Variety (Dec 1939)

20 VARIETY PICTURES Weilneeday, December 13, 1939 ANTI-SMOKING BILL SIGNED IN N. Y. FILM B OOKING CHART (For infOTmntion of theatre and film exchange bookers Vafiety presents a cojiiplefe chart of feature r«I*o»«» of alt the American distributino coiiipaiiies for the current qtinrterlu period. Date of reuiewj os oiueii in Vahiety and tl»e runniiio time of prints are included.; COrVHKillT. IDIK. ItV VAKIOTJf. INC. AIX KKillTS tlESKKVKI> _ _ . _ ■•T !• Tar.—RMlewtd In Variety Kry to Tyixi Alibre»li«tloii» H. T.—Knnalns Tim M—Mclodnmia; C—Conirily CH—r«ni»<Iy-l»roni«: W—Wmtern; l>—Itrnma; RO—Romanllx ItrHmit; Mt—MMrfral WEEK OF RELEASE lUv. In Var. TITLE AND COMPANX TYPE TALENT R.T. lO/G/39 10/13/39 A bill forbidding smokins in New York City theatres, excepting under ceitain conditions; was signed last week by Mayor F. H. LaGuardia, after suggesting an amendment which would enable smaller houses 1o enjoy the same smoking privi- Irges. Under the measure as it now stands, smaller theatres with no sec- ond or balcony floors cannot permit patrons to smoke. Bill allows theatres having boxes, mezzanines and balconies to permit smoking after certain flre-retarding work is taken care of on the raised ' i n /nn /on floors. At it now stands, there is • >^»/^/^<> no provision for theatres with all I seals on the orchestra level. LaGuardia's suggested amendment which he asked be adopted would give the flre commissioner authority to approve a section of the main in707/og floor for .smoking if all the necessary , -^w/isr/oa fire profeclion is provided. 9/20 WHAT A LIFE (Par) 0/29 CRASHING THRU (Mono) 10/18 THE KANSAS TERRORS (Rep) 9/6 EVERXTRING'S ON ICE (RKO) 11/8 THE ESCAPE (30th) 10/4 ETERNALLY YOURS (UA) 9/13 HERO FOR A DAY (U) 10/18 PRiDE OF BLUE GRASS (WB) 12/H FLIGHT TO FAME (Col) 9/20 BABES IN ARMS (M-G) 5/31 JAMAICA INN (Par) 10/4 THREE SONS (RKO) 10/4 HOLLYWOOD CAVALCADE 10/25 ON YOUR TOES (WB) (20(h) I New Cal. Tax Idea Sacramento, Dec. 12. New 3% admission tax on amuse- ments is being -mulled by the state finance department in an effort to gt-t the state out of the red. To date Gov. Olson has not ap- pioved the idea. 11/11 SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (Col) 10/18 AT THE CIRCUS (M-G) 11/22 TELEVISION SPY (Par) SHIPYARD SALLY (ZOIh) 11/1 PACK UP YOUR TROUBLES (20(h) 12/6 OKLAHOMA FRONTIER (11) 11/22 SMASHING MONEY RING (WB) 10/25 BEWARE SPOOKS (Col) 12/6 BAD LITTLE ANGEL (M-G) 11/1 MUTlitlY IN BIG HOUSE (Mono) 11/22 DANGER FLIGHT (Mono) 10/18 DISPUTED PASSAGE (Par) 10/18 SUED FOR LIBEL (RKO) 10/25 20,000 MEN A YEAR <20lh) 9/13 HOUSEKEEPER'S DAUGHTER (UA) 11/1 LITTLE ACCIDENT (U) 10/25 THE ROARING TWENTIES (WB) 11/1 JEEPERS CREEPERS (Rep) C U W C D RD CD CD CD CD M D MU MU RD C D C C \V M J. Cooper-B. Ficltl J. Newlll-W. Hull-M. Slone Three MesqulteerK L Dare-E. Ellis-V. Vale K. Rlchmond-A. Duff L. Yoone-D. Nivcn A. Lonise-D. Faran E. Fcllows-J. McCallion C. Farrcll-J. Wells J. Garland-M. Rooney-G. KIbbee C. Laufhton-M. O'Hara E. Ellis-V. Vale-W. Gargan A. Fayc-D-Amechc-Si Ei win Zorlna-E. Albert J. S(cwart-J. Arthur-C'. Rainn Marx Bros.-K. Itaker-F. Rlrc W. Ilcnry-J. Barrct(-W. Collier, Sr. G. Ficlds-S. Howard J. Withers-Rllz Bros. J. M. Brown-n. Il»ker-F. Knight R. Reagan-M. Stevenson Pa. Censors Liberal Philadelphia, Dec. 12. T^he new Pennsylvania Board of Censors has. only rejected four fea- ture films of the 271 reviewed in the past six months, a report by the board showed last week. Of those okayed, 215 were passed without any eliminations, and 52 had slight dele- tions before receiving their seals. The rejects, 1.5%, is appreciably lower then the average set up by previous boards. Among the films that recently re- ceived okays, while being banned elsewhere, were: 'Hitler—Beast of Berlin' and the French-made picture, •Harvest.' Three new inspectors were ap- pointed to' the board by Governor James last week. They were: Mrs. Marian Austin, Corry, Pa.; Edith Sturgis, Philadelphia, and Myrtle Applebaugh, Easton. 11/3/39 11/8 BLONDIE BRINGS UP BABY (Ccl) STRANGER FROM TEXAS (Col) 10/11 NINOTCHKA (M-G) 11/22 OVERLAND MAIL (Mono) 12/13 FIGHTING MEN (Mono) 10/11 THE FLYING DEUCES (RKO) MARSHALL OF MESA CITY (RKO) 12/6 HEAVEN BARBED WIRE FENCE (20(h) 11/1 LEGION OF LOST FLYERS (U) 11/18 CALL A MESSENGER (U) 11/22 KID NIGHTINGALE (WB) C I) D n RU D D C CD D CD C W CD W D C W CIV M M C J. E. Brown-M. Carlisle V. Weidler-G. Reynolds-R. Owen C. Bickford-B. Macl^aiie J.Trenl-M. Rcynolds-M. Slohc Ldmour-TamiroiT-Howard K. Taylor-L. Ilaycs-R. Lane R. Scotl-P. Foster-M. Lindsay . J. Bennet(-A. Menjou-W^ Gargan H. Herberl-B. Snndy-F. f ire " J. Cagney-H. Bogart-P. Lane Weaver Bros.-R. Rogers' 11/10/39 11/8 BEMEMBERT (M-G) 12/6 HEROES IN BLUE (Mono) 11/1 CAT AND CANARY (Par) 11/8 MAIN STREET LAWYER (Rep) 11/8 ALLEGHENY UPRISING (RKO) 11/8 DRUMS ALONG MOHAWK (2«th) 11/8 FIRST LOVE (U) 11/8 ONE HOUR TO LIVE (U) 10/4 ELIZABETH AND ESSEX (WB) 11/17/39 OK 'Nail Spy' in So. Africa Cape Town, Oct 20. 'Confessions of a Na2i Spy' is now okay for South Africa. I South African government has is- I sued permission to African Con- i solidated Theatres to screen 'Con- fessions of a Nazi Spy' (WB) here. Change over from the banning by ; the Censor Board is due to Sonth Africa now being at war with Ger- 1 many. Public opinion was against | the banning. Pic started showing; nt the Empire, Johannesburg, Oct. - 17, with the theatre packed to ca- pacity. Film got a big ovation. Ad- vance booking phenomenal. 11/15 ANOTHER THIN MAN (M-G) 11/15 THE PHANTOM STRIKES (Mono) RAIDERS OVER ENGLAND (Mono) 9/20 RULERS OF THE SEA (Par) 11/22 TOWER OF LONDON (U) 11/15 THE COVERED TRAILER (Rep) 10/18 MEET DR. CHRISTIAN (RKO) 11/1 TOO BUSY TO WORK (2«(fa) 11/1 ON DRESS PARADE (WB) D D M M D D . RD M D RD M D D M C D C M 11/24/39 AMAZING MR. WILLIAMS (Col) C 11/22 SECRET OF DR. KILDARE (M-G) D BOLL, WAGONS, ROLL (Mono) W 11/8 OCR NEIGHBORS (Par) CD 11/22 THAT'S RIGHT, YOU'RE WRONG (RKO) MU 11/15 DAY-TIME WIFE <2«th) CD 11/29 BIG GUY (U) D 11/15 WE ARE NOT ALONE (WB) D 12/1/39 Reelect Same WB Board 12/6 12/6 11/29 12/13 11/22 10/25 11/29 A C.\LL ON THE PRESIDENT (M-G) CD CAFE HOSTESS (Col) CD GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA (Mono) W YUKON FLIGHT (Mono) D COWBOYS FROM TEXAS (Rep) W NIGHT OF NIGHTS (Par) CD RENO (RKO) I> CITY IN DARKNESS (2«Ui) M INSP. HORNLEIGH ON HOLIDAY (2»lh) M LAUGH IT OFF (U) C RETURN OF DR. X (WB) M 75 HZ 67 C.t 58 lie 65 6S 67 •16 »!» 70 -»0 »i 126 ftr> 5K y.t ei 6S 77 «4 Kl H!) 6,% k:< xu lOK 6<J C7 111 57 6.1 61 Kl 6:< 64 58 82 CO 72 72 !IK 103 84 61 lOG JOl 58 $)6 •12 (;:< 63 G4 62 80 83 83 511 71 78 112 A. Solhern-W. Gargan-L. Stone 69 C. Grant-R. Russell-R. Bellamy C. Rcynolds-.T. King 71 I. Newill-L. Staniey-D. O'Brien R. LIvlngston-R. lIa((on-D. Renaldo 57 P. Singlelon-A. Lake-L. Sims C. Slarre(t-L. Gray-D. Cnrlis G. Garbo-M. Douglas-I. Claire Jack Randall J. Newlll-S. Blane S. Laurel-O. IlarOy-J. Parker George O'Brien J. Rogers-R. Walburn-M. Rambeaii B. Arlcn-A. Nngel-A. Dcvine B. Halop-H. Hall-M. Carlisle J. Payne-J. Wyman B. Taylor-G. Garson-L. Ayers D. Parcell- U. Hayes B. Hope-PauIcKe Goddard-J. Bral E. Ellis-A. Louise-R. Baldwin J. Wayne-C. Trevor-C. .Sanders C. Celbert-H. Fonda-E. M. Oliver D. Darbin-R. Stack D. Nolan-C. Blckford-J. Litcl B. Dayls-E..FIynn M. Loy-W. Powell-C. A. Smith W.Lawson-S. Hale No Cast D. Fairbanks, Jr.-M. Lock wood B. Ra4hbone-B. Karioff J. Gleason-L. Gleason-T. Rvan J. Hersholt-D. Lovetl-P. Lee J. Prouty-S. Byington-K. Howell Dead End Kids-J. Litcl J. Blondell-M. Douglait L. Ayres-L. Barryniore-L. Day Tex Bitter F.Baintcr-F. Craven-E. Lowe K. Kyser-A. Menjou-E. E. Horton T. Powcr-L. Darnell-W. William V. McLaglen-J. Cooper P. Mnnl-J. Bryan-F. Robson P. O'Brlen-O. Bradna-R, Young R. Dlx-G. Palrlck-A. Louise S. Toler-L. Bari-R. Clarke G. Harker-A. Sim-L. Tra vers J. Downs-C. Moore H. Bogarl-J. Litcl-R. Lane i12/6/39 At a meeting of preferred stock- holders of Warner Bros. Monday (11) in Wilmington, Del., where all euch meetings are held, H. M. War- ner, Jack Warner, Albert Warner, Joseph Bcrnhard, Waddill Catch- ings and Robert W. Perkins were reelected to the board. . A mcciing will be held shortly in New York for the purpose of elect- ing officers for the coming year. 11/15 FUGITIVE AT LARGE (Col) M TAMING OF THE WEST (Col) W 12/13 HENRY GOF.S ARIZONA (M-G) Cn LUCKY TEXAN (Mono) W THE LLANO KID (Par) W TWO THOROUGHBREDS (RKO) D 12/13 BARRICADE (::o;^> C-" MAN FROM MONTREAL (U) D 12/6 PRIVATE DETECTIVK (WE) M J. Holt-P. Ellis Bill Elliott F. Morgan-V. Weldler-G. Kibbcc John Wayne T. Guizar-A. Dunn-A. Mowbray J. Lydon-J. Kerrigan Alice Fayc-W. Baxter-A. Trraeher R. Arlen-A. Devine J. Wyman-D, Foran 85 73 72 96 60 66 6» 7« 57 12 /1.'5 , 39 Stewarts East and We«t Hollywood, Dec, 12. 112/22/39 Stewart Stewart, for seven years with the Harry Edington-Frank Vin- : cent agency here, is,leaving to join his sister, Rosalie, who is in the same field,' switch effective Monday (18). The firm from that date on will be known as the Stewart agency. Miss Stewart, eldest of the three .sis- i .„ „- ters in the family, was formerly with l*/*i'/»9 HKO. out here. Lee Stewart, another brother, re- . cently set up his own agency in N. Y. and represents Rosalie on that end. 12/13 11/22 12/13 11/22 NICK CARTER. flE 'ECTIVE (M-G) FOUR JUST MEN (Mono) WESTBOUND STAGE (Mono) ALL WOMEN HAVE SECRETS (Par) SOUTH Or^ '>HE ri«>'^OKK IVr.v) THE HONEYMOON'S OVER (2«(h) MISSING EVIDENCE (U) THE MAD EMPRESS (WB) HIS GIRL FRIDAY (Col) 12/13 JUDGE HARDV AM* ,VON (M-G) GULLIVER'S TRAVELS (Par) MONEY TO BURN (Rep) MARRIED AND IN LOVE (RKO) HAPPENS AT NIGHT (241th) CHARLIE McCarthy, detectivf (U) 11/22 FOUR WIVES <WB) SEND ANOTHER COFFIN (UA) MANHriNG'S DOUBLE . Hollywood, Dec. 12. Bruce Manning inked a double contract with Universal as producer and writer. Currently he Is writing an untitled screenplay for Deanna Durbiii on | the same lot ' BALALAIKA <M-G) 11/29 GREAT VICTOR HERBE^TT (Par) WOMAN WHO DARED (Sep) DAYS OF JESSE JAMES (Rep) HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (RKO) LEGION OF LAWLESS (RKO) CISCO KID AND LADY (20th) 12/6 DESTRY RIDES AGAIN (It) INVISIBLE STRIPES (WB) RAFFLES (UA) 1/5/40 TWO-FISTED RANGERS (Cbl) THE EARL OF CHICAGO (M-G) EMERGENCY SQUAD (Par) LEGION OF LAWLESS (KO) SWANEE RIVER (201b) FRAMED (U) A CHILD IS BORN (WB) D W RD W D M D CD CD CD CD CD RD M RD CD MU MIT D W n w RD W M CD W . c RD W RD C RD 59 C9 64 *8 60 1I« W. Pldgeon-R. Johnson-II. Hull F. Lawton-H. Sinclair-A. I.«e ' Tex Rider J. Allen, Jr.-J. Cagney-V. Dale G. Aatry-S. Rurnet(c-J. Storey S. Erwin-M. Wenvcr-P. Knowlea P. Fos(er-I. Hervev M. Novara-L. Atw'ill-C. Nagel C. Grant-R. Russell L. Sione-M. Rooncy-C. Parker Cartoon J. Gleason-L. Gleason-T; Ryan A. Marshall-B. Read-H. Vinson S.Kenle-R. Milland-R. Cummlngs E.Bcrgen-R. Cummings Lane-Sls(ers-G. Pagc-E. Albert R- Terry-B. Cra.wtord-E. Arnold N. Eddyrl. Massey-C. Ruggles M. Marlin-A. Jones-W. Conholiv 84 C. Bicktord-O. Davis, Jr.-D. Day R.Rogers-G. Hayes-D. Barry C. Laughton-M. O'Hara G. O'Brien-V. Vale C. Romero-M. Weaver-C. P. Martin M. Dietrlch-J. Stewart-M. Auer 96 G. Raft-J. Bryan . D. NIvcn-O. de Ilaviland-D. DIgges C. Starrc(t-I. Meredith R. Montgomcry-E. Arnold-R. Owen W. Henry-L. C.ampbell-R. Denning G. O'Brien-V. Vale D. Amcohe-A. Leeds-A. JolNon C.Moore-F. Albertson-R. AroiMreng G. Fitzgerald-J. Lynn SELZNICK AG'CY NIXES BROWN'S SETTLEMENT Los Angeles, Dec. 12. Myron Selznick turned down an Oder of $5,850 to settle his $49,954 agency suit against Harry Joe Brown, 20th-Fox, producer. Suit involves 10<;o of $199,541, which Brown will earn under n four-year contract negotiated by the a.?cncy. Case goes to trial in superior court as soon as a dnle can be set. Picture people :ire involved in three kuits on niu in downtown courts. Erikii Mann, who .-iiithored 'School for Barbarians,' :in(l four writers who worked on the adaptation and screenplay, are siiin.i; Edward Small Productions for $20,000 balance as- sertedly due on purchase of her novel. Aliened that Small bought the yarn for $25,000 and so far paid only $5,000. Metro is named in n $•10,000 d.\>n- age action instituted by Don Mikie who alleges hi.s yarn, 'Heroes in Hell,' was pir;itcd in the .studio's 'Bl.nckmnil.' Edward T..udwi,!;, director, yucd by Berg-Allcnbei);, n;;ents. for $5,000 comnlis.-ions allogodly due on a $50,- 000 studio contract. Par Sued Over Idea Suit for $25,000 was filed here against Paramount by A. C. Abadie, who claim.s his irtc;i of audience par- ticipation was pii-.itcd by the studio in its short, 'Find Whafs Wrong,' last yc.-ir. ~ .'Vbadie chiUKP-"! he filed a scenario, •Find What Is Wrong With the Pic- ture,' which was leliu iied with a no- tation that it was not wortli while. Deny Par Examination Application by H;ie Na.solT, minor- ity stockholder of Paramount Pic- tures, Inc., to examine Adolph Zukor, Stanton Griffis, Duncan G. Harris, Barney Balnban, Harvey D. Gibson, Percy H. Johnston and John E. Otlcrson, before trial, was denied completely Saturday i9) by N. Y. supreme court Ju.sllce William T. Collins. The plaintiff is seeking $20,000,000 dama.ue.s, claiming waste and mismanagement. In denying the application Justice Collins declared, 'Tlie items are too prolix and manifold. The person.s sought to be examined are loo nu- merous, the subject matter too em- bracing, the books and reports ."sought to be' in.spccted constitute all the book's and records of the corpora- lion. To grant this examination would not be in con.sonance with jus- tice. Motion denied in all respect.':, withoul prejudice to renewal, on papers in conformity to the pvactice.<! and principals of examinations be- fore trial.' Over 90 questions had been listed, with the subject matter dealing with the years 1935 to date during which period it is claimed Paramount lost $8,000,000 for its stockholders. $74,046 Legal Bill An action for $T4,04G against Loew's, Inc., Metro Pictures Corp., Metro Distributing Corp., and Cul- ver Export Co: was revealed Thurs- day (7) in N. Y. supreme court, when Justice John E. McGcchan set the suit for trial. Plaintiff is Walter H. Pollak. an attorney, who seek.s payment for alleged .services ren- dered, Loew's and its .subsidiaries have entered a general denial, and claim to have paid Pollak $il,7.')7 in full payment of all owed to him. Nugent Would Rather Be Actor Than Director Hollywood, Dec. 12. George Mar.5hall replaces Elliott Nugent as director of the Bob Hopc- Paulette Goddavd picture, 'The Gho.sl Breaker,' at Paramount. Nugent asked release from his pic- ture commitment to appear in his stage play, 'The Male Animal,' now in preparation tor a Broadway open- ing. MORROS' 'PEOPLE' PIC Stating he Ikis plans for lour ad- ditional features, Boris Morros is near the closing tor the .■:creen righl.-^ of the radio program, "We the Peo- ple,' Morros Is remaining in east an- other week.