Variety (Mar 1936)

VARIETY P I C T ES Wednesday, March. 11,-1936 Warner Write-ins Almost Wreck Academy Slate; 'Bounty Voted Best Pic, McLaglen, Davis Tops Hollywood, March 10. 'Mutiny On The Bounty' was "voted the best production of 19.35 by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences when ballots were counted at annual awards banquet at the Biltmore hotel last Thursday night (5); Irving Thalberg's Metro production—lead 1 by a wide margin over the other il pictures nomi - ated. RKO Radio's 'The Informer' got second position and Warners' 'Captain Blood* finished in third iSPQt. —As—antleipated^RKQis-^he^-In*. former' walked away with top honors in the Academy voting, get- ting four awards. John Ford romped' home ahead of the field to draw the statuettes for the best direction. Victor "McLaglen was voted the best actor's performance. DUdley Nlchr ois got* the nod for best adaptation. And Max Stelner outdistanced all competition for .best musical scor- 1ns. Bette Davis won honors for : best i> arforma'nee by an actress, 'getting majority Of. votes in that class, for her . work In Warners' 'Dangerous.'- herlne Hepburn,- landed In sec- ond position, for performance In RKO's 'Alice Adams,' with Elizabeth! Bergher running third for rOle in •Escape Me Never.' Surprise Of balloting was drive of the Warner contingent to take ad- vantage of the write-in privilege in- the Arotlng. Concentrated .sup- port from the Warner lot, through the' pencil' method, resulted in 'Hal Mohr getting award- for the best .cinematography of the year .oh 'Mid- summer Night's Dream.* He beat Cost $243,000 •Informer' was made at. a negative cost of $243,000 and finished in 18 days from script; eight days in actual work. the three regular nominees for this prize.* Warner Write-ins Score Warners went for the write-ins in all classes where one or more of their candidates had not been nom- inated' through regular channels for final ^balloting, and importar.ee of one organization putting', on such a drive was-clearly seen when three other-write-ins proved runners-up In their respective divisions. Michael Curtiz, Warner write-In, sneaked into second spot, for best direction on 'Captain Blood,' while the WB candidate for best actor performance; Paul Muni -in 'Black Fury,' nearly beat out". Victor Mc- Laglan In that division. Widespread feeling exists among Academy members that the partici- pation of one major, lot in a .cam- paign to throw strength to its own candidates for various honors as openly as occurred this year, will . depreciate the value of the annual awards and' may result In discon- tinuance of the voting. Best Writing Ban Hecht and Charles MacAr- thur were voted best original screen story award for 'The Scoundrel' (Par). 'Lullaby of Broadway' (from WB's 'Goldlsgers of 1935'.)-by Harry Warren and Al Dubin,-drew award for best song of the year. Dave Gould won top honors for best dance direction on two points, the 'Feeling You're Fooling' number from 'Broadway Melody' (MG) and the 'Straw Hat' staging in 'Foljes Bergere' (20th-Fox). Metro's sound department, head- ed by Douglas Shearer, nabbed first in the sound recording division for work on 'Naughty Marietta,' Rich- ard Day of the Samuel Goldwyn or- ganization topped the art direction group for work on 'The Dark Angel,' while Ralph Dawson won the film editing award for Warners' 'Midv summer Night's. Dream.' Brevet for Griffith Special award was presented to David Wark Griffith for his 1 con- tribution to the advancement of the motion picture Industry. Griffith arrived on the Coast a few days be- fore the affair'for his first Visit to the Coast in several years, and awards committee hastily convened Boxscore by Studios -RKO-Radio (4 firsts): Victor McLaglen, John Ford, Dudr ley Nichols, Max Stelner. Warner Bro's. (4 " firsts) j-^ Bette Davis, 'Lullaby of roadway,*" Hal Mohr," Ralph Dawson, Metro (3 firsts):—'Mutiny on the Bounty/ Dave Gould, Donglas Shearer.. Paramount (2 firsts):—-Hecht and MacArthur, Clem Beau- champ and Paul Wing. . Sam Goldwyn (1 first):—Rich- ard Day. to confer; the ndnors^6ir~the-pioneer- producer and, director. In the scientific and technical (di- vision,;- certificate of..merit went' to. Agfa-Ansco Corp. for development of the Agfa-Ansco infra-red film, with fudges reporting 'infra-red film has resulted in a significant. im- provement ' in ! photographic. quality and has increased the facility in which transparency and effect shots are made.' ••• Eastman Kodak also received cerV tlficate of merit for development of the ..Eastman, .pola-screen,-, with judges reporting it 'a directional light filter , to ;M . applied to the camera, and helps to remove some of the limitations in photography.' Seven honorable mentions were also voted by report of the judges in the technical and* scientific di- vision. Few Toppers on Hand Eighth annual Academy awards dinner, although having virtual ca- pacity of 1,300 in the BIHmore -Bowl, failed to attract.many top ranking stars and featured players, direc- tors and writers. Campaign of the Screen Actors and Screen Writers Guilds a week previous to the affair/ at which time the Guilds advised their members to pass up the Academy function, had its. effect With' various producers and stu- dio heads having wholesale reserva- tions for parties that included Guild members, latter bowed out following Guild wires asking them to stay away. Banquet tickets were liberally distributed to secretaries and, others on the various lots, as result. U CONTRACTS TWO FROM BROADWAY STAGE PLAYS Hollywood, March 10. Two players recruited from N. stage have been given contracts by Universal. They are Doris Nolan, who attracted attention as femme lead In Broadway production' of 'Night of January 16/ and Jeanne Dante, from cast of the Warner- backed 'Call It a Day.' Miss Nolan was at one'time un- der contract to Fox but never used. ing's Par Chore i Hollywood; March 10. Wid Gunning has been signed by Paramount to a one-picture deal to write a screen play, 'Let's Get Mar- ried.' The former trade paper pub- lisher has been a story broker. Chi Holds Withers Chicago, March 10. Jane Withers, now persorialing at the Balaban & Katz' Oriental, will hold-over in town for an additional t\yo weeks. Set for fortnight In the key nabe theatres, Marbro and Southtowh. LEE'S METRO BREAKIN Hollywood^ March 10. First d tectorial assignment at Metro for Sammy Lee Is two-reel musical, 'New Shoes.' Arthur Lake and Jean Chathurn will be, featured. RKO FARMS ABEL TO M-G Hollywood, Mardh 10. Radio has loaned Walter Abel to Metro for the featured role in 'Mob Rule.' Fritz Lang directs. WANT SULLAVAN FOR DIETRICH'S PAR PIC Hollywood, March' Paramount is negotiating with Universal for Margaret Sullavan for the leading role in 'I Loved a Sol- dier,' which Marlene Dietrich spurn- ed. Miss. Sullavan served notice on Universal that her part In 'It's a Small World* Is not to her liking, due to the similarity to 'Broadway Bill,' and is Insisting on another story, although the script .is ready and Al Green; on loan from War- ners, is prepared to direct. Previous dicker by Paramount for Miss Sullavan collapsed. ffwood for G-B Hollywood, March 10: Jeffrey ' Bernerd, managing director of Gaumont-British, here for two weeks' stay, plans to close deals for 1 several players and direc- tors to. go tip England for his com- pany. Bernerd will also survey fteld for possible GB production here. Here for Confabs with Bernerd Is Arthur Lee, American head of GB. He Is setting plans, for local, pre" miere of company's''Rhodes."" While here Bernerd. hopes to ef- fect London film deals with Joan Bennett, Sylvia Sidney, Victor Mc- Laglen, Richard Arlen, Raoul Walsh and. others. Arthur Lee and Larry Darmour. Hollywood reps of GB, arrived here Monday (9) from N. Y., former bringing print of 'Rhodes.' NICHOLS TURNS DOWN ACADEMY STATUETTE Hollywood, March 10. First to turn down the Academy award in its eight years' existence Is Dudley Nichols, who declined the statuette for, the screen play of'The Informer,' voted the best-of the year. In a lengthy letter, Nichols said he was unable to accept the award as he was one of the founders of the Screen Writers' Guild, which 'was conceived in revolt against the Academy and was born out Of dis- appointment With the way*. It func- tioned against employed talent In any emergency..-To-accept the award Is to' tacitly support' the Academy, an*d I believe It the duty of every screen writer to stand with his own.' Frank Capra, Academy president; said Nichols won the award and that It stands whether he claims the statuette or not. Academy says it will not change the award, but will keep the doll and, if - Nichols wants It, at any time, it's his. Hepburn Favors Second Weiman Novel for Film , Hollywood, March 10. RKO is talking purchase of Rita Weiman:s Jiovel, 'What Manner of Love' for Katharine Hepburn who, it is understood, is especially keen fpr .lt. Studio is now in production on another Wcimari novel, 'The Witness Chair.* Play by Miss Weiman and her husband, Maurice Marks, 'The King's Breakfast,' has .been set for production next fall by Raymond Gallo in New York. Davis-FIynn Teamed Hollywood, March 10. Bette Davis shares the lead with Erroll Flynn in Warners' 'Another Dawn.' Yarn is by author of 'Dangerous,' for which performance Miss Davis won the Academy award. BOB RUBIN'S SON ELOPES Robert Hitchcock Rubin, son of J. Robert Rubin, Loew-Metro exec- utive, and a student at Yale, eloped March 3 to Harrison, N. Y., where he married Mary Topping, N. Y. society girl. The bride is of the Topping (Bethlehem Steel) family. The Wi-ners HEAVY RUN ON Producti 1— 'Mutiny on the Metro. 2—The Informer/ RKO-Radio. 3—'Captain. Blood,' Warner Bros. - Cosmopolitan. Best Performance (Actor) 1— Victor cLaglen, 'The In- former,' RKO-Radio. 2— Paut Muni, lack Fury/ Warner .-First Na- tionals 3— Charles Laughton, ''Mutiny - on. the Bounty/ Metro. Best Performance (Actress) 1— Bette . Davis, 'Dangerous/ Warner Bros. 2— Katharine Hepburn, 'Alice Adams,' RKO-Radio. 3— Elisabeth Bergner, 'Escape Me Never/ British & Do- minions. Direction 1— John Fordi 'The Informer/ RKO-Radio. 2— Michael. Curtiz, 'Captain Blood/ Warner ros.-C.os- mopolitan. 3— Henry Hathaway, 'Lives of a Bengal Lancer/ Pava-; mount ■ Ori ' Story Ben Hecht and Charles Mac- Arthur/ 'The Scoundrel/ "Par- amount: Adaptation and Screen Play Dudley Nichols, 'The Informer/ RKO-Radio. Short Subjects. (Cartoon) 'Three Orphan Kittens/ Walt Disney. (Comedy) 'How to Sleep/ Metro, Jack Chertok, producer. '(Novelty) 'VVings Over. Mt. Everest/ Gau- mont British and Sklbo '(Educational). Assistant Director Clem Beauehamp and Paul Wing/ 'Lives of a Bengal Lancer,' Paramount. Best Musical Scoring 'The Informer/ RKO-Radio, by Max Stelner. usi / (Best Song) 'Lullaby of roadway' (from 'Golddiggers of 1935/ War- ner Bros.-Flrst National). Music by Harry Warren; lyrics by Al Dubln. Dance Direction Dave Gould, I've Got a Feel- ing YoU're Fooling' (from' Broadway Melody of 1936/ .Metro), and 'Straw Hat* number (from 'Folies Ber- gere/ 20th Century). Sound Recording Douglas Shearer, 'Naughty Marietta/ Metro. Art Direction Richard Day, 'The Dark Angel/ Samuel Goldwyn. Cinematography Hal Mohr, 'Midsummer Night's Dream/ Warner Bros.-Flrst National. Film Editing Ralph DawEon, 'Midsummer Night's Dream/ Warner Bros.-Flrst National. Special Awarc'3 David Wark, riffith, for his contributions to the advance- ment of the motion picture industry. Scientific or Technical Class 1—No awards. Class 2—'Mtrit certificates to: Agfa-Ansco Corporation for Infra-Red Film, and to East- man Kodak Company for Pola-Screeh. Class 3—Honorable mention to: Metro, for an ti-directional negative; William A. Mueller of Warner Bros.-First Na- tional sound department for automatic dialog control of sound in dubbing; Mole Rich- ardson Company, solar-spot spot lamps; Douglas Shearer . of Metro, automatic camera and sound recording machine oontrol; Electrical Research Products, equipment to ana- lyze fllm .travel flutter In re- cording; Paramount, Trans- parency Air Turbine Devel- oping machine; Nathan Lev- lnson, Warner Bros.-Flrst National, method of Intercut- . ting density and area sound tracks for range. A meeting has heen dolled for this, week in Hollywood oy 10 leading talent agencies to take steps against the free appear- ance of film names on. radio programs. Agencies may olnd selves to pay fine for any viola- tion. LOs Angeles, March 10. Heavy influx of transcontlrtentals to the Coast before summer Bets in. First to shuttle - west Is Slgmufrdl Romberg's Swift ' airer, now en- sconed at-Hollywood NBC studios. George Olsen due in April to be followed by Frank Fay in June. Rudy Vallee heads for the Pa- cific slope shortly thereafter for dua.1 role ■ of radio emcee-crooner and cinema star. Concentration -portends heavy run on film; names as all programs will use guesters. That also goes for Ben Alexander's Kellogg cereal airer, which loses its amateur standing March 26. With agencies .bidding against each other for name players, event- ual: effect expected to be a sharp tilt in prices asked for one shot at mlke.\ Recent publicity given to Ginger Rogers $2,600 pit oh Mary Pickford program also, having its effect, with that amount being the pivotal figure. Despite agitation against free airing by players, aimed at those who fill guest spots for Louella Par-- sons on Hollywood Hotel, nothing deflnte has resulted. Screen Ac- tors Guild is slated to fake some action against the practice at board meeting this week. Miss Parsons-'has lined up follow- ing players: March 13: Joan Bennett, MacMurray and ZaSu Pitts. March 20: Dolores Costello -Barry- more, Freddie Bartholomew and C. Aubrey Smith. March 27: William Powell, Luise Ralner and Virginia Bruce. WARNERS, TALBOT CALL IT QUITS AFTER TIFF Hollywood, March 10. Lyle Talbot is oft Warners con- tract list after three years. Washup was by mutual consent. Two weeks ago Talbot took sus- pension because he didn't like lead part in 'Murder in the Big House/, at which time contract still had few weeks to run. Next hike in pact would have tilted actor to $1,000 weekly. Getting to Be Habit Hollywood, March 10. Fifth of William Morris office staff to become casting director is Jack Welner, who moved over to Republic yesterday (Monday). Others are Bill Perlman, Rufus. LeMaire, Bill Grady and .Lew Schreiber. 20TH'S SCBIB FACTS Hollywood, March 10. New Year writing contracts given Joseph Hoffman, former "Variety mugg; Sol s iklns, Kenneth Eari; Murray Roth, at 20th Century-Fox. SAILINGS March 27 (New York, to London), Molly.Picon (Chiamplaln). March 18 (New York to London), Peter Mole (Berengaria). March 18 (New York to Lon- don), NieT Templeton (Berengaria). March 14 (New York to Paris), Mr. and Mrs. Trem Carr (He de France). 1 March.11 (London to New York), Mary Carlisle (Berengaria). March 11 (New York to London), George Seed (Aquitahia). March 7 (New York to Paris), Ed Perkins (Veendam). March 7 (New York to Paris), Princess Natalie Paley t Kurt J oops, Leon Greanin (Champlain). ARRIVALS Alex Yokel, Joe tviodmann, Robert Stern, M. Buerk, John C. Flinn.