Variety (Oct 1938)

2« VARIETY PICTURES tTednesday, October 19, 1938 Press' Pet Peeves vs. Pix (Continued from page 1) almost every instance causes hinter- land editors to bitterly call attention to the many libels and inaccuracies Jn such performances. Newspaper- men resent anything that lowers their profession in the eyes of the general public. They may not have the same belitting effect in a large city, but in the smaller cities it be- comes a matter of grave importance. The work of the reporter is usually shown in a picture in such a way that he is lowered in the estimation of the public, and he becomes the butt of many uncalled-for wisecracks. In commenting on this libelous por- trayal of the newspaperman on the screen, one editor resented the utter disregard for the true portrayal of the work of the newshawks. 'Report- ers and editors are not drunkards, guzzlers and picture thieves. Their lives are not all play, drinking, res- cuing beautiful girls, showing pro- fane disrepect for the police, the district attorneys, and other public officials.' No so-called 'star reporters' can come into the managing editor's office, or to the city desk, sit on the edge of the desk, his hat cocked at a rakish angle, a cigaret dangling loosely from the side of his mouth, and tell the editors where they get off. The reporter never calls up the desk and tells him to 'stop the presses' for a big scoop. The average reporter goes about his assignments in a business-like way, and follows all the rules of a highly specialized profession.' This editor, to prove his point, showed the writer the editorial room of his paper, pointed out its clean or- derliness, and commented upon the gentlemanly appearance of the men who were industriously working away at their typewriters. He spe- cially emphasized the lack of confu- sion and noise, although at that par- ticular time, bulletins of the critical European situation were coming in every minute. He added that not one of his men was addicted to drink and that picture stealing would result in instant dismissal. How the Rap Works The managing editor of another big city daily was even more vehement in his denuncitiition of the screen's portrayal of newspapermen. He said that he had instructed his motion picture reviewer to criticize severely any picture in which a reporter or any other member of the stafi was unfairly depicted, and moreover to keep pounding away about .these in- I accuracies during the entire time it was being shown at the theatre. I All this has a detrimental effect on ; the friendship of newspapers for the ; film industry. When a newspaper- man, from the publisher down, wit- , nesses a picture in which a member of the craft is caricatured, he thus becomes antagonistic to the picture i industry in general, or so it would seem, because, as stated, this seems I to be truer away from New York, Chi or Los Angeles, j In our travels on behalf of the best i entertainment drive, we hastened to 1 point out to the editors that most ' of the newspaper stories were writ- I ten by former newspapermen, and ; that directors and producers natur- 1 ally assume that the portrayals are I accurate, since they are written by I men who presumably know about I their profession. In territories where double fea- tures are the vogue, editors gave vent to their feelings on this subject also. They felt that they were voic- ing the sentiments of many of their readers when they pointed but the objections to having to git through three or more houri of pictures, to see, in many cases, only ont which was worthwhile. Many editors consider the stt^r system unwise; that It Is not good policy on the part of the Industry to play the individual instead of the story. They were enlightened that stars are nx^de by the public &nd not by the producers. Cycles and Gambllnr The sameness of stories and the trend of cycles of particular themes which, after a while become tire- some and boring, also came in for criticism. But when these editors were told of the various vicissitudes a script must go through because of censorship restrictions In various parts of the country, they realized that the producers were not entirely to blame. Gambling in motion^ picture thea- tres is another bant that they dwelt upon. The newsmen seem to resent the fact that motion picture thea- tres, which are primarily purveyors of entertainment, should resort to gambling games to stimulate attend- ance. Motion pictures, they ob- serve, should be good enough to bring patrons into a theatre without the added incentive of money prizes. As one editor expressed it, 'either Come on ''Out Where The West Begins" for the grandest pow-wow that ever mixed fun and exoite- ment with profit and business! Bring the missus— and plan for the thne of your lives!... Special hotel and travel rates... Startling and sensational events against a background of Indians, Cowboys, Rodeos and Oil Fields!... Not to forget the talk- tests with all the men you've always wanted to meet ... To get the best... MAKE RESERVATIONS NOW! EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL CONVENTION Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America aiClAlK^MA CITY NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS • 1 GOO BR0A0WAY • NEW Y0RK CITY the motion picture theatre be turned into a banknite house completely, or remain what it was originally in- tended to be, a motion picture the- atre.' All editors are practically unani- mous in praising the progress of pictiures and their clean and moral tone. They praise the industry for a willingness to conform to public opinion regarding the moral tone of pictures and added that parents to- day need not worry about allowing their children to go. to any of the motion pictures, as tliey are assured that nothing detrimental will be shown. The picture theatre as a business asset to their cities is another matter commented upon by the editors. AH acknowledge that the advent of pic- ture houses in communities enhances the value of business property • and brings people to the business cen- ters and prosperity to the merchants. On the subject of radio gossipers, all are more than convinced that much of the gossip by Hollywood commentators is doing a great deal of harm because of uncalled for slurs on the picture industry. The survey made of editors, through the Motion Pictures* Great- est Year campaign, at the insistence of H6ward Dietz and Paul Gulick, the coordinator of the campaign, conclusively demonstrates the fact that editors who, heretofore, had been laboring under many false im- pressions about the industry, have become more friendly towards the industry. They all frankly acknowl- edge, after many of their questions" are satisfactorily answered,-that the industry does have many compli- cated problems, and that, in the ag- gregate, they and their newspapers- are more than willing to be the friends of the film biz, if in turn the motion picture industry will take in good faith the criticisms offered. Prog's Releasing Deal Hollywood, Oct. 18. Progressive Pictures completed a deal for the release of four pictures through Majestic. Films are 'Slander House,' 'Rebel- lious Daughters,' 'Delinquent Parents* and 'Meet the Mayor.' AL GREEN'S *TUEF Hollywood, Oct. 18, Alfred E. Green has been handed the assignment by Edward Small to direct 'King of Turf.' Green is washing up 'Duke of West Point* in two weeks. STUDIO CONTRACTS Hollywood, Oct. 18. RKO signed Richard Clarke to stock contract. Alexander Hall handed straight two-year director pact by Columbia. Franz Waxman inked a composer- conductor deal with Metro. Douglas McPhaU. penned player ticket at Metro. Charlie Hoag inked player con- tract at Republic. Donald McBride handed actor pact by RKO. Paramount signed Marry McKay to player contract. 2dth-Fox contracted Leonard Hoff- man and Harold Tarshis, writers. 20th-Fox renewed Louis Silvers* musical director pact. Wolfgang Reinhardt, writer, re- newed at Warners. Carrington North signed as sce- nario editor by Standard Pictures. Janet Chapman, moppet, handed new ticket by Warners. Fred Niblo, Jr., inked writing deal with Warners. Warners signed Mary Lee to player contract. STORY BUYS Hollywood, Oct. 18. Republic bought 'I'll Take the High Road,' an original by Robert Andrews. Howard Spring sold his British best seller, .'My Son, My Son,' to Ed- ward Small. Sol Lesser bought 'Snow Maiden,' by Barton Browne. Fine Arts, acquired 'Full Speed Ahead,' by James Henrihan. Paul Kohner sold Conan Doyle's 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' to 20th-Fox. Columbia purchased Mark Kelly's original kid story, 'Call Me Muggsy.' TITLE CHANGES Hollywood, Oct. 18. 'Love Affair' is latest tag for 'Love Match' at RKO, RKO changed 'The Pure in Mind' to 'Saints without V/ings.' 'Tarnished Angel' is release title for RKO's 'Miracle Racket.' New tag for 'X&i&t to Print' at Warners is' 'Love Bites Man.' 'Bundle of Joy' became 'Every- body's Baby' at 20th-Fox. Release title of 'The Last Ride' at Paramount is 'Escape from Leaven- worth.* 'Adam's Evening' changed to 'His Exciting Night' at' Universal. "