Variety (Feb 1938)

VARiETt 'v'> ' Hollywood, Feb. 1. . ; ■' Unifeci ■: ArU^ ^prodMctioiii prbs- ■) peclsi. ih the doldrUms sinice-David V O; jSelzhlclc put the; flnishmg touches. ■, 6ri 'Tom Sawyer* Wd Saiii^ wya; completed 'Mafc^^^^ ■ v fiumied a rosier aspect, last week When , , ■ Goldiyyiij frprii Honolulu,, announced. .; he^^^^^ ipr an; .. immediate return in order ' to sjieed . the: start of his new progVarrt, He is du^ back Sfaiturday X4) ■. Other sighs ' ot renewed activities by individual UA producers were: Seiznick's stateinent that he was ::j^ev;6tiiig^aii.oiLjijik:eni^^^^^ . - tariiy to: xeadyiiig l stones;, lor ■ <h^ ,, twb fihal-^^^^^^^ ■.::'iyA--con(ttact.;:f .'■ ^^. 'V.' -.- -' - . Director Williaiiii Dieterle?s arrival {; at ,; Walter : V/'anger's ieadquartelrs.i prepairatoryi to turning the cameras ; on ^Blue Is The ;RiverrV which w ' co-feature \Madeleine ■ C!arrpll and Henry jbnda. and^^.w^^^^ . heading the supporting^ ;r ; , Sign! o£ ;Gcprge; Bruce by. Edr 'ytiu6/ Striair td write:: and script ah original story for the. latter's initial V ;picture; 'under his.; iecentlyrsigned- '^:t^A^P^o<^ucing deal./ r':;;^.-.■ ■ ■ ■' ■ Conferences 'Vb.e'ty e;^ h-v Ha riis ;' : Schwartz, ; wlio has . been .directing . ' ;for Alexander Korda .in England, .and whoie latest filiii,: 'Return of the ':. Sdarlet .Pimperhei,* will shortly be Teleased here x>n pTopositioiii. .Ithat would^set Schwartz into ^ tJA as: l a .producer-dire^Ct6r;;:0V >.; ; Gbldwyn has a score of writers on •,-. hii payroll at heavy coin, and his •;". iiomecpming lalet this w^.ek will sig- .' liai the start of; a series: of cohferen- \ through which the producer " hdipes to ' adyahce date^. originaily ■ .seb for th^ yindup of their cui'rent :;: stints. First of new ;.filrns he- wants ■\ : tql:get out of the way is 'Cowboy.aind . ' the Lady/ whidh ..wilV corstar Gary ■ Cooper.; ..and '. .Merle ■ ■ Oberon, . with'- . 'Trans / Atlantic/: bei Sidney Howai;dlii as the next. Other : storiesr how-. " "the . adaptation .or . iscripting stages a re 'iSolith of "Manila," ' w hich ^^iS ; in Gene ; FoW ler*s. -typ " writer; 'itTss'^^ip; the juarici'rbeinf ' trelat^d; by Anita. Loois : arid Jbhh ■Emepspn: 'Duchess :o£' Broadway,' Which Paul Gailicd Is toiling and .•.. whifih; will .be first productibn as^ .. fiignrrient of Garspri Kahin,. wbo sua ceeded the GoldWyri aide, : Merritt Hulburd. ^Hslen M^inardi. is typing •uiititled prigniali Sarah Y. Masbn ahd\ Victor Heerman are shapirig 'Graustark'; . Fanny Hiifst is creat lag aii original against a beauty Piar lor backgrbundj :arid ..Robert Shei: wobd, urider contract, to., Goldwyn for; tw'o pictiiires a yeai',. is Waiting . ~ orders to- begin his: »lrst.<.; Sheekn : V;; Hbllywobd, Feb. L /G^za Herczeg . has cbmpleted the; script for ;'Flbriari' and turned. . it bver to Wirifield Sheehan as. one of sieveral ^tpry; properties the former Fbx studio bhipf. will put. into pro> ductipri as. sppn as: deal Ifor <iisT tributibn,:is coriipleted. ;-. 'Floriari' is based on; Felix Salteri's novel, "The Golden Stailion.' INSilRGlNt SPANISH FIX FOR U. S. MART ■ Tirst colliection ,of reels on Fascist side ..of , the Spanish fracas;, have reached tl iese shores arid :are being , jirepared: for! exhibition ijy. a group" ■ ; which s c^rpfqlly guarding . thieriti : /until rOa.dy.^ . P ; fe:et' of /filrrt vWhi.ch ;depict battles, /tpw^iis; before and after a .Fasci^^^ ; tory: (suppbsed: to\ belie '■ :t.oyalist prb{jaganda 6t destrpyirig), etc. .Irri' pbrters.have little iliusipri about gpt ; ting^ show places "and; Will jattenipt to; iiiterest .Gathoiic schobls, churches ,;e£c/ •■:!;-;;■;;..' •^^.>V.. ■ : Reiason.- for the hush-hush is tp avoid any ' p're-telease dcmbnstra . tion.s pr.simUar activity, airibng Lby- alist syrnpathizers/. .vlhtended to; be the; answer : to ,prort,byalistic Alms, *Spain..Aname' and 'Spanish' Earth. : Mo^ iii *S«pW6r* ; ■■■■•. V;'. Hollywood, Feb. i Wayrie .lVtbri'is draws the p'rincipa irple ia 'Sucker,' which 'Wavriprs wiT ■ flilm; frbm. :the Bcrti'am; MilihaUscr ; -\Beula|v!bix' prigitial^ '•;;■;;. ■ " .Srg^ Hetwig did:the. adaptation,, ':;..■.. ■'■ '• ■Washi.ngton, Tirtj,;.!....,-: Review of ; this : guilty yierdict; pit "Texas; District eburt iri.'.the'an^^ prbceeding; against . riinp;^!^ iributbrs, several; of- . their ; .sub^ aries; arid tiircit .exhitjitpris was as- siured Monday (31); when: the'U Supreme Court rioted 'prbbabie jijris- dictibnV in the;squabbl(B oyer .legality! of contract restrictipris on films, ;; The action rrieans that at least a preliminary, study will- be: made of the actibn which places riipst-; bif: ilie important - Holly wood ;producers; in : ebpardy /because they stipulated their .prpdUct could not: be lised. pn; double feature bills and thiey speclT fled'm,iriimurii;adrnission scales. Case miay" still;be tlirpwri out after tbe lawyers start arguirig about the. laws Which:;:they cpnsidier have ia. bearing bri the, inonopoly proceeding. Octa- sibnaily the jurists; change their mi.nd; whethfer-'^uc.h matters; are tiieir cbn- berri arid heaVe the. appeal \ 6 window when they become more familiar with the exact circumstances. : THe—Dallas--casiB;rt'uli^ icpme down. until;- rieict fail,. leav|rig the defendarits the: anxiPus seat for .mpriths. Because of; the, number pif cases;set for argiinierit already. Court-Will not be able to iisten tb Federal arid defense attbrneys before April.. /Briefs are- not due ; imtil,a few wefeks befpre the probable argu- ment date. ' Irving Trust and RCA Spon- soring '.. the /Returning ; of jf; ;R, McDohbug Com- . ipany ;■ Pi'wideht^ >^ Pepinet, ; Head of Film 3ale«,; RepprtiE^^^^^^ ;. Meehan khd! Studio Ditto SPITZ READY Ta iBtOW ; ' Ne d ; p epiriet,. it .Js.^' - dnder stopd, irtSpatened^to^Tjesi^ R. : Mc-" Doripugh is rifiade. president of RKO's ! pictrire end. ,; ;Therefore,;, it 4s.' hWd, Iryirig 'Trust 'Cb. p^^ tb ..limit McDbnotigh's ■ authority; and . dut ies' wheri iarid if hd' rejbiris the company,; ■so that he . will ;hayeVnotbirii to; .dd; .with,_distributipn.V,.;: ■ That McDpnpugh/situatibn .Was far from settled late .yesterday! (Tues; Floyd (Odium of vAtlas Trusti / iriir pprtarit partrip.r; in RK^Q, pppbses. Mc- Dbribugh, too.- .Odium ' leader of; the; reorganizatiori iprtes arid pjrind pal bwnier of RKO.' The ;i^ituation, frorii;. a .political ;anr gle, seemis. to have become; vt?ry .mu,ch involved, With /tbe ;trustee,. in the saddle,; ;havirig;-sud(ierily.;,becomb co.nscious ot Us responsibility in; the coriipany.'.;-.'•. ;:''■■/ .■- •;. ■;•■.,. ■■. .■ ■' ;; ^iGA has had ah.jron iri; thaft RKO fire for a. long tiriie, arid is still part owner ;of the; company: With a paw-, erfui ; negative "'■ say-so. ; RCA, top; wbuld • like to. see.. M^pbribugh ba.ck: iri.'the^cbm^iany; ■ ■The Meehari .people ; don't . wafrit. Mcpbripugh . .'on V theatres, and the studio bigWii?s;t*re-^l»brted'--^itX"ih^ Him therii,; all' of which, riiakes': the irvingTrust-McPbribugh .putsch ; a big headache.;: 5ust ^What bdliirrt, can do is bperi. He ;has beeri criticized lor: being iri.- decisive ■ ■ He . stands to lose /plerity by the rtiess, .iarid many feel-;he should take more fbrceful actipri ;bhe: way or the btherj The M. J. Meehari people. have asiced^ Spitz-tb—assume-^the ; (Continued on page 25) to For Republic Pets Charles Fpi^^.' lormeriy editor of Universal neWarei&l, goes With Re- public. ' ieatui^e proaucer 6n. the; Coast " the. next, two ._' /;; three: weeks. Back from two-week; tion in Florida, he will firiish up un-; completed shorts for' U . and • handle, background shots.in N. Y. for 'MmC; Curie,' Wliich; featu'i'e';!Universalis! ucmg. ;:■■;.; ;... \ \ Ford, Who prodiicie Places* and 'Stranger Than Fiction' .:siiprt &erie'si;.a$ well is brie; special •tW.b- reil filrii arinually for U, joins J. R-. Grainger and new ■ . of Republic Pictures, distribution outfit. ■ Morrison East to Press Comish Suit Vs. Berle ■ ■ :■■'•■■';:■ Holly wood, Feb. 1. ..;■ Charlie Morrison planed east' la.st weekend to be on hand for his suit against Miltort; Bbrlej sfit;for;he:\ririg in New .Yprk :Supi:e.nie Cbur.t;; F ?i Radio arid, screen ebniic is charged with walking ; btit his; contract with Morrison.: who aslts for.;25% bf liis earriings .diiririg paist two years, eight months period of asserted de- : fault; in paying off; agent's commis- .sipn. \ '-r-'^ ;,-'- • Mprrispn . contends Berle has earried around $366,000 in^ the dis- puted interirii arid that; pn contract assertediy; signed by^'B he (Mor- rison) .guaranteed the actor $ 1,000 a week for 35; weeks -of .each of the five; years .'the pact was to run; Covenant expired last Jaii. 1. : ; .;Ai' Trahan; w.ent, eist with Morri; son. ■ ; .;.; ■.•:.'•; JlcKay Into Pyt Practice Willard McKay, general counsel of Universal, .retires fronri that post in March, when present contracts end, to go iritp private practice. ^. :' ■;McKay will contiriue as /special Counsel to Universal, on a re tain er basis. He also becbmes ' general cpuriscl and yiceVpresrdeht .\for^;,t^ Schi^ie Circuit in March;; ;■■/■, Holly wood; Feb.; 1. .•;■ ;; Instead of rriarkirig tiine / Whil^^ Waitirig; the outcpme. bf conferences bri iPh.il Golds tone's proposal's -foiv-ex- tending needed .financial aid. Grand National ;studib, executives are; pro- ceeding with, their ,plans fpr a re- sumption of prbductipn/ :pn Eugen Frenke has. assigned Barry Triyers to. the. touching up chore, on the script of 'With iPleasur^v. M.ai^d which he Wili/ prbduce-'With 'A^^ Sten as. the Star, while Edward' F. Finney, in charge of the "Tex Ritter series; is •readying :'Rolliri' Piairis'-arid 'Utah Trail;'. ' ;•.;' .-y ' 'Windiip . of the Gontemplate^ f e.-: brgariization bf GN on a basis out- lined by Gpldstorie, / with. Eavle C. ;Hariiriions . pa.rtioipating With* h a- treasury replenishment estimated at $1,000,000, is (cvpfcetcd .to follow iriirnediately upon '.-the ; heels/.. of Gbldstone's return from; New '-.Yprl; :Som;e time' this- Week., If the vdcal: goes, through, Gpldstpne - WiU. a;s\surinc command :;bf ■ productipri, / arid Prpisir. deht Edward AlpCrsofi Will shift to the' distribution "end, ... - ...Under- the Gbldstorie. ^tup,- NeW Ypric office^ .of 'the.;cbriipany. Woiild house only;, the sal'es; / dopartmbnt; under Ed Peskay. Flnheyi Who is abi- vertisirig. head, as; well ; as producer bf the Ritler/.s.a«ebrushc^:s; .'ihas al- ready tranRfefrcd. his headquarters to the'Coast ■ , At. a meeting, later : in / the w.eekr before H^irry M. >yarner returns to the. Coast, Gradwell Sears, how v.p. bf yita^raph, Inc., Will be named president of the Warner Bros, distri- butiori' organizatipn. ;Searsj as gbn- eraT~sales 'Rfi'n'ager, hasrrbeen Ihc next ranking officer tp. Major Albert Warner—ifHrtbe -WB distributibn unit. Majbi' Warner will prbbably ;becbme • chairmari of ,the bbard of Vitagraph. Horatio Alger behind the Sears presidency is that. he started in 1918 with Vitagraph as salesman^nly at that - time it Wasri't a WB. u.nit.- In 1920 he sWitjihed to First National, and. with the WB-FN absorption of TVrragraplt"^???^^ (he corporation where he/ ' first started. Formal ratification Will probably take place at a- session tomprroW (Thursday) or Friday; H. M. War- rier. departs ;on. Saturday, rnost likely, in company with; S. Charles Ejrifeld, pub and director for WB and also a Vitagraph v.p. . Radio City Mu.sic Hall ■ as- bought three Warner Bros, pictures to .be shown within .the next three nionthS, set by Sears. '.lezebei' (Bette Da vis- Henry Forida).:'Adv'enturcs;;of Robiri Hood'v (Errol Fiynn) and 'School for Scandal' ; (Cai pie • Lbmbard-Ferriand (iravet) are the pix; .' Understood Herbert J.^;Y^^^ . ,is heavily invested iri; Republic, desirbus of gettirig out either thrbugh.; an outi'ight disposal bf his intereslai; or by ai nierger; ; \He ,i.i .said to h '$3,506;ppp tied.up/ in the cpnripariy. / ;YateS jiaS"many;ptiier interest s, in^ . eluding rieal estate and ,;thb.^C ' dated Film 'Labbratbrios;Which docs the ma.iority of /printing for filin coriipanies. For years Cbrisolidatcd,;. partly as a means of; increasing its printing cbntriacts. financed Various independents and took Uins on nega- tives as security; / . ,. ;.-:■;.'•...■ ;■; / For yea is 'Yates nnanc'ed,'-ariibng ; others, : Wv Ray Johnston, Who. organ.- .. ized Monogram a few years ago/; an biitgroWth bf Realart... . About;; three years , ago Yates bought out, Johnston, turning :Monogfam into what is npW knpwn as Republic.. Subsequently, Johnston came back into the business,; forming a new coriipany and again usirig ./the ifiVni: name bf Monogranri, which was ap- . parently agreeable tb Republic '' ; terests. . >■ .V-^"v • Last' season Republic was one .of the few -compariies to meet deliveries on ai large /pi-ogram.: It js clairiied .the compariy has a represcritative; list pf contracts with chains arid in- dividual acbpunts. ..;;.;■.■-.,;■■; •;. ; peal has been closed under which ; James ^ R. Graing;6r, recent isales 'head: of liriivcrsc*!, goes intp Republic / Pictures as, presidcrit ." : charge of / sales. He. will join the company or about. June 1,. which follows cx- piratibri of his U contract which had /. :iJtriiil-'^Apri l : 1; to i rin:r- Graingei ' was , paid-off for the. balance of .1 he latter (Cpntinucd. on. page CO) . ,. ;■ ;...■; ilollywbod,; Feb. 1.. ;. Norman . Moray,; Vltaphorie ' sales head, i.s diie here from New York- early ■ March for. :a cet-toge.thcr with Harry m!, Jabkv Warner and Hal. Wailis. tb riiap shorts pro- gram 0r '19^8-39/ release; / Historical briefics Will get . subst'>ntial; in- crease -because of way tricy . have clicked at the bbxolTice. . istudip. currently has five; shorts in the;;cutlin;g ^rbom.s, .:'arid priC' ready, tp- go /before camera.s. *.; ; '■■ :''/ ' The next, rbadshpw/ attr.action ;ilitp the .Car til a,y Circle theatre will be Warnbrs ■; 'Adventures of ; Robin Hood.' '.' '. ,-■.■/■-;'■::■■::■ ■ 'Warrier' special is skeddcd tb oben on. ADi i! -1 g;^ wlvlch gives Wal t Dis- ney's 'Shp w - White' a ho lifer -li ye or si X- weeks run there. Execs Back f rom Fla* George J. •.SchaCfcV ' due back today (Wed) froni Miami, lie Wai- : previbusly in. the Ba.hamas.. going oh to .Miami for the opening; Friday night' oh rbadshow basis there b- 'Cibldwyn Follies.' ; ■ / ■ Jack, - Cohn is due . back at , the CpUimbia h.o. b.\'' the ' end .of .• the week f torn \Mianii, / He •: was aJsib iti Havana ;fbr. bponirig of Til Take Romance* .there. - . ■ - , ■ .Trad* Mark Ri>i;lritere(i; • poiTNDKr> ;rtir Vii mk . aii ,vkh.ma isi l>iihllBlied «»rkly by V VHIRTV. Ipr ^' snTT'Silverman, I'reiircre'hy" ' ' tSf Wcsf ioih -Sirr^i. Sf'.yt : Vork City Literati. Music;: New • AclSi..■.'■/;:., '. News; from {hi^Daiiiis; Nile Clubs',., ..,:... .'. ' Nite/Glub R.cyieW'.s.;, Obituary ;..,.....;.,..; OutdOOr.S ' ;': , . , . ; . . . pictures '. ..... ... . . Radi ■ :.'. ..;;..'. .■, ;.;.,,,. Racii.o-^.Ihtcrriatibt.ial; v ; Radi'p; R?;VieWs;i.;.. .;. ;;. Radio Showmanship.;'. uhits.'..;........ V ;: Vaudeville . ;;;;■'< .'.'. ■. '. 31 .47.-48 '.. . 53 ; 62. ' 50 , ol . g:5 .2-30 .31-;.-) . -38 •;; , 39. .''• 39 . : . .49-50