Variety (Dec 1939)

52 VARIETY LITERATI Wcduosday, December 13, I939 New Daily's Plans Delayed That the projected new tab for New York, reputedly to be called P. M., will not be realized for some time is Indicated in the action of Edward Stanley, principal fifiiuc in the enterprise, in taking chaise of the Washington, D. C, headquaitcrs of the presidential campaign of Paul V. McNutt. Stanley will handle all' publicity for the candidate from the national capital. Announced recently by Stanley that he was taking a leave of absence from the organization set up to work out plans for the proposed paper since he's not needed for the time being. Understood that the contem- plated paper is hot yet in desirable Shape, and lack of sufficient financ- ing as yet is also reported. Quarters in which the planned pa- per is being mulled are still being maintained in the Time building, with no reduction in personnel. holder in the Philly Record and other Pennsy papers. Storm's stipend is said to be con- siderably over the coin he drew from Goldwyh and, in addition, he was given an outright gift of stock tn the publications for signing a 10-year contract. Fllmcr's Short Stories His second book of short stories has just been published by Lewis Howard, who recently made his screen debut in Universal's 'First Love.' Volume is tabbed 'Portraits' and, like its ■ predecessor, 'Talos and Sketches,' was privately published for the player by his father, wealthy New York attorney. Howard has been slated into new Deanha Durbin at U, and left for the Coast last Wednesday i7) after several weeks east. New Type of Tab A number of former members of the editorial staff of Time mag are planning a new type of newspaper, in tab siz and produced in offset lithographyi to be published in Hartford, Conn., shortly after the start of the new year. It's to be known as the Hartford Newsdaily, and is to sell for a nickel. Sponsors of daily are Bice Clemow formerly press editor of Time, and also a former picture editor of the Associated Press, who will be editor; Arthur G. Newmyer, Jr.; Francis G. Smith,. Jr.; Jonathan Kil- bourn; Clarence Grand Taylor, and Ellsworth Grant Content of the publication will be about evenly divided between read- ing and pictorial matter, with all news to be rewritten and depart- «)entalized. Acquires 2d Sheet Lincoln O'Brien, exec editor of the Boston Evisning Transcript befot-e its financial reorganization some months ago, at the same time directing the Athol (Mass.) Daily News, which he owns, has acquired another paper, the Claremont (N. H; ) Daily Eagle. O'Brien will make his home in the New Hampshire city, in active charge of his new publishing prop- erty. He continues to retain posses- sion of the Athol paper. directed publication of the paper, morning daily, for the past 17 years, since the death of her husband, Ben- jamin Bosse. Ceoree B. Bnyne, who founded the Tulsa (Okla.> World, died Dec. 6 in Clinton.'Ill. Bayne, who established the paper in 1905, sold it in 1913. Dr. I^awrence Mason, 57, dr:uiia and music crick of the Toronto Globe and Mail, died Dec. 9 in that city. A brother of Julian S. Mason, former editor-in-chief of the N. Y. Post. Dr. Mason joined the Globe and Mail in 1924. ■ He also wrote on various phases of English literature, and edited 'Julius Caesar' and 'Othello' for the Yale Shakespeare Scries. Frlti John Frank, G8, exec V;p. of the Chilton Co., rhag publisher.-!, died Dec. 8 in Mount Kisco, N. Y. He was also a director of the Robbins Pub- lishing Co., Business Publishers International Corp„ and Distribution and Warehousing Publications. Georee Gerhard, 49, the N. Y. Evening World's last film-critic, who subsequently was a member of the publicity departments of United Artists, Radio City Music Hall and RKO, died at his home in Cos Cob, Conn., Dec. 8. Surviving is his widow," Inez Sebastian, short story writer and novelist, who under the pseudonym of Virgina Vale, writes a syndicated radio and film column. Film Reviews 'I -Continued from pagt 11. A Window In London numerous previous Russo vehicles. It. VT inuuw III buiiuuii. suitable for houses Whattaman SImenon With the acquisition by Harcourt, Brace of the U. S. publication rights to the-works of the French scribbler, Georges Simenon, American read- ers will finally get a glimpse of the writings of perhaps the most pro- lific author since Edgar Wallace. Illustrative of Sirtienon's huge output, Harcourt has merely taken 25 of the Frenchman's novels for the time being. Because of the 20 or so pseudonyms used by Simenon, it's really not known just how many novels he's written. Some estimates place It at nearly 300, and he's still turning them out as fast as ever. To get the Simenon novels before the public within reasonable periods, Harcourt plans to publish two of them Jo a volume. Like the late . Edgar Wallace, Simenon is best known for his whodunits. He has, however,, written a number of seri- ous books, too. No Conjunctions 'Forgive Us Our Trespasses,' novel by Lloyd C. Douglas, takes a vigor- ous rap at. newspaper syndicates. It's said to be due to the author's bitter experience with a syndicate in connection with an earlier novel. Story which contains the rap is now being offerfed by King Features for newspaper serialization. NEW PEBIODICALS Film Survey, arty monthly mag on pix, published in New York;- Pe- riodical is to carry interpretative ar- ticles on films, together wifh reviews and production items. Will sell for 10c. Everyone's Magazine, monthly pe- riodical of fiction, fact, poetry, gags, etc., is now in the making, with its initial issue to appear early in the new year. John Meyers is editor, and publication offices are in New York. Inspiration, monthly mag to con- tain general Action and articles, which National Publications • will bring out in February. Pub will be pocket-sized, but is not to use re prints. H. B. Lieberman editing. Lee Mortimer's Job Lee .Mortimer, for seven years do- ing but one story for the N. Y. Sun- day Mirror, is being put to work by that tab. He's been designated as second-string film critic under Bland Johanneson, third - string drama _critic. under Walter WincheU and Bob Coleman, and flrst-stri^g vaude tritic. Besides these chores, and also plus his Sunday Mirror stint, Mortimer Is also covering the Broadway beat for the Mirror's city desk. Heap Big Wampum Claim Application to dismiss a $100,000 libel action in th. N. Y. supreme court reveals an action by Robert Redwing against the N. Y. Daily News. The Indian, who is known in N. Y. for his efforts to produce shorts based on American Indian life, charges libel in the Oct. 7 issue of the News. Damages of $100,000 are sought by the Chief, who claims the News as, serted he was not an Indian. Broun Plans to Keep Nutoieg Heywood Broun has no intention Of giving up his Broun's Nutmeg when he takes his column from the N. Y. World Telegram to the N. ,Y, Post. As a means of raising addir tional funds, .he utilized his 51st birthday as the occasion for an e.\- hibition and sale of his paintings in Stamford, Conn,, the proceeds to go into the Nutmeg's treasury. Reported that some $300 was real Ized. Paintings went mostl,v to mem bers of the literary colony in and about Stamford, where Broun lives and where the Nutmeg is published Storm's New Po.sl LITERATI OBITS Martin Green, 69, one of the best known of New York newspapermen, died Dec. 8 after a long illness which had kept him. away from his desk on the N. Y. Sun for nearly a year. A N. Y. newspaperman for 43 years. Green gained his reputation on the old Evening World to which the late Charles Chapin, its noted city editor, had lured him from the then Mern ing Journal. Green was with the World , for 31 years, or until that paper folded, whereupon he went to the Sun. Prior to coming to N. Y,' he worked on the old St. Louis Re public. Jarom'lr R. Psenka, G5, editor-in chief of Svornost, Chicago Czech language daily paper, died Nov. 29 in that city following an operation Author of many Czech books and plays, he joined Svornost as editor 38 years ago. Survived by his widow, daughter of the late August Geringer, who founded the paper. Jack Joseph, 62,. one of the earl ies trade paper publishers on the Coast; died Nov. 29, in Hollywood. Sur viving is his widow. George W. Behse, 70, retired news paper cartoonist, committed suicide Dec. 2 in Burbank, Cal., because of ill health. He was political cartoon ist on the old N. Y. Evening Mail^ and later worked as a cartoonist on the old N. y. Morning World. Benjamin Wallace Douglass, 57, who turned from physician to author with much success, died Dec. G at his home near Morgantown, Ind. E. Munsey Slack, 61, prez of the Bristol Publishing Corp., publisher of the Bristol (Va.-Tenn.) Herald Courier and Bristol News Bulletin, died Dec. 7 in Abingdon, Va. William Peterfleld Trent, 77, au- thor and editor of many biogs, lit- erary studies' and criticisms, died Dec. 7 in Hopewell, N. J. William M. Ilerschell, G6. on the editorial staff of the Indianapolis News for 37 years, died at his home _ , _ in that city Dec. 2 after a lone ill- .Jf^i^Stwm one-time Wa.shington ness. He specialized in verses, and correspondent for United Press and : his 'Songs of the Streets and By- recently resigned from publicity di rectorship of Samuel Goldwyn Pic- tures, has been named to the post of special assistant to Ralph Strassbur- ger, publisher of tlie Norristown (Pa.) Times-Herald and heavy stock- ways' was a Saturday feature of the News. Four books of his poems were published. Mrs. Anna RIechman Bosse, GG, publisher of the EvansviUe tind) Courier, died Dec. 6 in that city. She (^HATTER The Corliss'Lamonts have a new daughter.- Peter B. Kyne overhis long illness, and scribbling again. Educational Book Co. formed by John J. Crawley in N. Y. Dorothy Hurst named publisher of Congratulations Magazine. Everywoman's Magazine to sell for 3c, makes initial appearance Jan. 5. Jerome Beatty doing a book from data he collected on his round-the- world tour. Gavin Holt, whose 'The Theme Is Murder' is just out, is really tagged Charles Rodda. Joy Davidson sold her first novel, Cookeh's Wife,' to MacMillan for spring publication. Jack Lait, N. Y. Mirror editor, on the Coast until the Rose Bowl game, which he will cover. Donald R. Brann has joined the Fawcett mags. He was formerly with the N. Y. World-Telegram. Julian Green off lor Italy, to Christmas with a sister in Genoa. Goes to France after the holidays. Dave Camerer, of the N. Y. World- Telegram sports- staff, has a bride, the former Muriel Hastings Barnard. Elaine Keiffer, of the editorial staff of Life, wed to Mortimer Howell Cobb, associated editor of Cue. Ben Lucien Burman has had light on the Mississippi named for him. His scribblings are mostly about the river. Whit Burnett and Martha Foley changing publishers for their Story Press Books, going from Harper's to J. B.. Lippincott. John Martin, the N. Y. Times dance editor, has had a new book on the art, 'Introduction to the Dance, published by Norton. Horace W. Stokes is the new prez of the book-publishing house bear- ing his name, succeeding the late Frederick A. Stokes. Now Brooklyn (N. Y.) tab, the Daily Express, which was to have made its bow.last week, delayed due to mechanical facilities. New finances have been acquired by William Kozlenko, and he's re suming publication of his One-.\ct Play Magazine in N. Y. Leon B. Bloch is the new editor of Living Age Magazine. Ruth Norden, Lucy Cores and Lamar Middleton continue as associate eds. Nunnally Johnson back in New York after more than a six-year stretch in Hollywood. He's scrib bling for the slicks again. Doubleday has commissioned Ir ying Kolodin, associate music crick of the N. Y. Sun, to do a volume as a guide to recorded music. C. V. R. Thompson, the British newspaper correspondent and book writer, telling assembled audiences how he lost his English, accent Dryden Press is a new book publishing house in N. Y., headed by C. K. Dryden Herbst, Stanley Burnshaw and Donald Ambler. Charles Francis 'Socker' Coe. who foreswore scribbling for the prac- tice of law, has done a book, 'Law and the Profits,' which appears soon. Gannett.Co., Inc., operator of the Rochester (N. Y.) Democrat Chronicle and Times-Union, again will distribute a 10% wage dividend from 1939 profits. Amount for five year employes was in excess of two weeks salary last year and '39 profits are reportedly higher. debiU are on the technical and pro- duction end. Sharper editing would eliminate sporadic pacing ai\d restore much of story's power lost in the script. Should entertain both here and in the U. S. Story deals with a girl-w'fe, Pa- tricia Roc, workinp nii;hts to help the purse, a disillusioning routine for spouse Michael Redgrave. Apparent stabbing act seen from a balcony window crashes him in on Paul Lukas and his young wife-pariiier, Saliy Gray, but pair were only re- hearsing former's illusion act, now passe through his insane jealousy and temperament. Then follows a series of events that includes the iirowing attachment between Miss Gray and Redgrave, a fight between latter and Lukas in which latter seemingly plunges to death from the bridge and Redgrave faced with a gay wifeAvho has now secured a day job to clinch their marital bliss. Sav- ing of Lukas. by river, police how- ever, averts tragic denouement and takes up again with his wife, with a new slant-on things. Lukas' playing is compelling. Miss Roc and Gray .are adequate along with Redgrave. Smaller parts and direction are satisfactory. George Carney makes much of a couple of small scenes and Kimberly and Page, American vaude team, jjroject their amusing talent in a brief music hall scene.- "Production is excellent; Jolo. A Miniszter Baratja ('the Minlster'ii Friend*) (HUNGARIAN-MADE) Budapest. Nov. 26. IImist pi-oilurtfnn. iitui rel<*n>0. Itlrccld L' Vli-tnr Iltinky. Sf*r*''in»lay. Rnnky anrt 4iv.ui UnkofTI; nnislc. MIclmel ICisemnnn; ramoi-n, .iNlvnn Kil>fn. At Alrluin, *'ity n-l I'rnnl.-i tlicnli-ea, BuilnpCBl. Runnlnc nio. 0.^ MINS. .Tolin Kov.io Antal PoRfr M.inry .Iiilia Koinar .iitilou Mil-/.l l-^rdolyi ho Minlslf^r.'...; HoU MllinlyfTy Mr. Kuc-ici-.l UnpccKl-Tliincr. Mr.i. Knv.if-.t MiirKlt V.-^ko :irun (.iallny I.aSElo rnlt><:zy Ibiusz, one of the largest film im- porters, has made an excellent pro- duction start with 'Minister's Friend.' Victor Banky has directed it smartly and photography is good. Story has an amusing ironic slant on the popular career plot. John, unable to get a job on the strength of his university degree in chemistry, keeps it secret so as to get employ- ment as a clerk in a drugstore be- longing to a chemical firm. He's on the point of being sacked and is in despair when he finds a ticket to a ritzy social function in the pocket of a dress suit he's borrowed. He goes, is accidentally ' sriapped by a press photographer with the Minister of Commerce's arm apparently round his shoulders and makes a giddy career on the strength of being 'the minister's friend.' All doors are open to him, he saves the firm from ruin and on the minister's recommendation he's pro- moted to managership. Of cour.'sc, he marries the girl who was at the same party also on'false pretenses, with the minister himself proposing the toast at the wedding dinner. Cast is fairly good, although one' grows tired of seeing Antal Pacer making a career for himself so fre- quently in pix. Julia Komar is charming as the little manicurist who poses as a baroness. Jacobi. where they still go for Soviet screen product. Chatiged sentiment towards Russia is the cliief hindrance to box- ollice' even in such theatres. Ukraine's struggle for national freedom in the bitter civil war start- ing in 1917 many times previously has supplied motivation for Soviet film productions. Dovzhcnko, re- sponsible for other Russian screen successes, makes a moving melo- drama of . the self-same background and events. As with so many for- eign pictures, the producer never knows where to end his subject Resulting final two reels here con- sequently mar distinguished earlier work. There are such propagaii Istic lilies as 'show your bravery and class hatred'; 'love the revolution with your life'; and a particul.irly bitter scene where, a revolutionary com- mander curses the wealthy residents of Kiev. ■ He shouts his demands for money, for food and clothes while aiming a machine gun -at the as- sembled plutocrats in a theatre. Revolutionary chief describes the rich audience as 'villains.' E. Samoilov, OS Nikolai Shors. the Red commander,. offers a vigorous, workmanlike portrayal despite some absurd episodes. I. Skuratov. cast as the comical pebsant-soldier leader who beconies' a brigadier, also is ex- cellept. He is particularly effective in his Interpretation of the likeable warrior" who suddenly -Is grief- stricken on learning his wife hxi been shot as a spy. Remaining cast is considerably above standard. Musical -score by A. Kabalcvisky and music supplied by the Ukrainian Symphony provides considerable lift to the production, helping over soma implausible battle scenes. Camera- inp by Y. Ekelchik also is a high- light. Wear. DERNIERE JEUNESSE ('Second Childhood') (FRENCH-MADE) Paris, Nov. 2fl. DlHclnn retenno of T.uinen iin^ilitiMiim. .*ii:m-s Ifnimu; rcattiren JnctinoKni^ l>i«hilmc, I'len-e Urnn.seur. Tranicl. Dlrrrtort hy Aftt ^rti.tsn. S'rotmrlo nnj 4lln1i>c.--f'l:ini C^'I-'lrt- h(*rty from his novel, 'Mr. Clllmoloy.* )»in. «liir<*rt In rincPIUn. Uonic. .^c Ih* olvnipls, r.-irla. niinnlng timo, 83 >II^'^4. SHORS (With Music) (RIISSIAN-MADE) .\ml,-:no rolcasa of Kiev Film prnducllon. I'Vulin-cs E. .<!iiniollov. Dlroclcil liv Alex- .nnUcr Doviihenko. Slory by l)0V7.hfnkn; ninslp hy A. Kabalevnky; mimlMl back- Krounil by Uknilnlan Rlnlo !4yinpliony or- Hiosii-.-i; Mmei-B. Y. Kkoltblk. At r«nieo. ?! siixs"'' '*' Nikolai .thoi-s.; F. .«!nmn|lov Hozhi-Mko I. Skiiraiov ^'vko A. Khvllla I 'tro K. TKhpnko >»»ll><- N. Nikltlna t1\a Woman.; A. Borlsojlcbskaya (In Russian; with English Titles) The Soviets are fighting another revolution in 'Shors, Red Comman- der of the Ukraine,' this import from Russia being director Alex- ander Dovzhenko's conception of Ukraine's struggle^ for freedom in 1917-19. But somehow the historical developments, especially the refer- ence to Poli.sh landed gentry, the brutal capitalists and reference to German troops, doesn't sway the au- ditors as former Soviet epics did at this house. This perhaps is attributable to the changed setup in Europe during the present confiict, with the Russian forces invading Poland and siding with Nazi Germany. Because the production has feeen put together with considerable skill and possesses several strong acting contributions, it grips one's interest more than Liam O'Flaherty's novel, 'Mr. Cil- hooley,' has given birth to a strange film, which is saved from being ■ total flop by another of Raimu's ex- cellent performances'. Despite the star's heroic work, the pic can be catalogued as a B production at best and Is doomed to early, failure be- cause the tragic story is at odds with the type of films French atidU cnccs are demanding since the out- break of the war.' Chances abroad are nil. Raimu, as a middle-aged ex- colonial, well-off but bored and lone- .<!ome, falls in love with young Jacqueline Delubac, whose lover has just scampered off to Canada with another wench. He takes her In when he finds her cold, hungrv and homeless. Warned by Tramel, a dowij in the heel artist, who reveals that he was fleeced during a similar experience, Rain^u, ncvertholoss. de- cides to go ahead and have his fiing. He calls it his second, or last, child- hood. Grateful at first. Miss Delubac cannot eventually restrain her true, cruel, wanton-like character from revealing itself, and she takes up with Pierre Brasseur, a panderer who. hangs around Raimu for his money. After long and miserable suffering, Raimu trounces Brasseur and chokes Miss Delubac to death during a rage produced by an old sickness contracted in the colonies. He then suicides. The story is banal and oft-re- peated, bearing striking resemblance to many other French picts of re- cent vintage. Raimu s violence brought on by colonial sicklies.'! Is closely related to Jean Cabin's mo- ments ot hereditary paroxysm In 'La Bete Humaine. Both stories flow on to similarly tragic finales. Like other French picts adapted from foreign novels and trans|)Osed against a native background, it bears little resemblance to the original tale. O'Flaherty's novel is an alco- holic whole placed in a misty Dub- lin setting while 'Derniere Jeuncs.se is merely a French adventure with a Rouen background. The result Is an unconvincing production with long, irritable lap.ses. Raimu is admirably fitted for his role although he has turned in far better performances. It he hasnt done better, the fault is not his. The first half of the pic tends towards comedy, the second half to tragedy, with the star equally at home m both parts. Miss Delubac. Sasha GuitiTs ex, has a long road to trod before she can rate. Her attempt at dramatics are at times pitiable. Brasseur and Tramel turn in excel- lent Jobs, Photography is averafio. Ravo.