Variety (Mar 1936)

4 VARIETY PICTUBE* West Pic So Far a Boon to tte B.O. .1 . 1 '■ .. ■. y . Giving 'Klondike Annie' a 'B' rating, which: means It isn't recom- mended for children, the Legion of Decency is refusing to reverse it- self on the picture In spite of re- ported pressure from the Hearst newspapers which have gone to war against Miss West and her latest feature. In addition to getting the 'B' classification -from "the Legion, ^Klondike* was passed by the Hays office and state: censor bodies. The Hearst-West tilt," arousing concern within Par but in all proba-^ bility helping the picture at the box- office, Is regarded by the company as some kind of a personal fight someone, is- waging- with Miss West.. Company discussed the matter at length at' last week's hoard meeting but Is'faking ho action. Despite the Hearst-iWbck papers; Par Id refus- ing' to' interfere with bookings . ori- the' picture.; 'Instead,' it Is moving- up playdates in some spots' In the: thought' that the current publicity, whether to' be : regarded gbodr or bad, is 1 .a boxolHce stimulant. Lewis' Book < Editorial in the PariT Block news- papers that was reprinted In Hearst . dailies* urging film production of *It Can't Happen' Here/ and making it. more or less an Issue with the Hays organization;- is regarded in indus- try circles- as considerable tordo about nothing. Metro -halted pro- duction on this film but; if the pub- licity haBy - ; by. -the ' book publishers cttntiiiues, chanced of going ahead on the. film are Increasing daily. Figure that it would be poor show- manship not to cash In on .the ballyhoo, being concocted by Sin- clair Lewis' book publishers. Block, .editorial tied: up : crHicismr o# failure .to produce 'It Can)t Hap- pen Here' by,, comparing book's; theme, with, alleged rough material in- : Mae West's ■ 'Klondike Annie/ Joe Breen office ^had- okayed script on 'It. Can't .Happen*, as to. moral contents, and status,^of .picture's schedule had ' reached the casting stage when- Metro, .halted plana to produce, at least .for time being. * - Hays! office has; no comment cur- rently on Hearst's' editorial-attack- on 'Klondike Annie.' Joe Breen, of- fice approved, picture for release, and. yesterday. CTues.) there, was no indication ..thai; the Hays orgahlza-} tibn considered, it necessary to In- terfere with the, functioning of the Breen office. ^ Hearst, papers are editorially ac- cusing latest release of 'March of Tiriie* with v spreading .'pure -propa- ganda f or u Statin's^ second' five^yea^ plan." - The clip criticized by >Hear8t is the one dealing with 'Stakha'no- vism* newly publicized; speed-up process: put into-, practice ,by.-the Soviet. Editorial claimed : 'Time* got its footage from Russian film agencies. Claimed 'genuine Ameri can newsreels refuse to accept it.' Hearst and 'Time, mag (and the radio and film 'March of Time') have been at odds: for a long time. Hearst .papery, give- no' favorable publicity to the mag, newsreel or radio program. No.: publicity, on lat- ter two ever go into a Hearst sheet. Just paid.ads. Thwart Attack By Afr Hollywood,- March 3. . Although Hearst • local - sheets, Sunday and. weekly. .Examiner and evening Herald-Express refused ad- vertising copy on Paramount'& Mae West pic, 'Klondike - Annie/ and at same time conducted vigorous edi- torial campaign, against the actress. Picture got away- to healthy, start Thursday (27) at the Paramount here, and: -lookB > headed for a sub- stantial week. House took the $1,0M saved in the Hearst sheets and bought air space. Understanding here is that here- after Mae West's name is to be dropped from all Hearst papers. Jeffrey Bernerd West ■**■ • * {* Jeffrey' Bernerd, .general manager of Gaumont-Brltish, now in Amer- ica, la eh route to the Coast on a trip to all GB exchange centers and also a studio survey of three weeks or so. Bernerd is being accompanied by Jimmy. Campbell*. . British music publisher'-now in ^America, who will set a plugging campaign on the film songs in forthcoming Jessie Mat- thews-Robert Young- GB filrousical, 'It's Love Again.' Prod Sked; Kohn, Since he completed 'Diamond Jim' and 'Sutter's Gold* for Universal, Edward Arnold Is under deals to six diflWent firms/ Contracted tD B. P. Schulberg and' Ralph Kohn, Arnold la. now making Hero' for Columbia. [Then* he: goes Into 'Come; •and* Get It,' E/dnarrFerber story fair- Samuel Goldwyn, followed by 'Jubilee Jirii FIsk,' for. RKO, and, back to Schul- berg for 'Life of Allai Pinkertpn.' 'Life of Canneld/ "for DaVId Selz- nlck follows, after which Arnold returns to Schulberg for 'Life and Loves of Dumas.'. The Schulberg films to. be made by Arnold are to. be released sub- ject to whatever company affili- ations- B; P. Schulberg and Ralph Kohn. make following: the comple- tion of their ; present sojourn- at Co> luxnbia. -The .Columbia deal : with Schulberg and. Kohn: runs • out in May, There is- , a; possibility that Schulberg-Kohn -may shift rto an- other major firm,-United Artists be- ing'.mentioned and denied. RUSHING MAE WESTS PIC DfTOB'WAY PAR With, a view to cashing in While discussion .Is . hoV' on 'Klondike Annie/ including the Hearst and Block newspaper blasts, the Para- mount* N. Y„ has again set back 'MJJky Way' (Harold Lloyd), which was to come in March 11. The Mae West picture opens on that date in stead. . . . , Another change is setting back the Dick Himber orchestra which was to have come in March 11 with 'Milky.' Instead, the Par is moving in Fred Waring's band. Frank Lloyd Starts at Paramount May 1 1 Hollywood, March 3. Frank Lloyd will take a two month vacation before he start's his contract at Paramount, which calls Cor four pictures a year. Producer deal gives him - his own' staff, al- lows him to go off the lot for writ- ers, actors and directors. Takes his respite' after finishing 'Under Two Flags' at 20tfi-Fox. Ex- pects to check in at Paramount around. May 1. Boston, March 3, ostori American,: Hearst paper, took a paste at 'Klondike Annie,' which opened at the Metropolitan Friday (28), with .Major Bowes' amateurs on the stage. The film's title was not actually used. Hearst papers here, the American and Record, both refused advertising on the film'as'has been done In other cities where Hearst papers are pub- lished. Met. although shorn of all pub- licity breaks on 'Klondike/ adver- tised in advance and oh opening day '. (Goritiriued on page 78) Regan Sealed by Rep Hollywood, March" 3, Due to return to Coast, late this month following personal appear- ance tour in east, Phil Regan goes to Republic with whom he has signed to do three pictures a year over a five year period. Player gets a three week guar- antee on each film. Boach. Farms Patsy Kelly Hollywood, March 3'. Patsy Kelly goes on loan from Roach to 20th-Fox for the comedy spot in 'Private Number/ Lorctta Young and Robert Taylor have the leads. * Goldwyns Abroad Sam Goldwyn. Mri, Goldwyn and Sxm Goldwyn; Jr., ajsUl today (4) for Europe, a^.om)P*nIe# : by.Fred Kohfr. ' m«i talent-story scout for Goldwyit <rho cam* east with, latter a couple weeks ago; Goldwyn is due back in California April 16. Kohlmer may come back ahead of him. 1 ' . 4 . WALLACE WINS POUT IN SUTT VS. MAE WEST Frank Wallace, vaude actor who claims to be the husband of Mae West, obtained an. order in N. Y. Supreme Court Thursday <C2T) per* mitting him to serve notice through the Sheriff of Los Angeles, county of his suit to restrain'the actress from denying: she Is his wife. The order , was granted by Justice John E. MeGeehan after Wallace.- Tiad told of bis difficulty in serving. Miss West personally. The .actor is suing- to stop the screen star from publicly denying they were ever "married and also with declaring she had obtained a divorce: from-him. In his complaint Wallace says-they, were married on April 11; ,1411. in Milwaukee by Judge Joseph Ev Gordes and that the ceremony was witnessed by Arthur Shutkin of Milwaukee and Etta H. Wocd of Newark, N. J, To' support his * contention. "Wallace - produces what purports to be a certified cer- tificate of the marriage license. He also- says 'that If Miss West ever obtained a, divorce It was illegal as he was never served with papers In'the acttdriy Wallace says he is bringing the present action because he' feels that the* denials of Miss West and her charge that he is an Impostor have 'subjected hfm to ignoming and un- : pleasantness and casting doubt on his true status as the- defendant's lawful husband, all of which is harmful to bis person -and standing in the community and professional standing- as an actor/ He wants the Court to also declare him the actress's husband and to .declare void -the purported divorce, if any; obtained by Miss West. Le Baron In Casting at Pa r Hollywood, March Si In addition to duties in charge of physical production at 'Paramount, Fred -Leahy"'has been assigned supervision of studio casting. New policy at studio will be for all Important -casting- to be done by William LeBaron, ejtecuthre,produc- tion head,' in conjunction with as- sociate producers on pictures, in attempt to get better balanced casts. Leahy will handle all other casting. Corrigan Crashes. Thru Hollywood, March 3. - -Ray (Crash) Corrigan, double and stunt man at Republic, will get first opportunity to play in his own. right. He goes in top spot of 'Un- dersea Kingdom/ new serial getting under way this week. Player, heretofore, has played minor roles' in, Republic cliff-hang- ers. Cagney Pic to O'Brien Hollywood, March 3. Top spot in Warners 'Stage Struck' goes to Pat O'Brien, instead of James Cagney, originally as- signed. Cast also includes Dick Powell, Joan Blorideli,* Guy Kibbee and Anita Louise, with Jane Froman likely getting singing role. Lazarus to Selznick? Hollywood, March 3. Jeff Lazarus, head of the Para- mount editorial board,- leaves that organization when his contract ex- pires April 1. Has been with the studio for the past'four years',. Is negotiating to join David Selznick as story head. BOZO FINALLY TALES Hollywood, March 3. After pantomiming for 20 years, Bozo Snyder spoke his first lines in 'I'll Get It Wholesale/ which Al BoaHberg directed for RKO. Short" was completed »«i eight I >.\VH. IB. Censors OK 'Annie* Chicago, ;March..& . Paramount ran into a snag on 'KlontUke Annie* last week when the censor board hlxed the picture in. toto bill eventually got a 'white* (not 'pink') general release. Since the initial turndown coincided with a double-barreled tirade against •lewd* product by the Hearst rags, especially the morning Herald-and- Examlner, it came at the wrong timer ".' ' • Exchange had picture up for an- other viewing, and film was finally okayed. Hollywood, March 3. Deal for Walt' Disney's Mickey Mousse and Silly Symjphohy feature series, and the cartoon 'Snow White' plus the entire output of the Ani- mating Studio; to be released by RKO-Radio In. 1938-T was closed March .2 ending United Artists" dis- tributing arrangement. Five car- toons remain on- the cun*ent UA m'ogram. Reason behind switch, is said to be Disney's displeasure at not get- ting an owiner-partrier&hip share when. Alexander Korda was' taken' into UA last fall. Another factor in the deal .wljh RKO pr9Vldes for a guarantee oh the negative cost of every subject* pjoduced, thus re- quiring less operating capital. UA setup allowed for rio v negative ad- Y^cSv .,' , '-,'"' s -.*; Rep'orted that Jock Whitney's buying into Disney's outfit was forerunner of taking a heavy finan- cial interest in RKQ. Leo Spitz, M. H. Aylesworth and Ned Depinet ne- gotiated the deal with Walt and Roy Disney. Deplriet entrains east tomorrow (Wednesday) with Disney following in two weeks. Ayles- worth flew east today (3). FIVE READYING FOR PANBERMAN AT RKO Hollywood, March 3. In addition to one picture, now In production at Radio, Pandro Berman has. five stories in prep- aration. Being lined up for production during next four months include 'Never Gonna Dance' and 'Watch Your Step/ both slated as co- starrers for Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers; 'Portrait of a Rebel' and 'Quality Street/for Katharine Hep- burn, and 'Winterset/ 'Mary of Scotland' currently in production. Jolson's 'Jazz Singer' Remake; 10th Anni Hollywood, March 3. Modernized version of - 'The Jazz Singer/ brought up to date, will be made by Warners, again starring Al Jolson. Remake will celebrate 10th anni- versary of sound, 'Jazz?. Singer' be- ing first of profitable features turned out. Ingster Goes H'wood Hollywood, Ma-reh 3. Deal for screftn rights to original yarn, 'Ship Master,' lias been made by 20th-Fox with Boils Ingster, French novelist Deal also includes Writer's services on screen treat- ment. Writer due here early this month. Warners' Flavin Play Hollywood, March 3. Martin Flavin's 'Love Begins at 20' is to be made by vyamers, With ttoss Alexander and Anita Louise paired, Frank McDonald Oirects.. By CECEtlA AGER ,A -Mttle- while ago .Douglas Fair- banks, Jr., wjus att ( 4etor» Today he s*t» 'behiad a desk^ in the. United 8 Artists' offices talking tele- phones, dictatins cables, , sending tor- bis secretaries, thinking up pub- icity angles' that have value, making decisions, persuading hold-outs, in fact, giving out like an executive picture producer. And he's riot act- ing; though he: looks' handsome and i. ypuntr and shrewd arid dynamic and inscrutable dol»ir % Mr. Fairbanks,' Jr^ Is now; co T managing director, of ! Criterion. Filrus .productions, Ltd!, which will make four pictures a" year In London, to be. releasee; in this country by. U. A,,, Two of . them' will. l^ave .Fairbanks in theni as actor, but theni TFalrbarikis, Jr., prdml 1 ' ised cheerfully, the other two won't;' Fairbariks' metamorphosis from' actor to producer'happened, he says, like this: He is 26/ He's been an actor for" 10 years. He looked about him7 saw what had happened to lots'- Ot other actors; who were big shots when he started, wondered hat' would happen to him in 10 yeai-s. He'd be no less the- actor then than he is now, he figured, but what with one thing and another, like bad pic- tures, for instance, maybe people wouldn't think so. . Next, Jr. Fair- banks looked at nis bank .balance, arid saw it wasn't there/ How He's-Organized. Fairbanks was working in London, —where American actors are in .fle--,. mand to support British film stars in British pictures as a wedge into the American market—at the time w;hen these thoughts struck him. and it wasn't long after, that Criterion Films Production^ Ltd., was organr. -ised.. .Fairbanks^ Jr^. had organize^ it Its first production, 'The Amaj- te'ur' Gentleman'—that's one ".witr£ Fairbanks in it—will be released" here soon. ; But Fairbanks did riot ru.s$-'?i^o producing helter-skelter. iie :, ua& v iifia' seen what ' happened to other actors ' who- org-ariized their own companies, and doped it. but that actors have failed as- their own bosses because they riin thernselves; Actors "ttrho run themse.lves seem to ruh themselves Into the ground. So Fairbanks, Jr., decided that he would not be a dictator in his company. He would be only a nominal leader,- and surround- himself with an or- ganization as cool ^s he was Impnl- sive, as feet-on-the-ground as he was head-in-the-clouds. An actor overestimates his^impor-- tance in pictures, Fairbanks had concluded. He must be made to think of the picture as a r whole. With an organization whose author- ity is properly split up, he will. AndV so Fairbanks' partner in Criterion Films Production is Marcel Hellman. Continental producer, who knows his stuff. And yet Fairbanks' thespiari" Im-'. pulsiveness should not trouble 'him' too much, for, because of the press of business and appointments and" sudden new developments, it was necessary for this interview to take place in two installments. In the second session Fairbanks remem- bered everything he -had said'in the first 'As I said yesterday,'• "he re- called, accurately, which -is most un-actor^like; indeed, very alert- producer-llke. As was his awateness of the problems of . distribution in this country:' 'English-made pic- tures must break down the preju- dice of 12 years of bad films with American exhibitors. They must &ell the exhibitors to take them bade into their theatres.' No Longer Localized Once the pictures are in the thea- tres, they'll draw, Fairbanks says, for today the English realize thfy must no longer make national pic- tures with customs and diversions only comprehensible to the British in them, as they used to do wh.en English films got their bad name with American exhibs. No; today English pics are intrrnationnl in feeling and consider the tastes /\| the American market witli Vtt'e'ma-; ternal lave. Oh, there is an economiij feelin twined round their altruism. Fair- banks said readily enough, but they feel more friendly townrd us than we seem toward th>in, although Fairbanks has discovered thai Hie feeling of American.stars who'll lil-e to make a picture In London i< as friendly as friendly ran hn. Vi,ii"'l ho surprised at the nj>per-livaI'l;V-t American stars who yoarn to iy (Continued on page ■'!!•)