,* 'Intblerance,' ♦What Price Glory' and 'Beau Gegte.' Recently Metro's 'Tale of Twro Cities', though; based on the French Revolution, studio prefers to refer to the picture as a: plassic instead of a war drama* *What Price' Remake Hollywood, Feb. 4. paitryl Zanuck will remake 'What Price Glox*y* as a spe- cial on next year's program. Deal is on for Clark Gable and Wallace Beery in leads. Beery is under commitment to-20th- Pox for One picture- annually, . leaving as the only "barrleir a loan arrangement, for Gable, , They would do the John Gil- bert-Lpuls.,3Volhelm ,'roles in the prlgirial. DUNCAN RENEDO MY DO PERSONALS TOUR Duncan Renaldo, 'Trader Horn' lead, who haS been sojourning at McNeil's,federal prison; near here, ftpished serylng^ his .tjvo years for swearing falsely tb ari affldavit in obtaining a passport. Arriving- on the turispn launch at' Tacoma,', he was rushed > to Seattle - to await -de-! portatibn . to. his. native land, Rou- manian He earned titia.e oilC for .good behavibr which account's' for his early release.' iRenaldo's-wife and child "now' reside in New York, Rerialdo ■ ir a:: free" 'inan • through i>osting .'of a $1,50.0 .bOnd by. HoUy- wo*od - friends, ' -He miaV' c'om- mercialize the publicity and "Trader Horn,*' hereaboutSii by personals prior to departation, or'upon his re- turn to America, when and it. " Having 'been- pardoned, by Presi- dent Roosevelt, at .the Intervention of 'Hollywoodl friends, Renaldo may return to-America on the. regular Roumanian ^libta. J- WILL MAHONEY 'the Birmingham Mail said:, "Mr. Will Mahoney, of Uilly and Willy' fame,-from ^whbse toes comes xylo- phonic melody, is herie again, . This American .funster Of Irish descent has a way of putting it over that most people iwlth a sense of hu- mour ,-flnd 'his .mannerisms and material irresistible." Direction WM. MORRIS AGENCY. Mayfair Theatre Building New Toric City HollyTVOod, Feb. 3. Another unusual situation has arisen here in regard to Renaldo's deportation. Immigration officials here assert that. Roumania has not been able to locate 'Renaldo's birth certificate,' and consequently cannbt issue a passiJort to him. Unless, actor has passport officials can't. depprt him, authorities here .declare. f ind Nominations ForlAcaden^^ Oka^diorBaOots Hollywood, Feb. 4. With yesterday (Mon.) set 3.3 the deadline for all. Academy pf Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences awards nominations to be filed for the final ballot, various c'omimlttees met last week to Judge upon the nomina- tions. Short subject judges nominated for the best cartoons, 'The Calico Di'kgon,' 'Harman-lslng;^ 'Three Orphan Kittens,' Walt Disney, and •Who Killed Cock Bobin?' Disney. Comedy nominations included 'How to Slefep,* MG; 'Oh, My Neryesi' Columbia, and ' it for Tat,' Hal. Roach. Nijivelty short subjects included •Audiosooplcs,' Metrbi.. 'Caniera Thrills,' Universal, and 'Wings Over Mt. Everest,' CiB. jEdiicatlonal. Musical directors bf- the various studios, pr their representatives, as well as the songwriter's ■ comnijlttee met tb discuss possible nominations for the best scoring job and song composition used in pictures during the year. Board of judges for Scientlflc or Technical award considered nomina- tions fiubmitted for this prisse, while Bernard •Herzbrun, chairman of the • art directors committiee; met with others niembers o.f the group to dis- cuss nornlnations for the art direc- tors awards. Ballots on nominations are being compiled and will be sent out to the general Acad, membership for final voting. ^ Morrisoxi 'Batikrupt Joe Morrison, 'who went from; George.'Olsen's baiid to a: Para; niount 4lni> contract, filed a voluii tary bankruptcy petition In New yoirk Jan; 30. Liabilities of $20,000 listed, and no assets. Primrose- Music Corp. (George. Olsen and Julian T. Abetes) is listed for- an unknown amount. Jerry Ross, due on contract, $2,950; Harry. Berman, professional services; $1, 750, and Prank Rice $2,350, Prtse agent and unpaid advertising listed, also. Sylvia Sidney's MG Pic Hollywood, Feb. 4. Sylvia -Sidpey pp- stars with Spencer Tracy in 'Mob liule' for Metro. On loan from Walter Wanger, 'MABBIED A MULION' LEADS Hollywood,. Feb. 4. 'She Married a Million,' ^cb-star- ring Cesar Roihero and Jane Wyatt, will be produced by Irving Starr at Universal, Charles Grayson is doing screen play, Arthur Collins to direct. CHATTEEOrON OPP. HUSTON -Hollyiivoad, Feb. 4. Ruth Chatterton Set by - Samuel Goldwyh for the lead in 'Dodsworth Deal for ; Walter Huslbn as the other topper is hanging fire as legit troupe he heads is booked until lyray, DVOEAK-FENTON P. A.'S Ann Dvorak and her husband, Leslie Fenton, conie east next month for vaudeville and picture house dates as a team. Wllliain Morris office is setting the bookings, EAPT, OAKIE TEAMED Hollywood, Feb. . George Raft and Jack Oakie will be co-starred at 2pth-Fox In "Dance Away,' by David Hampton. Kenneth Macgowan. ■will produce. £[yinan-Ioo9' East Hollywood, Feb, 4: Bernl'e Hyman, accompanied by Iris wife, and Anita Loos, goes east this week to script 'Saratoga' for Metro. Ginger Rogers' 3^Way Nlyboo in Wash, for BJL^KKOand Washington, Feb,, 4, Coming to town to -liubllciz© the local birthday _dances. for President Boosevelt, Ginger . Rogei's, BKO filmusical star, found herself be- ing exploited- for three-way bally- hob. iaait. weeic as >columnist, .flacks, and Hardie Meakln, local .BKO manager, pobled resources to grab front page" space on her vl.sit. Star •wa^s grectiediat the depot by delegation of local, functionaries and prominent Texans,, aa well as film crowd and gawkers,, with re- ception being . turned into gratis ballyhoQ, for the forthcoming Texas Centennial celebration. James B. Crane, p.a. -handling. Capital deltails of the Texas 'shindlg, nearly stole the show by getting several cor- respondents of Texas ne'-^spapers. Congressman Fritz Lanham, of Fort Worth, Miss Rogers' home towii. and Solicitor Karl ' Crowley, of the i)ost office department, pres- ident of the local Texas Club, to serve as glad-handlers. Ginger's commission, as 'Admiral' m tbe non-existent Texas Navy was widely publicized,- even to the ex- tent, of photographs of t^e dancing star In a naval Officer's gold braid, all for the benefit of the Centen nlal. Reception at the swanky May flower hotel, arranged by S. Bar- ret McCormlck, Rutgers Nellson and Hardie Meakin, of the RKO forces/followed, with much bally hoo foir foirthcomlng Astaire-Rogers flicker, .'Follow the Fleet,' resulting Then, throughout the evening, star was sped from one. end of the city to the other making six per sonal appearances, one with Mrs. Rooseyeli at the various birthday balls. Three-way build, up resultfed in gobs of space, .with all local drama editors falling over each other and one rag pla'ying up additional fea ture stories by by-line writer arid another sponsoring a radio inter view. . Best stunt of evening 'was one that received least publicity^ i.e., GIjr>ger's visit to White Hpuse dur- ing the President's .broadcast, On the . arm! Of Hardie. Meakin local RKO exec, Misa Rogers and her mother were ushered into the President's study in advance, of broadcast and remained till finish. President gave the star an auto- graphed copy of his speech following the talk, the first time he has passed out the original of a radio address Pact that Ginger danced for President before broadcast •was sup posed to be kept quiet, but radio an- nouncer let it out neJit day. Seems one of small group in room whis- pered it would be nice if she did a few steps. President looked up ' from reading' script and agreed. . She, had some trouble performing in evening, gown and -the dance band,: which' was tuned In to give announcers their, cue, wasn't-play- ing the riglrt tomtifb. -Miss Rogers rettiarked during'-- her bit* 'You asked for - it, Mr.-.Prea.ldent.' 'Yes, and I'm enjoying it, Mias Rogers,' he .ismlled.- Film . Critics' Box Score AS OF m. 2 9 Key to abbreviationt: PC (Picturea cliudht), R (Right)) W {Wrong), O (No opinion), Pet. (Paroentage), NEW YORK PCi THORNTON DELEHANTY (Post).. lOo' K ATE CAM EBON (News) . * ^.,.,... 115 BLAND JOH ANESON (Mirror)...... 192 RICHARD WATTS, JR. (Her Tril)),'. 95 R^GiNA CREWE (American) ROSE PEUSWICK (Jonrnal) WILLIAM BOEHNEL (World-Tele). EILEEN CREELMAN (Sun) 2Q9 121 141 .143 R. 80 91 141 68 149 86 96 96 w. • 24 42 I JETY (Combined). . ^.......... ^. 312 260 52 (This Score Based on 312'Pictures) CHICAGO PC. DORIS ARDENt (Times) ..160 CAROL FRINK (Her-Bxaminer) .... 127' MAE TIN EE* (Tribune) ...161 CLARK RODENBACH (News) .....:i39 (Thia Score Based bn 184 Pictures) l^ct, . .800 .791 .734 .715 .712 .716 .680, .671 ;86& t Eleahbr Keehe * Frances .Kurner NOTE—Andre Scnpwald.. T.. Times'film critic, died ifan. 12, 1936. He was replaced by Frank S.^ Nugent w'ho, however, is'nbt included Jn the present countup because, of having reviewed only a few films thuis far. , 'ft ' I / f -I ■. —I - , - 'L^ ■ I - ■ : Anfcn, JEJop m On nty of the New. York Post still heads the New Tprk group in .the mid-season check-up oh film critics, haying .gained speed, since the first quai'terly count. It's his first-session at the head of the class, he having ended, last amohg the nine Metropblllan film reylevvei'S last season, At the-.ciuarter he was first with a' score- of ,741, but now he's climbed up to- an even ,.800'. kate Cameron of-the News spurted considerably also during'the session and is now close at his hefelS with a .791 scpire. Sh<9 '^as third on the quarterly with ,712, In ChlcslgO: Doris Ariden (PHeahor Keene), who has been at the head, of the list there for the past four years is still calling them most' ac- curately, with a percentage of ,743, Beyond the fact that the two lead- ers ar6 in the same .spots since the last count-up, and that the' Chicagp: arade remains exactly, status quo, the New York lineup uhderwerit quite a few changes. Richard" Watts, Jr. (Herald-'Trl- bune), who won last yiear and was secof&d on the first lap this season, has dropped off to fourth. TO be noted, however, that this. Is due not so much to loss of pace'by him as to the fact that the others picked up speed. He had .714 on the quar-. terly and improved one point to .715". But practically everyone on the list improved more than that. Big Gains Bland Johaneson (Mirror) made the biggest jump, going from seventh place to third, from a score of - .669 to .734. Regina Crewe jumped from eighth to fifth and from .649 to .712. Rose Pelswlck is still sixth, although her .710. score is quite an improvement on her ,671 last time. William Boehnel (World- Telegram) dropped from, a score of .692 to .680 and froni fifth place to seventh. Eileen Creelman remains In the cellar, although her score has improved from ,632 to .671. iNotable that Six of the New, York, critics are up over the .700 mark this reckoning, best In a long time. Th$ ■Variety muggs were right in step with the rest of the New Yorlt- ers and improvecl- their score, so they claim. Had .800 on the last countup and now are bowling along at a'dizzy .865 gait.- Chicago is the only sector that didn't hold on to the general up- ward trend. Llst ithere is not only the sar.ie as it 'was,' but percentage figures, too, . are practically un- changed. Miss Arden went up from ,721 to .743 but Carol Frlnk, in the deuce, dropped from ,703 to .685. Mae Tinea's score was .637 and is now .639. Clal'k .Rodenbiack picked tip a bit from ,611. to ,633, but is stiU last. N.ugent Not Included . .Andre Sehnwald (N. 'Sf'.- "rimes), died during the season, Frank S. Nug<int replacing, him; Nugent hasn't caught enough films to be included in next reckoning.., Regiiia Crewe' continues to bie the hardest ^rorker among the critics. She tagged 209 films thus far this seasbn. Closest coinpietltor' is Bland Johanesson, who sat through 192. That, makes it. possible foi*; Miss Crewe to have the most rights as well as the' most- wrongs, in the list. Rose PelSwick still leads the hlther-and-yonners; with a, total of. 17 -no opinions. Eileen Creelman is second .with .10» Only three critics In NeT^^ York mana'ged to avoid call- ing no opinions—Boehnel, Miss Cameron and Delehanty.' Delehanty and Miss Cameron use stars and clocks^ . . .' In Chicago, the ho opinion ejpl- demlc Is gro\Vlng; Miss Arden, who leads the ileld, uses a star system. The other critics all frequently fall to give distinct opinions; Clark Rpdenba-ch being, worst" with 21. Holt Swings to Metro Holly wood, • Feb. 4. TInlyersal Is loaning jack. Holt to Metro for spot in 'San Francisco.' Deal will force U to delay 'Inter- national Team' until Holt conipletes chore,. 'WINGS'OVER METEO Hollywood, Feb. 4, Metro has- purchased 'Wings Of Tomorrow,''original by Prank Wead. ^Picture has been handed to Lucien Hubbard to produce. Back at Republic Holly wood; , Feb, 4. .Aubrey Scotto has reported back to Republic for next , job under his contract. inlshed 'Palm Springs' for Wal- tfer Wanger last week. SAILINGS Feb, 13 (Jjpndon tov New York)» Jeffrey Bernerd (Majestic). , Feb. 13 (New York to London), Jan Klepura (Bremen). Peb. 8 (Los Angeles to New Yorlc), Frank Gillmore,. Paul Tuimer (President Cleveland),, Feb. 7 (West Indies Cruise) Mr. and Mi's. Louis Rydell (Lafayette). Feb. 5 (New York to Bermuda), Eddie Wittsteln and orchestra (Queen of Bermuda), Feb. 5 (Los Angeles to Sydney) Polly Moran, (Mariposa), Feb. 5 (New York to London), Alex Yokel, Cecil Holm, 'Thred Men on a Horse' Co., Constance Bennett (Majestic), Pel). 5 (London to New York), F. H. Day, ,Tlmmy Campbell, Irwin Dash (liovongarla). Peb. 5 (London to Ne^y York), Arthur Ti'acy, (invy Grant (Bremen). Jan. 30 (New i'ork to ParlirO, Ua-mola-2^1jln!?ky, lilchard DeT^oche- nionti Hart Haziard (lie dePranrc).